By Rodney Bates
As the season closed for Yarra Glen, the club has been left with a good sense that the game is in a good place.
Of our five teams this year, four made finals, two made section finals, one Section Flag and a lot of good memories were made.
Our Second side ventured to Bundoora on Sunday to play the Division 4 Quarter Finals against Hoppers Crossing.
The game was close at the break with only 2 shots separating the sides.
After the break, Hoppers Crossing had some solid wins across all rinks, and in the end had a comfortable win to end our season.
Final Score Hoppers Crossing 99, Yarra Glen 61. A. Thurkle 17/25; A. Pope 16/21; S. Smith 15/23; R. Thurkle 13/30.
The game was one of those rare events where the spirit of lawn bowls triumphed over the scorecard.
In all sports there is an element of both good play and luck.
In lawn bowls, the prevailing etiquette, often ignored by some teams and players include:
Commend your team-mates, and your opponents when they play a good shot.
Do not “ride” an opponent’s bowl, nor barrack for a particular unintended result (“hit that blocker”, “get a wick”, “find the gap”, “go in the ditch” etc.).
Admit a fluke shot when you play one and remember it when your opponent gets one later in the game.
Team members should not clap or cheer a “lucky” bowl – remember it is a poor bowl but recognise if it achieves a good result.
Both teams showed what can happen when the game is played in that spirit – a fair result, and great comradery.
Everyone at both clubs can hold their head high at the end of the game.
As a club, we value this strongly, and Hoppers Crossing brought that same attitude.
We wish them all the best for the Divisional Semi-Final and Final next weekend.
