Southern, Cross star on greens

CLUB champion Robin Southern, partnered by Brian Cross, withstood a strong challenge from Tas Boyce and Don Blades to take the honours at Upwey-Tecoma Bowls Club.
After the first game of 12 ends, Boyce and Blades went into the half-time break with a lead of four shots up.
Whether an “outer space” force or the afternoon tea was a factor in the improved performance by Southern and Cross will never be known, but Boyce made the comment “we finished as the best under the Southern Cross”.
With one end of six shots up and two of four shots up, multiple winning ends by Southern and Cross in their second game proved to be the main factor in their overall win of 19 shots up on the day.
In contrast, Boyce and Blades could manage just two multiples in their second game to finish with a total of 16 shots up.
The triples competition was dominated by the Ken Miller-skipped team, which included Don Andrews and Katie Sherlock.
Winning both games with a total of nine shots up, this trio was the only two-game winner in this section.
On Saturday the Upwey-Tecoma Club visited Monbulk for a pre-season practice match.
Main interest centred on the competition between the sides known as the Roamers.
With both clubs entering sides in this section for the first time, the decision to do so was proved the right one when some close competition ensured.
Monbulk finished with narrow wins in all sections and is to be congratulated on its hospitality, which featured a very welcome sausage sizzle at the end of the day’s play.