By Leichhardt Bowlo chairman Alistair Scott, with contributions from Scarborough-Wombarra Bowlo director Sean Izzard
On Saturday, 30 August, 28 bowlers from Leichhardt packed their bags, their bowls, and a keg of beer, heading south to Wombarra-Scarborough Bowling Club. The mission? To contest the long-forgotten Bill Myerscough Plate. The result? More than a game. It was the symbolic rekindling of a friendship between two proud, independent clubs.
A schooner, a sign, and a spark
Every good yarn starts with a chance encounter. This one began after a stomp along the Wodi Wodi trail in the Royal National Park. In search of the nearest schooner shop, I steered away from the well-trodden Scarborough Hotel and instead obeyed a bold roadside sign: “Wombarra Bowlo — The Best Bowlo in Australia.”
Inside, among the trophies and numerous pennant flags, one relic stood out. The inscription read: The Bill Myerscough Plate — Leichhardt B.C. and Scarborough-Wombarra B.C.
After a quick introduction to Club General Manager, Michael and Bowls President Pedro, I asked the obvious: “Does that really say Leichhardt? What’s this all about?”
That question cracked open decades of history, and months later saw a convoy of Leichhardt bowlers rolling down the highway for a reunion few knew was waiting.
The legend behind the name
What was uncovered was a character built for classic bowlo folklore. Bill “Hipdrop” Myerscough was a Wombarra legend of the 1950s. While most bowlers had swapped to plastic bowls, Bill stubbornly stayed loyal to his old wooden, wide-biased size-3s — the kind that would sail two rinks wide before swinging back to rest at the kitty.
He was also a keen spear fisher of mythical repute. Bill would boast of waiting for the garfish to line up neatly before letting fly, skewering nine in a single shot. So mythical in fact, it was revealed by his daughter Alison that he had never set foot in the ocean! Regardless, his name remains etched on Wombarra’s bowling honour boards, and now, his trophy lives again.
Bowls, banter, and The Black Duck
The day itself was a masterclass in club hospitality. On arrival, the visitors from Leichhardt were greeted with homemade cakes, coffees and snacks from the women’s committee, and a brekkie BBQ courtesy of the greenkeeper. By lunchtime, the club’s kitchen was flat out with post-game platters, and they more than lived up to their reputation. The Black Duck — named for the Pacific Black Duck, a bird with deep roots in local Yuin and Dharawal culture and proudly worn on the club’s pennant jerseys — turned out a feed every bit as memorable as the bowls.
And then, of course, there was the bowls. After a hard-fought contest across the rinks, Wombarra edged out Leichhardt by just 8 shots overall. A close finish, and a fitting way to resurrect the trophy.
More than a margin
The highlight came late in the day thanks to some detective work from Wombarra Board Member and bowls co-ordinator Sean Izzard, who tracked down the Myerscough family and invited them along. Bill’s 90-year-old daughter Alice, together with grandchildren Mick and Anthony, presented the freshly restored Plate, mounted on local timber by the Helensburgh Men’s Shed, to the winning side. The family’s surprise and pride in seeing Bill celebrated after so many years was a real reminder of what community sport is all about.
Yes, Wombarra took the chocolates this time. But the true win was bigger: two clubs re-connected, new mates made, a rivalry reborn.
Next year, the tables turn. Wombarra head north to the Inner West, where the beers will be cold, the greens rolled, and a spot reserved on our wall for the Bill Myerscough Plate.
