The game where everything goes according to plan, pins are scattered everywhere and the score reads 300 at the end of play.

Thornton bowler Simon Clarke has done just that after striking his way to a 300 game at Raymond Terrace Ten Pin Bowling Centre last month.

It was his first 300 game at the Raymond Terrace venue but not his first in a career that has spanned across two decades.

Clarke, 64, started bowling in the late 1980s and since then has knocked down each and every pin on four occasions – once in 2001, twice in 2004 and most recently in October.

His latest effort reached its boiling point when Clarke stared down the lane and eyed off his final frame.

“It is just as hard to get the 12th one (strike) as the first,” Clarke said.

“I was just trying to do the same thing again.”

Clarke knew what he needed to do but word of his deeds had whispered around the alley and a crowd formed to watch the deciding delivery.

“So many people leave one standing,” Clarke said.

“I mean 299 is a top game but it does not sound the same as 300.”

Clarke certainly gave the gallery something to cheer about when he achieved the all important strike.

The sense of accomplishment was increased for Clarke after starting the night out of form.

“I started off really badly in the first game of the night but halfway during the second it all started coming

together and I finished with five straight spares.

“The third game was strikes all the way through and I was fortunate enough to hit 12 in a row.”

Clarke’s other three perfect games were achieved at the old Maitland Bowl at Rutherford before it closed.

Now, Clarke will go back to working on his average.

Clarke’s average is 183 but it has been as high as 197 when he bowled at Maitland.

“I will be trying to improve and

trying to get my average back into the 190s,” Clarke said.

“We’ll get there.”

It may even entail Clarke’s fifth 300 game.