BBC BROADCAST WEEKEND 18/19th OCTOBER (Terry Norwood at then desk)
Major Singles Championship
The weekend saw this prestigious event move into the finals stage with the playing of the quarter finals on Saturday and the semi-finals on Sunday.
Quarter Finals
On rink 6 of the Wilson Green, Al McGhee took on Richard Denman and Al struck first leading 6 – 0 after three ends. Richard got the score to 5 – 6 before Al really warmed to his work and pushed the score out to 17 – 7, and looked very secure. However, Richard then had a solid run of four from five ends to reduce the lead to six shots at 19 – 13 and was giving Al something to think about. However, Al then grabbed a three to move into the twenties on the card, and, despite dropping a couple of singles, moved on to a comfortable 25 – 15 victory.
On the next rink, Gordon Lewis tussled against Dave Coltman with Dave getting away to a flyer to lead 8 – 0 after five ends. Gordon then found his line and length to open his scoring with a double. He then had slightly the better of the next few ends reducing the deficit to six shots at 13 – 7. However, Dave then had a very solid run and in pushing his lead out to 20 – 8 by the nineteenth end, had gained a stranglehold on the game. Gordon managed to move the score to 21 – 14 before Dave delivered the knock-out blow to win 25 – 14.
On rink four, title favourites and former champs Ash Lewis and Dugald Braithwaite battled for supremacy and it was Ash who had the better of the early ends to lead 8 – 3 after six. It was then that Dugald blended together eight of nine ends to lead 14 – 11. Ash struck back with four consecutive ends to regain the lead, only to see Dugald win the next eight and lead 24 – 18. Like the top draw bowler he is, Ash dug in, winning the next three ends and moving the score to 24 – 22. At this point, it looked either bowler’s game! And then, on the thirtieth, and what turned out to be the final end, Dugald played a superb running shot with his third bowl to trail the jack and hold game. Unfortunately for Ash, he was unable to draw shot and so it was victory to Dugald at 25 – 22.
In the final game, Noel Fraser battled for honours against Terry Norwood and it was Noel who opened brightly winning the first three ends. Terry finally found his line to grab three of the next four ends and the lead at 7 – 6. This match then settled into a very tight affair with neither bowler able to break free of the other. The scores were then 9 all, 14 all, 15 all and 16 all as these two ground away at each other. And then Terry put together a run of five ends to lead 23 – 18 and look to have the upper hand. However, as he did in the previous round, Noel hung tough, grabbed a three and was back in the match. He dropped a single, but on the following end produced a gem with his last bowl when down game! Wow! Then, with his tail up, he rolled over his opponent to win 25 – 24 in a super comeback!
Semi-finals Sunday
On rink 5, Al McGhee took on Dugald Braithwaite to see who would move into the final the following Saturday. Al opened brightly winning the first two ends and by the fifth led 7 – 5. Dugald then started to get the better of the blustery breeze putting together four ends, collecting ten shots, and moving out to a solid lead of 15 – 7. Far from done, Al then went on a winning run and moved to within three shots at 17 – 13. However, former champ Dugald then took control with some super bowling and effectively shut Al out of the match. With a final score of 25 – 15, Dugald looked every bit a former champ on a mission!
On the next rink, Dave Coltman entered the struggle against Noel Fraser with all guns blazing winning four of the five opening ends to lead 7 – 1 and look in control. However, Noel finally found his line and length in the breeze and began to edge his way back into the match. After a string of singles, Noel then notched up some multiples and took over the lead. It was then that disaster struck . . . Dave’s back gave way on him and, sadly, there was no way he was able to continue. What a tragedy! Obviously, this was not the way Noel wanted to move to the final, but misfortune does strike from time to time and on this occasion Noel was to be the beneficiary.
So, the final of the Major Singles Championship will be between Dugald Braithwaite and Noel Fraser on Saturday October 25th at 12.30. Bowl well gentlemen, and may you both experience the best of good fortune.