BBC BROADCAST WEEKEND JANUARY4th & 5th (Terry Norwood at the desk)
Bits and pieces to start with:
- The BBC Major Fours Championship got underway on the weekend, and details appear below. With the completion of the semi-finals on Sunday, the final will be staged next Saturday January 11th at 12. 30. Also on show at that time will be the final of the Fours Championship Plate.
- Despite some unresolved issues regarding pennants, it is still planned to commence pennants training on Saturday 18th of January. Hopefully matters will be resolved by Wednesday 8th and teams for the trials posted shortly thereafter.
- Bowlers are advised that the Chris Benton Charity day normally held around this time of the year has been postponed until May. We should have a date for you soon but it is very likely to be early May, so gentlemen, keep an eye open for the announcement.
- And for information, the next meeting of the Men’s Bowling Committee will be held at 10.30 on Wednesday January 15th.
A couple of reminders about bowling etiquette/protocols:
The Match Committee feels it is timely to remind bowlers of requirements to keep ends moving efficiently and smoothly. Pennants bowlers and those playing in championship competitions will need to observe the protocols or they will quickly get told by the umpire that they are in breech of the rules. But apart from that, it is helpful that all bowlers practise the correct procedures at all times, and this includes during social bowls.
Reminder number one – lead bowlers in triples matches and leads and seconds in fours games are reminded that they need to stay out of the head at all times including when changing ends for the skippers to bowl and especially when the count is being undertaken at the conclusion of the end. Of course lead bowlers will be interested in the head as they change ends, but keep walking as you check the result of your bowls.
Reminder number two – second bowlers in triples matches and third bowlers in the fours games are reminded that when your skip is bowling and his bowl comes to rest you need to clear the head irrespective of how tempting it is to walk in and have a look at a close result. Position yourself so that you know the result the moment the bowl comes to rest, and then move back out of the head because authority over the head has shifted to the other side.
Major Fours Championship
Saturday saw the playing of the two quarter final matches. The weather was hot to start with, but a storm, which briefly halted play, brought the temperature right down.
On rink 10, Stephen Day, Reta South, Chris Forrester and skipper Bob Edwards took on Gordon Lewis, Gail Fraser (sub for Stephen Della), Ash Lewis and Mick Spong. As expected, the slick unit led by maestro Spong proved much too powerful for their opposition. All four were in fine fettle and outpointed their opposite number. The final score was a very decisive 29 – 6.
Mick the maestro led his team to perfection!
In the second match on rink 8, Bruce Yahl, Richard Denman (sub for Dave Charlesworth), Peter Flight and Mick Flynn took the battle up to Graham Hunt, Robin Staples, Don Chapman and Terry Norwood. In a dominant opening, Mick’s team led 8 – 1 after six ends and looked to be in control. However Terry’s team fought back and had levelled the score at 11 all on the fourteenth. The game went to the wire and was 17 all on the twenty-first end. On the 22nd end, Mick played the shot of the day, a full length of the green draw to the jack to win the match. Final score 18 – 17.
Sunday was the day of semi-final action. Again, the day started hot, but another storm in the afternoon saw the temperature very pleasant later.
On rink 8, the Mick Spong four of Gordon Lewis, Stephen Della, Ash Lewis and Mick set about tackling Rowena Coode, Charles Coode, Owen Williams and Arnie Lenczuk. Again, the powerful Spong unit proved much too strong for their lesser experienced opposition and came home with a crushing victory. When time was called, team Spong had won fourteen of the eighteen ends and had amassed 34 shots, including a five shotter, a six and a scorching seven.
In the other semi on rink 9, Bruce Yahl, Peter Flight, Dave Charlesworth and Mick Flynn took on Scott Kennon, Dave Coltman, Al McGhee and Dugald Braithwaite. Dugald’s team had the better of the opening five ends to lead 7 – 3, but when Mick’s team won the next three ends they hit the lead by a shot. However, they dropped the next three ends and surrendered the lead to be down 8 – 10 at the halfway point. The sides then won alternate ends for Dugald’s four to be ahead by a shot after the sixteenth. Dugald then primed his team, led from the mat with fine draws and saw his team home at 19 – 12.
Dugald was in fine form as he led his four home!
So, the final of the Major Fours Championship will be held next Saturday January 11th at 12.30, and will be between team Spong and team Braithwaite. It should be a cracker! Also on show will be the ‘final’ of the Fours plate, the match between the best of the first round losers. This year will see Stephen Day, Reta South, Chris Forrester and Bob Edwards take on Graham Hunt, Robin Staples, Don Chapman and Terry Norwood.