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2nd March 2010 11:05:46 AM

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Bowling family… Eleven-year-old Jordan Yates with, from left, his dad Darren, aunty Judy Davey and grandpa Jim. 43510 Picture: EMILY LANE

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THE Yates family knows more than anyone that when it comes to lawn bowls, blood is thicker than water.

Glenroy Bowls Club’s Jim Yates, father of Darren Yates and Judy Davey, and grandfather of Jordan Yates played together and won their division two section two rink against Buckley Park in the final game of the season.

Jim said the match itself was close but the family pulled through to secure the rink for Glenroy.

“We managed to win our game 22-20, a real nail biter,” he said.

Jim said the four are not normally in the same side, let alone rink, but given it was the last game of the season and no finals chance within reach, Glenroy swung the changes and family fate fell the way of the Yates’.

“We’ve been in different teams all year. Coming to the end of the year, we decided to give all the young ones a run in the number one side,” Jim said.

“And that meant that the little bloke was going to get a run, he’s 11, and Judy, she’s been playing the same four with my son (Darren), and that meant that I could go in.”

Jim said Jordan loved the game and practiced all the time.

“This is his fourth year and he really loves the game that much that I can’t believe. He would probably spend three hours a week rolling bowls up and down the lounge room, just can’t get enough of it. If he sticks like that, he’s going to be pretty handy.”

Jim said Darren took the skipping duties, while Jim himself took a back seat role during the game.

“My son Darren was skipper, I played third, little bloke played second and Judy was the lead.” And it just goes to show that nothing can beat the strength of a family when it comes to the Yates on the green.

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