THEY were a bunch of local mates with a passion for conquering the greens who became the record-breaking kings of NSW Pennant lawn bowls.
Soldiers Point Bowling Club’s Men’s Class of 2005 was the first Port Stephens-based club to win the No 1 State Pennants championship trophy.
The super team downed Central Coast club Bateau Bay 57-51 in a gripping final at The Entrance Bowling Club to bring home their first ever state title and etch their names in the record books.
The men have organised a 20-year reunion for Saturday August 2 at Soldiers Point Bowling Club to celebrate that magnificent achievement.
The accomplished bowlers will take a trip down memory lane and reminisce how they toppled powerhouse teams from Taren Point, Brunswick Heads and Wollongong’s Towradgi Park to stamp themselves the number one club in NSW.
Club legend Les Ritchie, a valuable member of that championship-winning Soldiers Point lineup, told News Of The Area that the team was “a close-knit group with a fierce determination to capture that elusive title.”
“We are all great mates and really connected as a team back then to grab a slice of history,” said the talented all-round sportsman who also played first grade cricket with Sutherland and top grade hockey for St George.
The long awaited reunion will be held almost 20 years to the day since their famous Pennants triumph.
“All the boys have fond memories of that three-day carnival back in 2005 at The Entrance, and how we managed to progress and ultimately become State champions.
“They were good old days and we shared a special bond on and off the bowling greens.”
Les and his teammates were part of a golden Soldiers Point lawn bowls era.
The team also featured five NSW representatives in Bob Dunn, Neville Downes, Simon Lack, Jason Stokes and Jason Pietrasek plus top bowlers in Bryce Williams, David Brandt, Chris Ramage, Ross Gardiner, Alan Miller, Jim Towers and Harry Porter with team manager Allan Cloke.
Today, local boy Lack is the club’s tireless secretary-manager and still a cagey bowler in his own right.
As well as being crowned State champions in 2005, the team won six consecutive Newcastle District No 1 Pennant titles from 2003-2008 and finished State No 1 runners up in 2007.
“Towradgi avenged their loss in 2005 by beating us in the State championship final two years later,” Les said.
Among the 16 teams also at the 2005 State Pennants finals were the Raymond Terrace and Kahibah Bowling Clubs.
The Raymond Terrace club has since become a powerhouse on the lawn bowls scene, securing multiple state titles and boasting a wealth of NSW and Australian representatives.
During their title charge in 2005, the Soldiers Point team defeated Northmead 61-55, Brunswick Heads 92-37, Towradgi Park 55-54 and hot favourites Taren Point 64-47 before sinking Bateau Bay in the final.
“We had a close tussle with Towradgi who were led by Australian rep Tom Ellem before eliminating the top ranked Taren Point side in a semi-final the next day,” recalled Les.
“They were a powerful and experienced team but we outplayed them with consistent bowls to advance to the Pennant decider.”
Soldiers Point stood up to be counted in the final. Bateau Bay led 46-43 after twenty ends and 51-50 before the local Soldiers Point heroes rallied to clinch the trophy by six bowls in a classic moment.
By Chris KARAS
You can help your local paper.
Make a small once-off, or (if you can) a regular donation.
We are an independent family owned business and our newspapers are free to collect and our news stories are free online.
Help support us into the future.
