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- We won the day at Club Lambton
It's our last day staying at Edgeworth Bowling Club . This morning we drove over to Club Lambton for a game. It's a roomy clubhouse. The ladies were getting ready to play Pennants. We walked in and met Barry at the table. There were three grass greens until Charlestown took it over. The one out the back is now a seating area. Adjacent to the smoking area. They are The Rosellas. The front green is nice. We played on the side green. It's the A.G. Oldham green. It's two-tone. In the middle of lovely Lambton Park. It used to be called Lambton Park Bowling Club. Mal chatted with Terry, Mark and the boys before the game. Jean told Tony, Steve and Greg about our trip. We played Pairs together Against Sam and Geoff. Jean had two then Mal consolidated with two but Geoff stole shot! The green had just been mown We were three down and Mal saved us. Jean took kitty. Jean had shot then Mal took it for two. Jean had two then Sam pulled a miracle shot and we lost one. Mal then moved the kitty to them. Next bowl he killed the end. We went down three re-spotted. Going into the last end we were two up. They got a two. It was 18 all with ten ends each. We tossed for the win and won it. We won the money. $20 each. Club Lambton - an unexpected win for us!
- A little rollup at Jesmond
We left Water Board after our great game and drove around the corner to Jesmond Sports Club for a rollup. We'd been told by both Water Board and Edgeworth people that the Jesmond Club is on it's last legs. We thought we'd see for ourselves. It's a relaxed little clubhouse on the inside. Apparently it was called The Heaton Birmingham Gardens Bowling Club. Now Jesmond Sports. Jean walked out and met Trish and Robyn They told Jean they were watching the slowest game of Pairs ever. It started 9:30 and finished 1:45. Inside Mal met Geoff, Pauline, Kenny and Dave. They were interested in Mal's Tuggeranong shirt. The club has two greens - one grass the Pairs was played on. And an old plastic synthetic we rolled up on. As usual, named after a man. Peter Keogh. It's a bit damaged in parts but rolled OK. Our bowls came out sandy. Jean tried it out. She'd been practising at Water Board so did Ok. Mal had a turn. Of course he had to better Jean. Jean did have shot with her front bowl then Mal took the kitty back to her back bowl. He did his best to better Jean again. We did a few ends then made a quiet exit. Jesmond - not sure who won!
- Mal punishes Jean at Water Board
We were going to stay at Water Board in the caravan but we drove there Monday then decided instead to go back to Edgeworth so we could top up our water . We've come back to play a game on Tuesday morning. When we got there Monday we met Ian who was doing some carpentry. The clubhouse has a nice feel. Above the bowls shed is a sunny seating area. We'd been chatting on the phone with Arthur When we arrived Tuesday Paul and Arthur looked after the draw. Apparently Tuesday is 'Cranky Old Bowlers'. They are The Water Board Wolves. We met Garry and Leonie. There are two greens. One grass and One plastic synthetic. It's the Warren Brogden Green. It's twelve years old from 2012. Above the green a bowler shows wind direction. By the green are nice permanent shades. There were twenty-six players so three Triples and two Fours on our green and another twelve on the grass. Ian, Graeme, Jean and Terry Played Arthur, Mike, Mal and Garry. First end Jean had shot but Mal knocked her out - as usual! Jean managed to get a photo of her shot bowl next end before he did it to her again. He's definitely in trouble when we get home! A lot of the players here today are from the Wallsend Digger's Club. They reckon they had the best greens in Newcastle but they lost them two years ago through mine subsidence. Jean did two wrong biases but managed to make it up to her team. At one point Jean's team was down 1-11. Then Jean rolled short ends and they won them all. They caught up and levelled the score on end 15 of 18. Mal took kitty then consolidated. Mal's team won by two! We came inside for drinks together. It's a complex method to determine the winner. They draw a number on the machine for each winner. The highest number wins. They do the same for losers. Mal won a meat tray. Water Board - Mal's cooking dinner!
