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Geraldton bowler Jeff Eaton’s Sandgroper bowling arm side won’t compete after Tasmania event called off

Joe CriddleGeraldton Guardian
Jeff Eaton.
Camera IconJeff Eaton. Credit: Supplied

Geraldton’s Jeff Eaton will not be travelling to Tasmania to compete in the National Bowling Arm Sides Championship, after the adaptive event was called off because of COVID-19 restrictions.

WA is set to host the next edition, in March next year after country week.

Warnbro is confirmed as the venue.

The announcement from bowls authorities came after Eaton, who plays at Geraldton Bowling Club, won selection in May after months of trials and hours of travelling the Brand Highway.

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Sandgroper Bowling Arm State representatives will now play a friendly match this month instead.

Last year’s event was also cancelled.

The Sandgroper squad of 18 includes 13 country players, and Eaton, originally from Latham in the North Midlands, is the only representative from north of the metropolitan area.

On the local scene, Ernie Thompson claimed last Friday’s mixed scroungers event at Geraldton in a close contest with Phil Christensen. Janet Messina set a hot pace in the qualifying round, scoring 53 points, including three maximums.

In Saturday’s drawn pairs, Rolf Schreyvogal and Joe Criddle took the day with plus-10 from the two matches. Barry Chester and Benjo Brennan were second with plus-seven, and Gary Smith and Barbara Tower completed the undefeated listings with plus-five.

Lorraine Brand won the Wonthella mixed scroungers on Friday, ahead of the in-form Kim Cross, Bill Alford and Tom Wedgewood.

Ernie Ainsworth’s score of 37 points was the highest on the day. Ken Powell had 34, Brand 33 and Alford 32. Keith Smith won the King Scrounger qualifier at Wonthella ahead of Paul Johnson, Richard Attrill and Kerry Easton.

Brad Preston scored 47 points, the highest of the afternoon.

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