BBC BROADCAST SATURDAY MAY 31st (Terry Norwood at the desk)
Club Major Triples Championship
A beautiful winter day on Saturday saw the staging of the semi-finals of the Club Major Triples Championship, and the results were as follows.
On rink 9, Peter Watson, Oscar Whalan and Dugald Braithwaite took on Sylvia Handley (sub for Mick Spong), Gordon Lewis and Ash Lewis, and it was Dugald’s team that won the early ends to lead 5 – 1 after four. It was then that team Lewis hit their straps, and by the seventh end had edged to the lead by a shot. However, six shots over the next two ends to team Braithwaite reversed the lead only to have Ash’s team run together four ends and take a 14 – 11 lead into the second half of the match. Dugald’s team responded with a four shotter only to see team Lewis regain the lead with four singles. A three levelled the scores, but another run of singles and doubles gave Ash’s team a four shot lead with one end to play. In a monumental last end, team Braithwaite outdrew the leaders, but, unfortunately for his team, fell agonisingly one shot short with a three. In a terrific game, team Lewis got home by 24 – 23 and so progresses to the final.
As sub, Sylvia had a fine game for the victors!
In the other semi-final, Richard Denman, Clive Neutze and Stephen Day battled against Graham Hartnup, Ian Duncan and Dave Charlesworth, and a sizzling three followed by a five on the fourth end gave Steve’s team an early lead of 8 – 2. Dave’s team then notched up a couple of singles but they were still trailing after nine ends by 13 – 4. However, a very welcome three lifted their spirits, and a couple of doubles followed by a single saw them only two shots behind after fourteen ends. Game on!! By the seventeenth, Steve’s team’s lead was down to a single shot, but when they cracked a four shotter, it was back out to six. A couple of singles then kept team Charlesworth in the match but it was only momentary because another four to Steve’s team snuffed out their chances. The final score was 27 – 18 to team Day in a game where the skippers reported that form was fairly patchy.
Clive Neutze on the mat with his team heading to victory!
So, the final next Saturday June 7th will see Richard Denman, Clive Neutze and Stephen Day up against Gordon Lewis, Ash Lewis and Mick Spong. Bowl well gentlemen!
Social Bowls
Eighteen bowlers turned out for social bowls on this very pleasant Saturday afternoon, so the Match Committee organised three games of triples to give them a run on the green.
On rink 7, Mark ‘straw’ Barrow, Charles ‘morse’ Coode and Arnie ‘dickie knee’ Lenczuk faced up to Grahame ‘dragon’ Denman, Mike ‘grappling’ Hook and Mick ‘potters’ Flynn and this game progressed as one-way traffic for the whole of the afternoon! Arnie’s trio scored a single on the first end but team Flynn then took over the running. They led 10 – 1 after six ends, 13 – 2 after nine and 17 – 6 after thirteen! Whatever Arnie’s team came up with was more than matched by Mick and his men. Team Lenczuk did notch up a massive five shotter on the seventeenth to reach double figures, but team Flynn finally bowled them over to the tune of 30 – 13! Quite a thumping!
On rink 12, Jill ‘Hollywood’ Harwood, Graham ‘leaning tower’ Hunt and Bob ‘wily’ Edwards tussled for honours against newby Laura Quinterall, Peter ‘Virgin’ Flight and coach extraordinaire Robin Staples, and although they dropped singles on the first three ends, team Staples soon hit their straps to lead 7 – 4 after seven. Bob’s team then squared the scores on the ninth, but a couple of three shotters put Robin’s team well in front at 14 – 7 on the twelfth. They then pushed this out to 21 – 8 and when stumps were drawn were comfortably leading 22 – 12. Jill and Laura had a good battle as leads while Peter pestered the opposition with many fine draws.
In the final game on rink 15, Ted ‘Barry’ McPhee, Peter ‘junior’ Martin and Terry ‘Preston’ Norwood battle against Barry ‘smerfel’ Werfel, Peter ‘senior’ Marshall and Rowena ‘remorseless’ Coode, and in a tight opening both sides scored for team Norwood to lead 5 – 2 after four ends. Rowena’s team then won five ends on the trot to lead 9 – 5 and had the opposition scratching their heads. The scratching worked as Terry’s team levelled at 9 all, but then didn’t work as they slipped behind 9 – 13. With ends very close, team Norwood then won five ends and with one to play, led by three. In a dazzling finish when holding three, Rowena drew the winning shot with her last and buried the opposition. It was 17 – 16 in a very tight, hard-fought match, with Rowena the star, constantly ruining what the opposition had set up!!