POCKET rocket and 2013 runner up Gil Mendoza has begun his quest for a maiden Lithgow City Bowling major singles title in fine style with a strong victory over Warren Kennedy.
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The City bowlers have been co-operating with the committee’s requests to complete games early to avoid the dreaded play or forfeit which will inevitably come into force.
Both bowlers found the early ends tough going, with neither bowler able to establish a solid lead.
The scores were levelled six times over the opening 14 ends before Mendoza established a seven shot lead on the 17th end.
Kennedy pulled the gap back over the next few ends to trail by a single shot before scoring seven shots over three ends to again establish a handy 26-18 lead.
Kennedy was not to be denied, and with Mendoza only a shot away from victory, Kennedy won a series of ends to be in with a slim chance at 30-24 down.
Mendoza claimed the early round match with a single shot to run out a good 31-24 winner.
In the club pairs title quest, defending champions Cec McAndrew and Maurie Nugent bowed out with an early 25-21 loss to White Ng and Garry Sutherland, although McAndrew and Nugent forced to game into an extra end after the scores were tied at 21-all after the allotted 21 ends.
This was mainly due to a fine six shots on the 15th end to put McAndrew and Nugent in front 15-13.
Another four on the 19th end again put the defending champions in front 21-15 but 10 shots over the final three ends saw Ng and Sutherland claim victory.
Also advancing to the next round were Jim Bannerman and Peter Hardie who were never headed in their 20-16 win over Al Kenniff and Kerry Clarke.
The victory was set up in the opening stages with Bannerman and Hardie racing away to a 9-nil lead after only five ends.
Kenniff and Clarke fought back strongly to win eight of the next nine ends to bring the game to 11-all, and then tie it up again at 16-all on the 19th end.
Victory was sealed through Bannerman and Hardie claiming three shots on the last end.
Bowlers involved in the singles and pairs championships are to watch the draw carefully for the play or forfeit dates.
The sheet is also on the board for the club’s minor singles championships.
Social bowls
Sunday mixed: A big 16+31 result gave Don Kipp, Rick Slaven and Gloria Davidson the top prize, although the trio of Davie Hunter, Iggy Vadkerti and Gloria Clarke thought they must have been in with a shot with their 13+15 scoreline, having to settle for the second placed prize.
Saturday men: The margins were tighter for the men bowlers on Saturday when the major prize went to Terry Reed, Peter Kearney and Dave Benjamin with 14+8, edging out a fours team of Kerry Clarke, Bill Neubeck, Al Davies and Ron Young with their 13+10 win.
Friday mixed: Mike Johnson skipped John Posker and Phil Kellond to the top prize, their 13+11 edging out Joe Banasiak, Bev Wiggins and Alan Lindsay who finished the day with a 13+4 win.