Condong - it's all about crushing!

Jean contacted Condong Bowls Club yesterday via Messenger to discover they have Saturday afternoon Bowls. She asked if they could put our names down.

At the Tyalgum pub last night Jean told everyone we were going to play bowls at 'Condom'. They were easily amused. When we arrived at Condong we met Jim who took our money and informed us it might be pairs today.

The sign out the front says "Home of 'The Crushers'". That's from the sugar cane crushing plant next door. It's a small club with paid bar staff.

Their Bowls shirts have sugar cane on them - and their names. Ben told us it shows the route to the club.

Mal chatted with Ben who had an injury and just got back in to bowls. Ben told us when he was a young bloke he got a world record for a 53 hour game of triples. They raised money for charity.

They played on the front green - The JR Sam's green.

Apparently he's still with us - in his 90s.

They have a tournament named for him.

The grass is a bit Patchy in parts. They have an innovative resolution.

There's a third green, next to the sugar can pressing mill, that Ben said is "A bit rough ".

Norm joined the conversation and pointed out to Jean that South was in the opposite direction to what she thought.

Instead we played triples. Just two games.

Most of the members were playing Singles on the other green.

There were a lot of spectators.

It was Leanne (Skinny), Matt (bar staffer) and Ben

Against Jean, Norm and Mal.

Jean noticed an old emblem on the wall.

And the new one on the window.

It was tough bowling. We were told it was slow so first end we were all in the ditch. As we went on we all got better - especially Mal.

Leanne told Jean the club has no women bowlers.

Jean found it hard to find the weight.

On the fifteenth end Jean finally worked the weight out. Mal consolidated.

End sixteen Jean breathed a sigh of relief. She got it.

Norm was having trouble with his bowling arm so he threw it away and changed bowls to good effect. Jean said "Mal played this game all by himself!"

The final score was 20 to 12. We won. We sat outside for drinks afterwards.

Dave came up and told us about the floods here. He said "I'm the only one who's had a kayak on the green".

Ben told us it's a worker's club. He said members did work to renovate the club. They did a good job. Jean liked that.

Condong - I guess you can say they got crushed!