There was no shortage of friendly rivalry when Sturt II and Sturt III faced each other on Thursday, with family connections, familiar friendships and some spirited competition adding to the occasion.
Sturt II eventually claimed the honours and top spot on the ladder, while Sturt IV, playing against Port Noarlunga, showed plenty of promise but couldn't quite get across the line.
Team coaches Alan Catterall and Noal Mullins report on a day of contrasting fortunes, good humour and the enduring camaraderie of Thursday bowls.
Report on Sturt II & III by Team Coach Alan Catterall
When two of the club’s sides have to play each other, it is with mixed emotions.
Sturt II didn't want to lose, and Sturt III wanted to win.
Throw in the significant player changes this week, brought on by the ‘outs’ in Sturt I, and the scene was set for a spicy encounter.
The bowls gods were having a laugh and matched ‘Auntie’ Maria Canala with her niece Sonia Matteucci as skippers on Rink 10. Both notoriously shy individuals!
The game was a cracker, at least until ‘cup-of-tea time ‘.
Wendy Adams’s team was just ahead of Joylene Koch’s team, with the two leads Anne Paschke and Libby Vella both setting up their team with good bowls.
Meanwhile Ned Kelly was enjoying the challenge of playing second in Sturt II and Di Phillips embraced her new role playing third.
The noise on the next rink never stopped, Maria had Sonia on the ropes, and Karen Hill was supporting her skipper Maria, in her new role as a third.
In Sturt II, Janet Mullin’s rink, with Lesley Dunstall in a new role as third and Cheryl Nathan and Julie Short setting them up, got away to a flyer and were quickly well up.
For Sturt III, mother-and-daughter combination, Beryl Tape and Diana Parsons regrouped to keep the scoreboard respectable.
A cup of tea and some of Auntie Maria’s home baking hit the spot but the form guide rarely lies. All three Sturt II teams pulled away in the second half securing a comfortable victory and top spot on the ladder.
Another great day for the club, the bowling just gets better, and this fabulous group of women get stronger and closer every week.
A joy to watch.
Report on Sturt IV by Team Coach Noal Mullins
A beautiful day for bowls.
The rink of Yvonne Sinclair, Dean Buder, Angela Eichler and Briony Lia (skip) jumped out to a good start and were soon 10 shots up.
Paul Badenoch, Roslyn Carman, Marie Wright and Denise Taylor (skip) also raced to a good lead.
Our third rink, with Heather Todd, Noal Mullins, Ingrid Olsen and Angela Murray (skip), were always under pressure from a strong opposition and unlike the other rinks were soon 10 shots down.
After the break, we fought back and stopped the losses.
However, Port Noarlunga also finished strongly, and Sturt went down overall.
The match was played in good spirit and showed that Sturt has the potential to turn the tables next time the teams meet.
‘8’ badges awarded
Four of the women’s group were awarded badges for their recent ‘8’: Janet Mullins, Wendy Adams, Julie Short and Lesley Dunstall.