Lithgow City recorded a 10-nil win over Blayney on Sunday, March 25 but the news from the Grade 5 sides playing the day before was not so bright, with Lithgow City going down 9-1 to Gulgong.

Sunday’s affair saw Dave Robson and his team of Garry Sutherland, Iggy Vadkerti and Bruce Gibbons hit top form with a resounding 30-8 win dropping only five ends.

It was also a good, but narrow win for John Perry, Jim Bannerman, Ian Northey and Richard Forbes when they got up 20-16 while Ian Birk, Dave Hunter, Ritchie Bilby and Greg Quinn’s win was much closer, getting up 17-16 despite losing the ends 9-12.

This has kept City’s slim hopes alive of advancing through to the next round although big wins in the remaining two games against the two Orange sides is a must.

City’s hopes of taking out the Grade 5 series were dashed with a 9-1 loss to Gulgong where the only rink to claim a win was that comprising Kerry Clarke, Frank Mierczak, Barry Perry and Athol Roach who got up 19-17.

Les Barnes, Peter Rutherford, Stan Campbell and Mick Wholohan went down by six shots while it was a 24-15 loss for Warren Kennedy, Peter Kearney, Wayne Allan and Gil Mendoza.

Ian Birk has won his way through to another singles final when he defeated Ian Townsend in a boilover at the weekend.

Birk has already contested one final when he was defeated in his quest for the 20-17 minor singles titles and will now face up to the winner of the Jeff Madden versus Graham Pitt semi-final.

It was a seesawing affair between Birk and Townsend with the lead constantly changing before Birk claimed victory by winning four consecutive ends after being behind 29-27.

This was a semi-final of a high standard with many positive comments coming from nearby rinks and the spectators.

The twilight bowls for the summer period have also come to an end with the presentations being held last week for the men’s series. This saw Kerry Clarke take the ultimate prize, beating out Ritchie Bilby with a number of the newer bowlers in the series putting in good performances over the warmer months.

Phil Morcom was recognised for his efforts throughout the series by being named the winner of the Bear Bott most improved award.

The week’s social bowls program was disrupted by bad weather with the mid week men’s event and the Friday mixed bowls being washed out.

With the pennants in action on Saturday the numbers contesting the men’s social bowls was down, but Graham Pitt, Darrell Wright and Bill Cullen came out winners with 12+3, but only just beating out the 21+2 from Dave Hunter, Col Quince and Bob Ray.

Dani Maruschko is showing good form since moving to the club and led home Cheryl Wotton and Bev Wiggins to take Sunday’s mixed bowls with a very big 15+23 scoreline. Filling the minor spot was the pairing of Graham Pitt and Anne Anderson with an 11+8 margin.