The East Lismore Bowling Club B Grade singles and pairs finals have been won by Phil Russell and the Brian Lee and Anthony Gaggin team.

As has been the case in recent weeks the B Grade singles final between East Lismore Bowling Club President Phil Russell and Treasurer Brodie Stevens, was contested in blustery conditions. A combination of fast greens and unpredictable wind gusts provided a challenge for the social bowlers on the day but Stevens in the first half of the match and Russell in the second half mastered the conditions creating a hard fought game that Russell won 31-23.

Stevens leapt out to a 12-4 lead after 12 ends with some tight draw bowling that heaped pressure on his opponent. But the tide turned from the 13th end with Russell scoring a 4, 3, and another 3 on the next 3 ends. This turned the score around to 14-12 in his favour however this short lived setback didn’t deter Stevens who kept in touch with Russell, in some very tight ends, that saw the score move to 21-18 in Russell’s favour after 27 ends.

East Lismore Bowling Club Championship a close affair

From here both bowlers bowled incredibly well producing multiple ends of 1 shot only. Russell did grind out the result in the 37th end after scoring 1 shot in each of 8 out of the final 10 ends.

The crowd of social bowlers who remained by the green after their matches were completed to watch the final ends demonstrated what a close and hard fought affair the final was.

East Lismore Bowling Club B Grade Pairs winners Brian Lee (left) and Anthony Gaggin.

Earlier the Brian Lee and Anthony Gaggin team defeated the father and son combination of Tim and Max Prior, 36-15 in the B Grade pairs final.

Lee and Gaggin took the ascendancy early on in the contest and after scoring 3 shots on consecutive ends, in the 7th and 8th end, they led 12-5. Some tight draw bowling followed with multiple shots a premium until the Prior’s scored a 3 in the 12th end and a 2 in the 14th end to bring the score back to 17-11 in favour of Lee and Gaggin. 

From here however the experience of Lee as lead and Gaggin as skip closed their opponents out, scoring 19 shots in 6 ends. The Priors did finish on a high scoring 4 in the 21st and final end, however Lee and Gaggin were worthy winners on the day.

East Lismore Bowling Club is continuing the club’s Open Triples and will begin the Open Fours this weekend.