- Laughs with the Edgeworth folks!
We'll be home in three weeks - headed south! This morning we left Abermain and drove across to Edgeworth for a rollup. It's a mid-sized clubhouse. We got permission to park our caravan here. Jean went to the laundromat and Mal went into the club. He met some great people. There was President Greg And Toosy, Andrew, Mal, Piggy, Phil, Kevin and Karen. The boys know Spider Terry McGuinness and some other guys from Jean's club Weston Creek . They were a barrel of laughs! There's just one plastic synthetic green. It's the Bill Johnson Green. There's an old grass green that has chairs and tables now. Mal went out in the rain. He did ok. Jean struggled with weight. Jean took her turn. She managed a shot. Our bowls were sopping wet. It seemed easy for Mal. He said it was too wet so went inside for a beer (any excuse!). Jean went on alone. She did better without Mal! We came inside to listen to the music and met Carbo who said " We don't have much here except love ♡! " Edgeworth - the rain, the rain!
- Just one rink at Abermain
It's our last day with the five clubs in the Cessnock district. We drove from Cessnock to Abermain for Saturday afternoon Bowls. It's a nice roomy clubhouse. With a good barbecue area named after Clarrie Wilson. It has a large under cover area outside. The garden is pretty. We've parked our caravan at the club. Jean went up to put our names down and met Allan who Mal played at Kurri yesterday. We came inside to wait for bowls and met George and Eddie. There are two plastic synthetic greens. Out front looks good. It's the Colin Cane Green. It has an impressive tower for the name board. There were only six of us. It was George, Jean and Mal Against Eddie, Allan and Ralph. We were four down then Mal put down perfect grass. Jean had three then Eddie came in and took third shot. Jean got shot bowl, one in front and one on the bank. Kerry from East Cessnock came to watch. Skip Mal saved us again. We were down a few and he pushed the kitty back to George's three bowls. We were behind the whole game. Going into the last end we needed three to win. Jean had three then George came in and consolidated with the shot. We lost a shot but won by one! We came back for dinner. Mal liked it so much he had to get a photo with chef Joni. Abermain - intimate game but fun and friendly.
- Mal played well at Kurri Kurri
We drove over to Kurri Kurri (called Kurri) from Cessnock for Mal to play Friday bowls with the men. There's a board out the front with Pennant results. Clearly the Ones have done well. Jean walked around the back and met Craig the Greenkeeper. Cody the Assistant Greenkeeper came out while we waited for the club to open. He asked if Mal had his name down. He went inside and arranged it. It's a nice big club. It has an electronic picture board which displays notable players. Including Xander who we met the other day at Greta. Jay organised the game. He saw Jean's Melton shirt and told us he's from there. We sat with the boys while Mal waited to play. Jean chatted with John who saw us the other day at East Cessnock. There are three greens. Out the side are a grass and one synthetic The boys played on a grass green out the back which Craig was rolling. It's the Rees Duncan Green. Surrounded be a lovely Orange Trumpet Vine . The rest played three-bowl pairs. Mal, Jason and Gordon Played two-bowl triples Against Allan, Steve and Kevin. Second Mal put in a good'n first end. A few ends later he did it again. The boys were very friendly and asked Jean lots of questions while she watched. She went out to buy some cat food. When she got back Jason told her " He's playing really well. " He proved that. They came inside for drinks. Mal's team was runner up. Kurri - Mal thoroughly enjoyed himself!
