Randburg Bowls Club recently celebrated the success of two of their young bowlers.
Darryl Stafford (21) won the 38th Men’s Tower Novice Bowls Tournament at the Wanderers Club, Illovo, on 21 February.
Darren Clarke (25) reached the semi-final, where he was beaten by Stafford.
The tournament has been running for 38 years, and boasts among its winners many provincial and international bowlers.
It involves bowlers from all over Gauteng who have played for three years or less.
Although Stafford was thrilled with the victory, he remarked that it was “unfortunate” that he had to beat his friend Clarke in the semi-final.
In a tight final, Stafford beat Matt Jago from the Italian Club Johannesburg in the tie-break set.
Stafford won the first set, but Jago fought back well in the second set to level matters.
Stafford had to play a classy match-winning shot to ensure that he won the tie break.
“We as a club are extremely proud of Darryl and Darren,” said club president, and a proud father, Laurie Stafford.
“This is symptomatic of what is happening at the club… we have attracted a number of new, young bowlers, and this is showing in our results.
We have had two champions in three years, and last year we had runners-up in both the men’s and ladies’ divisions.”
Laurie concluded that the club welcomes new bowlers of all ages and has qualified coaches to “take aspiring bowlers through their paces.”
Darryl Stafford also plays cricket for the Gauteng U25 team.
Details: Randburg Bowls Club info@randburgbowls.org.za, 082 308 8471.
