Gunnedah bowlers defy expectations to qualify for play-offs

They never really expected it but this group of Gunnedah women bowlers cleaned up the opposition in Central Northern District women’s bowls pennants play last month.

Team members, representing Gunnedah Services Women’s Bowling Club, won five of their six matches in No 4 pennants to qualify for the next leg of state-wide pennants competition, to be played at Narrabri BC next Tuesday and Wednesday.

Gunnedah will come up against Narrabri and Glen Innes in the northern NSW play-offs with the winner to advance to the State No 4 play-offs at Valentine and Marks Point Bowling Clubs in the Newcastle district from November 18-20.

Team member Patrina Marshall said the team was “on a high” after winning the Central Northern flag.

“To beat teams like Tamworth City/Kootingal, West Tamworth and South Tamworth has given a huge boost to our confidence,” she said.

“We are all keen bowlers – but only two of us had played pennants before. We weren’t available to play before this – we either had to go to work or school, because pennants were mid-week.

“But his year, the pennants were on over the weekend, so we thought we would have a crack at it. We didn’t have any great expectations – but look what happened.”

The team amassed 241 shots over the six matches and conceded only 179 through the pennants season, picking up 23 of the available 30 points to qualify for the regional finals, with a possible place in the state finals on their radar.

A trump card for the Gunnedah team is young skip Ella Cameron, who turned 14 in August but is quickly making a name for herself in bowls.

In August, Ella was a member of the NSW under 18 team which defeated Queensland in the interstate match at Chermside BC in Brisbane, winning three of her five matches, including singles and pairs rubbers.