- Six of us at Bellbird
During our fun time yesterday at East Cessnock we were told to turn up at 9am to bowl Thursday at Bellbird. It's a nice little clubhouse. With an outdoor seating area. There's a nice photo array of Pennant teams. They have a comp called 'The Boozers' Cup. It's an actal beer tap on the trophy. Tooheys sponsors it with a keg. It's 100 schooners all the winners get them. The seats are donated. When we walked in we saw Dave and Merv who we met yesterday at East Cessnock. Maurie (Mozza) looked after the draw. There's on old carpet synthetic green. It's seen better days but runs ok. The John Bedford Green. There were six of us. Enough for one game of three-bowl triples. Stan, Jean and Merv. Played Mal, Dave and Mozza. Mal got a Toucher with his first bowl. Later Jean got a toucher then a second. Our skips Stan and Mozza were bowling brilliantly. It was a pleasure to watch. Then Mal got three. Jean took the kitty but it rolled out. After 16 ends we came in for drinks. Mal's team won the money. Mal wins again at Bellbird.
- Jean and the boys of East Cessnock
Just west of Newcastle there are five clubs together. We went to Paxton yesterday, Bellbird tomorrow, Abermain and Kurri on Friday and Saturday. Today Mal plays with the retired boys at East Cessnock. We dropped in on Tuesday get Mal's name down to play Wednesday. It's a big club! They are 'The Comets'. The comet is on the green. Mal chatted with a bloke who pointed to Louie saying he's the one to talk to about bowls. Louie took us over to meet Lief Selby the Greenkeeper. He's a former bowls world champion. We'd actually met him at his old club Shellharbour which was near Jean's parent's house. He'd made a calendar to save the club. There was Ladies Pennants on. We saw Barbara who we met at Denman. There are three synthetic greens. One indoor which seems to be set up for exams. One open And one under cover. The cover was erected in 2012. It's a men's game today. Retired Bowlers. Kerry and Daniel looked after the money. Daniel asked Jean if she'd like to play. She said " Yes please! " We stood and chatted with Ted. John, Jean and Kerry Played Ross, Todd and Daniel. Ross said " We're layed back here. We rib each other! " Dave, Mal and Mick Were against Merv, Les and Brian. It's the first bowling club where we've seen fridges to keep the beer cold - and coke! It took a long time to work out the grass. The green was super fast. Jean had to give it a full rink on the backhand and a rink and a half on the forehand. She finally did it though! Mal struggled as well. Jean saw him do a wrong bias. He corrected it though. Jean sent out a hoot because her bowl stayed up. Then Danny knocked the kitty back to her. She let out another " Woo hoo! " Skip Mal took kitty and gave his team shot. Mal won by two. Jean lost by, well alot! They were pretty funny. We enjoyed the company. Nice time with the boys at East Cessnock.
- Jean and the ladies of Paxton
We drove today from our overnight at Greta Workers to the little town Paxton. It has Ladies bowls here today so Jean will play. The clubhouse was locked up so Jean had to get a photo through the screen. Then she saw a lovely memorial wall. Angela turned up while Jean was out the front taking photos. She said Mal could play but he'll go and check in to the showground. All the ladies sat by the green and waited for the game to start. There's one plastic synthetic green. It's the Tim Phillips Green. The rink markers are old bowls. Jean didn't have to pay to play because she's a traveller. That was nice. It was Zelma and Jean. Jean skipped. Against Gloria and Carol. There were two games. One Fours and on Pairs. Twelve players in all. The ladies wanted to practise for Pennants. Jean found it a little tough but second end she put in a beauty. It wasn't easy to get the weight. But she kept getting in there - to take shots off the opposition. Jean and Zelma didn't win but we had a nice game. Paxton - memories and memorials!
