The famous Maxwell Smart line “missed it by that much” is one Yarraville-Footscray skip Wayne Roberts could have used three times in the past week.
Roberts was cruelly denied in two singles finals and then had to settle for a draw playing with the Bulldogs in Saturday pennant.
“It drove me crazy,” said Roberts with a laugh when describing his near misses.
He spent most of the week on the greens in Shepparton competing at the Victorian Open.
He was part of a triples team that made it through to the semi-finals and a pairs team that could not make it past the round robin stage.
But Roberts’ singles form during the week was nearly exemplary – he won his way through to Friday’s final to face Essendon’s Nathan Wilson.
A former Victorian Open singles champion, Roberts was aiming to become the first person to win the title twice.
Roberts held a commanding five-shot lead early in the game but Wilson fought back to win 21-14.
“His second half of the game, he bowled extremely well,” Roberts said.
“I’d be holding one or two on a number of ends and with his last bowl he’d draw a flat toucher.”
Despite the unfavourable result, Roberts has vowed to return to the Open next year.
“I’ve been lucky … won it two years ago and runner-up this year, so I’m happy with that,” he said. “I’ll go back next year and have another crack at it.
“It’s hard work – all the best bowlers are there from Victoria and interstate and there were a couple from New Zealand.”
Roberts would be the bridesmaid again in the metro west singles final on Sunday.
His day started with promise when he beat Melton’s David George in a quarter-final and club mate Nathan Murray in a semi.
But he went on to lose the final 25-20 to Deer Park’s Gavin Niclasen.
After 10 days straight on the greens, Roberts was left tired and frustrated – but not disheartened.
“I gave it my best shot but it wasn’t good enough,” he said.
