Upwey-Tecoma defends shield

THE Upwey- Tecoma Lawn Bowls Club played hosts to teams from Monbulk and Ferntree Gully last Sunday to compete for the Hills Challenge Shield.
This most sought-after trophy is an annual event, which Upwey-Tecoma won last year.
The grass green was being used for the first time since April and it was unfortunate that the light rain during the day’s play was enough to make this green run on the heavy side.
With the organisers not having control of the weather the game went on with Ferntree Gully and Monbulk competing against each other in unusual (for them) heavy conditions. As lawn bowls is a game of “mind over matter”, it was Ferntree Gully who adjusted first to the heavy grass.
Ron Ralph and his team were the best for Ferntree Gully with a 15-shots up win while best for Monbulk was the Len Aurich skipped team with 10-shots up.
Winning three of the four rinks against Ferntree Gully, Upwey-Tecoma successfully retained the Hills Shield.
Perhaps the best performance on the day was the comeback by the rink of Ron Abbott, Frank van Vloten, Ken Williams and Trevor Robertson. Trailing their opponents by five shots overall at the start of the 17th end they allowed their opponents to win just one end of the next eight and finish with a 13th shots up win.
Robin Southern and his team of Colin Benson, Don Blades and Tas Boyce had a great game to take the rink of the week award with a 17th shots win. Tom Perry had a close win by four shots and David Jones after leading until the 22nd end, faltered over the final three to finish four shots down.
Results: Upwey-Tecoma won 100 shots up.
Ferntree Gully 91 shots up.
Monbulk 86 shots up.