Contributed by Rodzim Zaimy b Abdul Hamid, Convener for Bowling, Bar Council Sports Committee; and photos by G Shagela Nair, Officer, Bar Council Sports Committee, Bar Council
This is the 50th year of the Bench and Bar Games, and the Bowling Team knew from the beginning that it will be a close and fired up competition in Singapore. The Law Society of Singapore (“LSS”) always puts up a very strong side every time it plays host.
Our team this year included one new face in Sharon Kaur Jessy. Most of the players arrived in Singapore on the 26 Apr 2019 and had a good training session at the venue in the afternoon. This training session is essential for the bowlers to familiarise themselves with the lane conditions, oilings and the alley. After practice, the Singapore Bowling Team took our team for dinner at F.O.M.O., a hip food court situated in the heart of Kampong Glam area at Sultan Gate. Our team had a good night of food and drinks and was in high spirits.
On the morning of 27 Apr 2019, the team headed to the venue knowing that the overall score was very close and the Malaysian Bar (“MB”) contingent needed us to win the point. We started off very well in the team event where 10 bowlers played two games each and the total pinfalls would decide the winner. We managed to get 3,574 pinfalls while the Singaporeans only managed 3,403 pinfalls. MB 1 LSS 0.
Then came the singles event. Nor Hishammuddin b Mohd Nordin played the first singles and he won comfortably against Shawn Loh 193–171 and 234–153. MB 2 LSS 0. Alvin Neo playing the second singles also won 176–137 and 224–211 against Er Ewen. MB 3 LSS 0. Rodzim Zaimy b Abdul Hamid played the third singles against Keng Siang. Rodzim injured his hamstring and lost the first game 176–178. Treatment was given to the injured hamstring, and he came back to win 246–163 in the second game and forced a rubber. In a tensed rubber game, Rodzim won 194–167 to bring the score to MB 4 LSS 0.
Sia Siew Mun came for the ladies singles event, determined to avenge her loss in the same event last year. She was up against Rachel Ang, a new player introduced by the Singaporeans this year but also one of their strongest. Sia Siew Mun won the first game 167–139 but lost the second game 188–202. During the crucial rubber game, she kept her composure and won 198–158 to give MB 5 LSS 0. A very comfortable lead indeed.
LSS is very strong in their doubles and mixed doubles and they proved it once again. Kow Kok Leong and Jeyakumar Palakrishnar won the first game 312–311 but lost the second game 338–449 to Theodore Tan and Kenneth Teo. In the rubber, we just could not keep up and lost 315–376. MB 5 LSS 1.
Our second men’s doubles pair of Simon Tan Hong Jin and Muhafiy b Mukhtar could not match the pair of Alvin Ron and Javier Yeo, losing in straight games 327–382 and 293–380. MB 5 LSS 2. Then came the ladies doubles. Our rookie Sharon Kaur Jessy partnering Ghasidah bt Jusoh — they fought hard but it was not enough and we lost 280–333 and 286–334. MB 5 LSS 3. The LSS Team smelled blood at this point.
The mixed doubles came next. Our first mixed doubles of Sia Siew Mun and Alvin Neo lost to Rachel Ang and Javier Yeo 355–372 and 348–426. MB 5 LSS 4. Luckily for us our second mixed doubles of Ghasidah bt Jusoh and Nor Hishammuddin b Mohd Nordin managed to beat Desiree Lim and Kenneth Teo 350–331 and 365–335. MB 6 LSS 4. Now we need just another point out of three left to reach the seven points which would put us at an unassailable lead. Our third mixed doubles of Sharon Kaur Jessy and Jeyakumar Palakrishnar could not cope with the LSS pairing of Tan Ying Wee and Shawn Loh. Jeyakumar Palakrishnar hurt his back and was going through the pain barrier every time he threw the ball. He never gave up and still tried his very best. It was not enough though and we lost 302–379 and 294–351. MB 6 LSS 5.
The tension can be felt all around the alley going into the last event; the Baker format. Malaysia Team A of Alvin Neo, Jeyakumar Palakrishnar, Sia Siew Mun, Rodzim Zaimy b Abdul Hamid and Nor Hishammuddin b Mohd Nordin took an early lead but LSS came back to win it. We lost 166–180. MB 6 LSS 6. At this point, our hope laid with Team B of Simon Tan Hong Jin, Ghasidah bt Jusoh, Sharon Kaur Jessy, Kow Kok Leong and Muhafiy b Mukhtar. It was neck to neck. It was a close game and it was nerve–wracking. Our anchorman Muhafiy b Mukhtar finished it off in style with three consecutive strikes! With that, we won 199–173. Final score MB 7 LSS 6!
A big thank you to all who came and supported us. A big thank you to all my players for making the trip and fighting very hard to give us this win. A big thank you to Dayana Izzati Abdullah (Stella) who had injured her thumb while training in Malaysia and had to undergo surgery, Rosnah Faisal, Nurul Haida bt Hashim, Allyshea Low, and Mohamad Al Hilmi b Mohd Ali for your well wishes. A big thank you to the Bar Council Sports Committee for always supporting the team.