For the first time in some 15 years a lawn bowls side from Parkes has made it to a state final.
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The Parkes Bowling and Sports Club President's Reserve Fours team have returned home runners up from the Bowls New South Wales State Championships Presidents Reserve Fours Championship.
After a grueling five games - with the last three going to an extra end to gain a result at both local and zone level - the Parkes Pirates team of Rob Irving, Dave Johnson, Col Mudie and Gary McPhee qualified to travel to Ettalong Bowling Club on the Central Coast to compete in the championships against 15 other teams.
In sectional play the following results were obtained:
Round 1 versus Mayfield West: Parkes won 19-15.
Round 2 versus North Ryde RSL: Parkes lost 19-20.
Round 3 versus Taralga: Parkes won 30-8
This gave the Pirates a 2 win and 26 shot advantage, and a sectional win.
On Sunday morning they played Umina Beach in the semi-final and won 25-11.
On Sunday afternoon, in a game where the Pirates were always struggling, they came up against a determined Cootamundra side who prevailed over the Pirates with a 19-11 win.
All the players practised for the last four months just about every day to give themselves the best chance
- Skip Gary McPhee
Skip Gary McPhee said that all the guys prepared very well.
"All the players practised for the last four months just about every day to give themselves the best chance of winning a state title," he said.
"In the wash up, the Pirates finished the event as state runners up in a very tough competition.
"I would like to thank everybody who followed our progress and cheered us on with their messages of support on social media and phone messages, and also the people who went out of their way to congratulate all of us when we arrived back in Parkes.
"Thanks to all of you."
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