Whether on their home turf or not, Weipa lawn bowlers are producing standout performances on the greens. Photo: Supplied.
Weipa Bowls Club hit the road in force over the past month, sending 24 players south to contest the Tropical Far North Division 1 and Division 3 Pennant competitions.
It was a campaign marked by grit, long kilometres, and some standout individual performances across both grades.
Division 1 faced the challenge of split venues, playing both home at Gordonvale and away across the region.
Team 1 – Ben Moore, Malachy McTaggart, Steven Pye and Daylen Maunsell – fought hard for four wins, finishing with a combined score of 111–132, while Team 2 – comprising Fraser Maguire, Dwayne Brooks, Rita Price and Jessie Pye – also secured four wins locked at 116-116 overall.
Carl Schapel, Russell Wellby, Kevin Periera and Jack Phillips chalked up three wins as Team 3, and edged out their opponents 129–124.
The early rounds belonged to Weipa, with three convincing victories:
• Round 1: Win versus Brothers Edmonton (away) – 59–55
• Round 2: Win versus Brothers Edmonton (home) – 76–45
• Round 3: Win versus Marlin Coast (home) – 83–36
But the tide turned in the back half:
• Round 4: Loss versus Edge Hill Cairns (away) – 39–91
• Round 5: Loss versus Edge Hill Cairns (home) – 29–92
• Round 6: Loss versus Marlin Coast (away) – 57–66
It was definitely a tale of two halves in Division 1, but plenty of promise was shown by all three rinks.
Division 3 fielded three fresh combinations, being Stacey Sorbello, Jamie Pye, Lynn Hill and Nicole Woodall (Team 1), Patricia Price, Amanda Edwards, Martin Bray and Angie Ibrahim (Team 2), and Jason Wild, David Tuckwood, Matt Sampson and Wayne Wilshere Cumming (Team 3).
The results did not go the way of western Cape York this time, with teams suffering losses to Innisfail, Atherton and Ravenshoe, but there was plenty of heart shown, and plenty to build on as the 2026 season progresses.
Back at home, the 2026 championship calendar is already producing quality bowls and a few surprise storylines.
Open Singles
• Men: winner – B. Moore; runner-up – C. Millard
• Ladies: winner – R. Price; runner-up – S. Sorbello.
B-grade Singles
• Men: winner – J. Phillips; runner-up – W. Wilshere Cumming
• Ladies: winner – S. Sorbello; runner-up – N. Woodall.
C-grade Singles
• Men: winner of J. Phillips vs S. Pye to meet D. Maunsell in the final
• Ladies: winner – S. Sorbello; runner-up – L. Hill.
Pairs
• Men: winners – B. Moore & C. Schapel; runners-up – J. Phillips & M. Sampson
• Ladies: winners – L. Hill & A. Ibrahim; runners-up – P. Price & A. Edwards.
Fours
• Men: winners – B. Moore, C. Schapel, F. Maguire, D. Brooks; runners-up – J. Millard, C. Millard, M. Hall, S. Biddle
• Ladies: winners – R. Price, P. Price, H. Stewart, A. Edwards; runners-up – S. Sorbello, L. Maskell, N. Woodall, E. Dall.
Mixed Pairs
• winners – D. Brooks & P. Price; runners-up – J. Millard & L. Cruse.
A number of Mixed A-grade matches are still to be completed, with several tight contests expected as the draw narrows.
The date for the Triples Championship has been set for 30-31 May, with players able to nominate through the BowlsLink app.
