St Charles College’s new finance manager Brad Robinson misses SA title by millimetres
Brad Robinson, the Maritzburg College Old Boy and new finance manager at St Charles College, came within millimetres of winning the Bowls South Africa National Men’s Singles title in Cape Town over the weekend.
The picturesque vista across the bowling greens at Western Province Cricket Club in Cape Town.
Feature photo: Brad Robinson in upbeat mood ahead of the singles semi-finals.
This tournament, along with the SA Masters and the SA Interprovincial, is in the top 3 most prestigious events in the country. And in terms of purely Club Bowls, is probably the number 1 event.
Brad and Niksa Benguric after the final of the SA singles.
Brad, who is a Team Aero player was 18-13 up in the SA singles final on the picturesque Western Province Cricket Club greens.
If he had touched the jack with his next and final shot on that particular end, the necessary 3 points were in the bag to be crowned SA bowls singles champion with a 21-13 victory.
Mason Robinson watches his dad Brad being interviewed.
When approached by KZN10.com a few hours ago as to how close he got with that final shot, Brad smiled ruefully: “Jono I had to touch the jack for 3 and just missed by a few millimetres.”
Brad’s opponent, Niksa Benguric from Gauteng North bowls province, came back into this tensest of title showdowns… and the scores were locked at 20-20.
Just like his brother Mason, Cole Robinson only has eyes for dad.
“Niksa saved game a few ends before the end,” says Brad, who predominantly plays out of Lynwood Bowling Club in Pietermaritzburg and represents the KZN Inland province.
“Then on that last head I narrowly missed the jack to win the final,” says Brad, who was also the runner-up in the 2017 SA National Men’s Singles final.
And the outcome was that Niksa won the SA National Men’s Singles title and gold medal on a 21-20 final scoreline with Brad taking the silver.
Must have been pretty tight out there, Brad?
“Yes Jono, it certainly was a tense game, yet played in a great spirit between old friends. I was relatively calm throughout and was backing myself all the way – even with the last bowl.
“One thing I stand by is that you have to trust your ability,” says Brad, who is a chartered accountant and previously a senior manager at Pricewaterhouse Coopers before taking up his new position at St Charles College.
KZN10.com website and social media thanks the outstanding #HalfwayToyota #Howick dealership and its general manager Brandon Brokensha for their support. I cannot do this alone. Contact me at joncookroy@gmail.com for info on the various advertising options and more. #TogetherWeAreOne. And why not give Brandon a call at 083 514 1089.
Brad participated in 3 disciplines at Nationals in Cape Town, namely the SA Fours, the SA Pairs and the SA Singles – and it was most definitely a case of near-misses across the board for this Maritzburg College Old Boy of the Class of 2000 .
“In the SA Fours I played with Calvin Hollis [of Maritzburg Bowling Club] and Gerry Baker and Prince Neluonde [of Bryanston Sports Club in Johannesburg].
“We lost in the quarter-finals by 1 shot with the last bowl.”
Brad (right) with his SA Fours competition teammates Calvin Hollis (of Maritzburg Bowling Club) and Gerry Baker and Prince Neluonde (of Bryanstan Sports Club in Johannesburg).
In the Pairs, again playing alongside Calvin Hollis – a Glenwood Old Boy and owner of the popular Kick & Whistle Family Restaurant and Sports Bar in the KZN capital – the two good friends lost on an extra end in the last 16.
So near, yet so…
You can be sure that Brad will not be giving up his quest for gold anytime soon.
Take a look at this previous KZN10.com feature on Brad.
Brad playing for Lynwood.