Lovely hospitality for Fours tournament at Red Cliffs

When we were at Irymple on Wednesday, we saw that Red Cliffs had a Fours tournament on Sunday. We drove out on Thursday to put our names down.

There was no list so we rang the number for Michael and he came down to meet us. He is the club Secretary. A real talker but lovely - and helpful. He introduced us to President Maurie who was there to play in a Pairs final.

(Maurie and Michael)

Michael showed us around the club. He proudly told us about their two representative members: Dot Jenkinson

who was a national champion

and John Giddings - state rep player. They've named the greens after them.

He told us the tournament is 'Legends Day'. It's sponsored by the families of two former stalwart members who have passed. They were Alan Cooks and Noel Edwards.

When we arrived On Sunday Michael introduced us to Annette chairperson of the ladies committee.

Maurie and Treasurer Ros welcomed us all and gave the conditions of play.

There are two synthetic greens. The older one, says Michael, can get up to 22 seconds. Very quick.

We played on the front green - the John Giddings green. It runs slower, about 15 seconds.

There were fourteen teams. They included our friends from Irymple, Mildura Workers, Nangiloc, travellers from Cairns, Wentworth and Coomealla.

We played together. Jean played lead with Graham from Irymple, Mal as third and skip Steve from Red Cliffs.

(Mal, Steve, Jean and Graham)

We played against Matty, Cocka, Johnny and Toby from Nangiloc.

They won the first couple then Jean got shot and we were off.

Next end Mal got a (deliberate) wick in for shot.

Unfortunately they kept picking up ones to beat us. We'd have three shots then skip Matty would take them off us for one.

We went inside for lunch which was lovely. The ladies had decked the club out beautifully.

The spread was delicious - barbecue

and salads - real country hospitality.

We went out - tummies full - for our second game, We played Keith, Peter, Mick and John from Mildura Workers.

Jean and Graham did well. If Jean didn't get shot, Graham's Red Aeros did. After six ends we were square.

We had the mat a lot. When they got one up, Keith decided they needed a long end. He put one on it. Jean bowled one closer....then Mal tapped it over to them.

Last end we needed three to win. Jean did it again for one.

We got two for a draw.

Third game we played Geoff, David, Tania and Tom (The President) from Coomealla. They liked a joke. Graham told me they play Pennants in Division One.

Second end we got a seven. Good start. Mal put one at the back for good measure. We told Tom about how unhappy we were about our experience at Coomealla. He suggested, if we are unhappy, we write a letter. We might do that.

Four ends to go they needed 13 to win. Jean got shot and the boys complained. They tried but it stuck. Dave said "We had a plan, but the plan didn't work!"

We got two. They tried to call a powerplay the next end (wrong game) but to no avail. We won a prize for highest winning margin last game. $25 each.

Red Cliffs - a loss, a draw and a big win against div one players.