Sons roll with dads to another win

A Cunnamulla-Roma alliance of fathers and sons proved to be a winning combination at the men's fours.

YOUNG GUN: Todd Brain, 12, won the Roma Men's Fours on Sunday, alongside his dad Rick, and friends Robert and John Hammond. Picture: Jorja McDonnell

Rick and Todd Brain, along with Rob and John Hammond, have bowled their way in to the history books as back-to-back winners of the Roma Men's Fours carnival.

The Brains of Cunnamulla joined forces with Roma's own father-son duo to make it a double on Sunday.

"We first played together last year in Roma and won the tournament,” Rick Brain said.

"I'd got to know Robbie and Johnny throughout the years of travelling around the district with bowls, and they were the ones who asked us to team up first.

"To make it two in a row has been great, and to see my 12-year-old boy hold his own against any opponent is another success in itself.”

John and Rob Hammond with Rick and Todd Brain. Picture: Contributed

The Brain men used to practice together all the time, and have managed to keep their winning edge, despite a drop in their green time this year.

"Todd has been bowling with me for just under three years, he was 10 when we started,” Brain said.

"He has gone away to boarding school, but when he is home we will still travel and have a few games here and there.”

Considering their continued success across the wider region, their performance at carnivals is a testament to the junior bowls program Rick has put in place in Cunnamulla.

"I started the junior bowls program just under two years ago,” Brain said.

"Since then I have taken a team of 14 kids from Cunnamulla, plus one from Quilpie and one from Gayndah to the Queensland championships - on the first day we made up a third of all the participants statewide.

"I'm not so sure what they like the most, but I do try to make it fun; and I say to them, bowls is about having a go and trying to get the best out of yourself.”

Originally published as Sons roll with dads to another win