AFTER a winter spent inside Mortlake Blue's James Ryddle was eager to hit the greens once again as his side chases a second consecutive finals berth.
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"There was nothing to do during winter and I usually go away to tournaments and all that but there was nothing so now I'm back it's just a good feeling," he told The Standard on Saturday.
"It's good to just get out of the house, catch up with all my teammates that I haven't seen for ages because you only see them when you are playing bowls."
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The Mortlake-based apprentice electrician, 25, who has been playing bowls for close to 10 years, said the side would benefit from its first taste of finals last season.
"From what I know it (last year) was the first time Mortlake has ever made the finals and division one so it's definitely a major learning curve," he said.
"It's completely different than playing here on a normal Saturday."
Ryddle, who frequently competes in tournaments as well as Saturday pennant, said he had tried other sports before realising lawn bowls was his passion.
"I tried footy and cricket but it wasn't very good at them but I'm half decent at this one," he said.
"It's a level playing field like no one's got any advantages or disadvantages, you can play people with handicaps and you're still on the same playing field as them.
"I've been playing for about four or five years now for Mortlake. I grew up around the indoor ball scene and my indoor club folded so Mortlake was the next option for outdoor.
"I've been playing socially for about 10-odd years with a bit of barefoot bowls here and there, just having a good time."
Mortlake Blue were unable to get over Warrnambool Gold at home, going down by 24 shots.
Elsewhere, City Red defeated cross-town rivals Warrnambool Blue 76-41.
City's other division one side, Gold, claimed a narrow two-shot win over Terang Green.
Timboon Gold edged out Dennington Jets 64-46 while Koroit Blue defeated neighbours Port Fairy Red 63-50.
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Sean Hardeman
I'm a sports journalist for the Warrnambool Standard who covers a number of different sports across the south-west of Victoria. I enjoy watching cycling, surfing, football, soccer and Formula 1.
I'm a sports journalist for the Warrnambool Standard who covers a number of different sports across the south-west of Victoria. I enjoy watching cycling, surfing, football, soccer and Formula 1.
