Air Force wins tussle of the turf

By SGT Scott Kohler

The crackerjack player from the NSW Interservice Lawn Bowls Carnival, Corporal Pete Douglass, celebrating victory against Army and Navy. Photo by Bill Cunneen

Chief of Air Force Air Marshal Angus Houston presents a framed Air Force Rugby Union jumper to Mr Ron Fisher of Raytheon Australia in appreciation of Raytheon's ongoing support of Air Force rugby. Photo by SQNLDR Tim Anderson

AGAINST a strong line-up, Air Force lawn bowlers dominated the NSW Interservice Lawn Bowls Carnival at Windsor from August 12-15, scoring comfortable wins against their Service counterparts.

Army proved toughest for Air Force, winning two of the four games, however Air Force led the master board (tally of shots won across all four rinks) from the outset and was never in danger, running out 89-72 winners, thanks to the teams skippered by player of the carnival Corporal Pete Douglass and Flying Officer Andrew Gibbs.

Air Force comprehensively outplayed Navy to record a huge win and ensure the trophy was retained, but not all matches were one-sided.

A see-sawing battle in the final match between Army and Navy culminated in a thrilling draw, with the fight for second place proving to be a highlight of the carnival.

The match was fought on four rinks and all eyes were on the master board to see who was leading the thrilling encounter.

Navy started the 84-end match brilliantly, leading the Army by seven shots after 12 ends and extended the lead to 12 shots after 32 ends thanks to skipper WO Shakey Lake’s team.

Army drew level at the 44th end, with WO1 Steve Sobolewski’s team dominating throughout their game to keep Army in the match, and they took until the 60th end before Army finally led the master board.

Army threatened to run away with the match, slipping out to a nine-shot lead after 68 ends but was winning on just two of the four rinks.

MAJ Paul Brady’s Army team shook off CPO Paul Cowen’s Navy team to record Army’s second win 21-13, but Navy clawed back when LEUT Mel Delooze’s team scraped home by three shots.

With one game still on the green it came down to the last end. WO Shakey Lake’s team led SGT Andrew Payne’s team 25-16, but needed another four shots for the overall win. Navy drew first shot then a second and another, but Army stole back the shot. Navy then rolled out Army’s bowl for three shots again until it was reduced to two.

Both skips had one bowl left, Shakey Lake knocked out Army’s bowl to make it three shots and stood back and watched Andrew Payne’s drive thunder through the head, just missing the target.

The match was a tie, a fitting result but gave the Army second place behind Air Force.

The carnival attracted a quality field of 41 bowlers, presenting selectors with the difficult task of choosing the squad to represent NSW at the ADF Lawn Bowls Championships in Brisbane from September 1-5.

“We’re delighted with the swell of numbers for NSW Interservice bowling and the skill level shown out there was outstanding,” said NSW Lawn Bowls manager, Air Force’s Sergeant Mick Powell.

He was joined by co-selectors MAJ Paul Brady and WO Shakey Lake, who boldly declared NSW as short-priced favourite to win the State title for the first time since 1998.

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