Mitch Goodsall & Neil Armstrong.
It was one small step for bowls, but one giant leap for Goodsall and Armstrong as the dynamic duo produced, what the French would call, the “par excellence” performance of the season.
In a footy tipping comp, they would be mortal enemies, but in lawn bowls, lifelong Manly Sea Eagles fanatic, Mitch “Guru” Goodsall, also affectionately known as “in the ditch Mitch”, and dyed in the wool Canterbury Bulldogs supporter, Gundagai’s very own local astronaut Neil Armstrong (+6), whipped the crowd into a frenzy on Saturday morning, in a match where both pairs produced a wide array of spectacular shots, most notably from Goodsall.
Goodsall and Armstrong defeated two lethal veterans of the game in Joe Bond and John “Mitch” Peter-son (-3) 26 shots to 21, earning them a ticket to the final.
Bond and Peterson had the better start, scoring 5 shots in the first 2 ends, but Goodsall and Armstrong’s handicap, plus 4 shots on the next 2 ends saw them leading (10 – 2). 4 shots to Bond and Peterson over the next 2 ends had them trailing by 4, but Goodsall and Armstrong kept beyond their grasp with 2 singles scored over ends 7 & 8, to make the score (12 – 6).
In a deft passage of play, Bond and Peterson were able to traverse the gap in scores, and by the 12th end, with 7 added, the pair were now in the lead (13 – 12). But like the great Chinese strategist Sun Tzu, a shrewd Goodsall, in Shakespearean fashion cried havoc and let slip his “Dog of War” Armstrong, and on the very next end with 3 shots scored, the pair had recaptured the lead (15 – 13).
Over the next 3 ends both pairs wrestled back and forth, but by the end of the 16th, Goodsall and Armstrong were holding a 1-shot lead (16 – 15). As anyone who has ever played against Joe or John would know, that you never ever count them out of the contest. By the 21st end both men were superb, with John drawing well and Joe producing end-winning shots, to trail Mitch and Neil by 1 (21 – 20).
But much like the early part of the match, Goodsall and Armstrong were doing everything in their power to stay beyond reach. 2 shots on the 22nd to Goodsall and Armstrong provided a little breathing space, but Bond and Peterson continued to stalk their opponents, with a single added on the 23rd end to trail by 2 (23 – 21).
The 24th end provided much amusement for the crowd, as Armstrong, with one of his bowls was holding shot, with Goodsall one bowl left to play. Goodsall commented to Armstrong that he wouldn’t play his last bowl and risk giving the shot away, but Armstrong misheard and thought he was asking what shot to play, to which Armstrong responded, “just draw another one in here Mitch”, which Goodsall did, and with that, went into the final end leading by 4 shots (25 – 21). 4 shots to draw level on a final end in a game of bowls is a steep hill to climb for any bowler, but stranger things have happened. Bond and Peterson tried it any-way, but it was Goodsall and Armstrong that secured the final end and their victory with a single shot.
The final of the handicap pairs this Saturday at 11am will be Mick Houstein and Mitch Goodsall squaring off and father versus son, the Armstrong’s, Neil and Matt, in a highly anticipated affair, bring the popcorn. Thursday Social 31st July Mick Houstein, Joe Bond and Lynne French defeated Mark Niemkiewicz, Wes Wright and Graham Luff 17 – 13. Eric We-ston, Col Harris and Mitch Peterson defeated Tom French, Peter Hoye and Mark McAlister 27 – 26. Saturday Social 2nd August Wayne Carthew, Jess Wright and Terri Craig defeated Sharon Arm-strong, Gary Cotterill and Patrick Murphy 16 – 14. Matt Armstrong, Wes Wright and Wendy Nichol-son defeated Grant Duncan, Tom Wright and Jodie Murphy 29 -6.
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