The 50th Moth National Bowls tournament organised by Pietermaritzburg and District Dugout was played in Pietermaritzburg in July after having to cancel it for the past two years due to Covid and other restrictions.
A total of twenty four teams entered which is about what we expected and fitted in well in as much we were able to have four sections of six teams. The majority of these teams were from KZN and SKZN Provinces with three from Platinum Province. This we believe was due to the high cost of travelling. The round robin matches were played at Maritzburg West and Lynwood Bowling clubs. Two games were played on Monday and Tuesday with the final round robin game being played on Wednesday morning all at Maritzburg West Bowling club. The semi- finals were played that afternoon. The finals were then played on Thursday morning.
The overall winners of the tournament were the team from Up North skippered by Moth Laylon Howard and runners up were also an Up North team skippered by Moth Riaan van Rensburg. The other section winners were Atomic and Monte Sole Shellholes. Congratulations to all
The tournament was played in the three ideals of the Order. There was plenty of True Comradeship particularly after the games. Not so much Mutual Help on the greens and most players went away with Sound Memories of the tournament.
Thanks go to all our sponsors without who we would not have been able to run the tournament. These sponsors being Bluff Meat Supply, Hilton Quarry Super Spar, SA Breweries, KWV Brandy as well as companies placing adverts and for monetary donations.
We were able to make a cash surplus of roughly R10, 000 with in turn was donated to the Garden of Remembrance in Pietermaritzburg, the home of the Weeping Cross from Delville Wood.
Sincere thanks go to the Organising Committee who worked tirelessly to ensure the smooth running of the tournament as well as to Maritzburg West and Lynwood Bowling clubs for the use of their superb facilities and lastly to Voortrekker High School who made their boarding hostel available to accommodate a number of players.
The 51st Moth National Tournament is to be organised by Journeys End Shellhole and will be played at Parkhill Bowling Club in Durban North. Hopefully we will see a number of other Shellholes entering to get this great tournament back to what it used to be
Rob Buchanan