- Jean tops it at Greta
We drove the six minutes it takes to get from Branxton to Greta Workers Club. Jean got permission from Ross the CEO to park our caravan there. There's no social bowls on Monday so we'll have a rollup instead. It's quite a big club. It previously owned the Miller Park Bowls Club. It's a big clubhouse. With a lovely indoor/outdoor seating area. We met Ross when we arrived. Mal wanted a beer before our rollup. We were the only people in the club. We parked our van in the right place - behind the shed. There's one grass green. Ross said it's reputed to be the best in Newcastle region. It's had some work done on it recently. Aerating or something. Jean felt good today. She got a four but they weren't close. Mal was having trouble with weight. He tried his best. His grass was awry. He said " I reckon it hasn't been rolled !" Jean told him Ross said the Greenkeeper is away so he's probably correct. But Jean got in there. Mal surrounded her. Jean was really happy with how she bowled. Then suddenly Mal got his mojo back! And kept it! Karen and son Xander came down for a Rollup. Karen plays here. Xander is 16 years old, plays for Kurri Kurri and is in the NSW side. Karen said she saw our post from yesterday on the Miller Park Facebook page! Even though we no longer keep score Jean's pretty sure she won today. Mal, not so much! Mal stayed in the club for beers and met Doug and his doggy Tiger. Greta - we met a young champion!
- Bowls at Miller Park pub!
We drove to Miller Park after our successful game at Denman. It's a bowling club at a pub. Jean's been in touch with Faye from here. She told us there's no social bowls but we're welcome to roll up. The place definitely has a pub feel - though modern. The life members are on the wall. Jean asked Carly the bartender about the green story. She said the Miller Park Bowling was owned by Greta Workers. Greta sold it because it was losing money. A local named Dale McNamara bought it and fought hard to reopen it as an establishment. (Carly and Kiwi Dazz) Dale rebuilt the building as a pub and put in a plastic synthetic green. The bowler's came back and call themselves 'The Phoenix'. Back from the dead. They have a Pennants team which has had success in the three years its been open. It's an unusual Pennants scoreboard. Mal wanted a beer before our rollup. He sat and discussed bowls tactics with Kiwi Dazz. Dazz was the Greenkeeper for eight months. Everyone was interested in Jean's Gulgong shirt 👕. Dazz joined us in our rollup for a few ends. Jean went first as usual. She did ok once she worked out the grass. Mal had his go then Dazz. His grass was good. Almost perfect! Jean got cross when Mal placed Dazz' bowls around the jack. She wanted to get a photo of her shot bowls. She threw hers down in anger and managed one accidentally. We came in and had a drink in the pub. Who's heard of bowls at a pub - they have in Miller Park.
- No shots scored at Denman
We drove just half an hour from our nice stay in Merriwa to the little town of Denman and its Bowling Club. We'd heard on the grapevine it has social bowls on Saturday so came for that. It's a quaint little clubhouse though quite modern outside. It was opened in 1957. There are some great photos from the 50's and more recently Including of the opening of the Women's Club in 1949. The greens are (as usual) named after men but the club does appreciate the ladies. It has a really good outdoor seating area. There's an impressive array of old Pennant flags - twenty-four in all from 1951 to 2004. Jean had to do washing so Mal walked down from the caravan park early and met Snow. Margaret organised things. We were so happy to finally get a game after so many rollups in the little country towns. There are two good looking grass greens. Mal rolled up on the front green. It's the Irwin Green. It has a little plaque on it that says in 1985 it was named to celebrate the 50th Anniversary. There's a pretty little river beside the green. There were 18 players so we played three-bowl triples. Three games. Here they don't score shots just Win and Lose each end. They draw the overall winner out of a hat. It was Joyce, Jean and Graham. Against Barbara, Graham and Denise. Neville, Mal and Snow. Against Graham, Bro and Margaret. Mal put one in early. Jean put one on the kitty then took it out with her next bowl! 😞 later she did it again when she had a Resting Toucher! Jean made the boys wait while she got a photograph of Mal's bowl. Later Jean ran down after her first bowl to get a photo. Amazingly she didn't take it out with her second bowl. Mal and Jean both won on ends. There's a wheel to determine the jackpot. The jackpot is complex. The winners decide how many numbers for different jackpots. Jean drew her team who, decided on four numbers (N/S/E/W), then picked out her rink but didn't spin up the money. We met such nice people. They welcomed and joked with us. At last a game for us at Denman