In a zone first, and probably a NSW first, two women bowlers took out one of Lithgow Workmen's Men's Bowling Club championships.
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Wendy Constable and Sue Metcalf defeated Richard Long and David Butler in the final of the Handicap Pairs Championship at Lithgow Workmen's Bowling Club on Saturday, August 29.
The Handicap Pairs championship is an opportunity for newer bowlers and social bowlers to be competitive and give each player a handicap to level the contest.
Constable and Metcalf had a two shot handicap advantage but Long and Butler soon caught that up and by the fifth end were leading.
Two good ends then put Constable and Metcalf back in the lead and they were able to hold that until the last end.
Needing a three on the 18th end for a draw and an extra end, Long played two great pressure bowls and drew two shots and Butler, with his first bowl, drew another.
Metcalf, showing the form that recently won her the Women's District Singles title, then with a slightly weighted draw bowl, picked up the jack and took it away to hold shot.
Butler with too many of his bowls now out of play had to kill the end and with a direct hit on the jack did just that.
On the replay of the last end Long again put two bowls on and just behind the jack and Constable and Metcalf again looked in trouble until Constable with her fourth and last bowl drew the shot.
Metcalf covered the back in case the jack was trailed but Butler still had the chance to move the jack half a metre for three shots - but his bowl just slipped by.
Constable and Metcalf won the contest eighteen shots to fourteen.
Metcalf said since playing social and now competition bowls with the men, the ladies' game has improved significantly.
"But more than that it is such fun and the guys are so welcoming," she said.
Butler said he expected to get some ribbing from the men after the result.
"But this is what bowls is all about - it is a game of skill and concentration and I congratulate Wendy and Sue on a great game." he said.
"Our club has greatly benefited from the women playing with us on Saturdays and I encourage any woman thinking about taking up the sport to join us."
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