LAWN BOWLS
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REG Hughes has waited over half a century for a taste of state pennant glory.
So on Saturday when the Manildra Bowling Club legend unfurled the club’s first state pennant - the Bowls NSW Grade 6 State Pennant - in front of a host of Bowls NSW officials, and members from home and visiting clubs, you can imagine the excitement the 79-year-old mustered.
“It was a very special day,” Hughes said.
“I’m the oldest in the team. It’s taken 51 years to win it. I started bowling in ’64 ... it’s just been an unbelievable day.”
Hughes was joined by his pennant-winning team of Des Cross, Anthony Regan, Ben Allcorn, Zac Reimer, Steve Trevena, Adam Campbell, Ned Kurta, Dan Mullins, Andrew Gosper, Iain Campbell and Glen Gosper for the unfurling, and said it was a day he was unlikely to forget in a hurry.
It’s a unique side, with Hughes’ 79 years the top age, while young Zac Reimer was just 17 when the team won the title back at the beginning of August.
In the decider, Manildra trailed by 18 shots halfway through the final against Zone 16 representatives Windang before rallying late to eventually claim the pennant by four shots.
“We had so much support come down to get us over the line,” Hughes recalled, the club one of the smallest in the region with just 30 members.
“They flooded the green when we won it.”
Manildra lost its first game of the Grade 6 pennants but recovered and mounted a memorable charge to the final victory, knocking over Woy Woy 78-54 in a dominant semi-final victory before accounting for Windang in a pulsating come-from-behind triumph.
Hughes praised the work of the entire team, and that of manager Bruce Fliedner who did a “brilliant job” during the side’s victorious campaign.
Manildra will now contest the Grade 5 pennants in the coming year.
Hughes is hoping it won’t be another 51 years before the town celebrates its next unfurling of a state pennant flag.
nick.mcgrath@fairfaxmedia.com.au
