BBC BROADCAST SATURDAY/SUNDAY OCTOBER 11/12th (Terry Norwood at the desk)
Major Singles Championship
The first round of this prestigious event was completed over the weekend with the bowlers having to contend with a very strong, blustery north/south wind.
As reported earlier, one match had been moved forward by arrangement and played on Wednesday October 8th with Al McGhee taking on Mick Flynn. Al finally got the better of Mick and came home victorious at 25 – 20. So, Al was the first to move into the quarter finals set down for the 18th.
Three of the remaining first round matches were played on Saturday, with the other three hitting the Wilson Green on Sunday morning. The last of the first round matches between Ash Lewis and Oscar Whalin will be played midweek so that the quarter-finals can all be played on time on the 18th. The semi-finals will follow on the Sunday!
Saturday Matches
On rink 4 on Saturday, Jim Neely tussled against Noel Fraser and both bowlers won early ends for the score to be locked up at 5 all after six. Jim then edged to the lead and after fifteen ends led 14 – 8. However, Noel won seven of the next eight ends to take over the lead at 18 – 15. This match had settled into a very tight encounter with neither conceding anything to the other. Jim moved to a lead of 19 – 18, then Noel was in front 20 – 19 until Jim notched up a couple of doubles and a single to be all but at 24 – 20. Far from done, Noel dug in and despite the wind, drew skilfully to grind out a hard fought win at 25 – 24. What a great match!
Noel bowled beautifully in a long, drawn out match!
In the next game, Peter Flight took on the evergreen Gordon Lewis and Gordon was first to strike leading 6 – 0 after three. Peter managed a couple of singles but after nine ends Gordon’s lead was 15 – 2 and he was looking the goods. Peter moved the score to 8 – 15 but was soon under the pump again at 8 – 21. However, Peter then cracked a single followed by a four and was holding four on the next end and looking strong. Unphased, Gordon rolled in a shot to beat the four and charged on to victory! 25 – 13 was the final score.
Gordon just keeps rolling down fine bowls!
In the match on rink 6, Chris Forrester shaped up against Dugald Braithwaite and Chris led 4 – 3 after five ends. Dugald broke through for a three on the next end and by the eleventh led 10 – 9. It was then that Dugald began to dominate proceedings, and by the seventeenth end was in a commanding position at 19 – 10. Anything that Chris could come up with was more than matched by the masterful Dugald. Chris grabbed a welcome double on the twentieth, but it was all over on the next end when Dugald notched up a triple. 25 – 12 was the final score.
The impressive style of Dugald!
Sunday Matches
On rink 3, Mark Barrow and Dave Coltman did battle against each other and the wind! Dave got off to a flyer leading 8 – 0 after four ends. Mark got himself onto the card, and by the ninth end had reduced the margin to five at 5 – 10. However, Dave soon showed how experience would count, and he moved into his work with style. Try as he might, Mark couldn’t make any headway with Dave more than matching anything he could come up with. Mark managed the odd single but Dave proved much too good, and the final score was 25 – 9 to Dave in a breezy twenty-one ends.
Dave got the better of the wind in a breezy match!
On rink 5. Arnie Lenczuk took the battle up to Richard Denman and a four shotter to Richard on the third end gave him a 6 – 2 lead. Both were on the money over the next few ends with Richard still in the lead by three shots after ten. Arnie was having one of those days that when he was holding shot Richard would lob inside him and pinch the end! Richard kept pocketing singles and although he dropped a three on the nineteenth, still led by 18 – 14. Arnie hung in but Richard was too good on the day and finished up a seven shot winner at 25 – 18.
Richard and his orange bowls were on song in the wind!
In the third game on Sunday, Bob Edwards took on Terry Norwood, and this was to be a monumental struggle over thirty-one ends! Both scored early and it was Bob who led 5 – 3 after five ends. Terry then won five ends on the trot to lead 10 – 7. It was Bob’s turn then to have the better of proceedings and he led 16 – 13 after twenty-one. Terry then found better touch and went to a lead of 22 – 16, until Bob grabbed a four and then levelled the score at 22 all! In a couple of very tight final ends, Terry prevailed and got home 25 – 22.
Terry sneaked home in a long, tight encounter!
So, the quarter-finals will be
Gordon Lewis Vs Dave Coltman
Noel Fraser Vs Terry Norwood
Al McGhee Vs Richard Denman
Dugald Braithwaite Vs Oscar Whalin or Ash Lewis
Bowl well gentlemen!!