|
MIDDLESEX CBA BLOWN AWAY BY THE ISLE OF WIGHT CBA
Winchmore Hill BC played host to the regional finals of Bowls England County Two Fours competition on Sunday. Middlesex CBA played the Isle of Wight CBA and Surrey CBA played Berkshire CBA.
The players were greeted by overcast conditions but as the morning progressed the weather brightened into a pleasant summers day. The match was played on, by what all the players felt was a tricky green, not helped by a strong gusting wind, recent overnight rain had slowed the pace. At times the wind made the bowls adopt all sorts of funny lines and angles on the green often causing a degree of hilarity amongst even the seasoned internationals present.
One player however seemed unaffected by the prevailing conditions and produced a master class of skip play, especially with his last bowl. That player, unfortunately for Middlesex was the Isle of Wight’s Darren Griffiths, as well as the rest of his rink played, and they did play well, his last bowl was used to devastating effect, repeatedly, either drawing the shot or converting one down into 2, 3, or 4 shots up!. This consistency ultimately proved too much for Middlesex and with 3 ends to play they conceded the match 41 shots to 23 (full scorecards below).
Discussing the game afterwards in the bar, Middlesex felt that, although the better side on the day had won the margin was harsh on their efforts. Looking back though, although the day had proved dissapointing, the players could take great heart from their preliminary round victory over Kent.
In the second semi final Surrey CBA overcame Berkshire CBA.
After a splendid lunch provided by the Winchmore Hill Club and speeches by their President and Bowls England representative Richard Clarke those present gathered for the afternoon final and what a dramatic conclusion it provided.
When the first rink
finished Surrey CBA led by 5 shots with only 2 ends remaining. On the
first of those the Isle of Wight scored a 4, leaving the match in the
balance for the final end. One shot would have taken things to a dramatic
extra end but the Islanders were having none of that and so conscious that
they had a ferry to catch they proceeded to score 2 shots and beat Surrey
by one shot, to qualify for the National final stages at
Worthing. Congratulations to them, lets hope they go on and win the
competition and then at least we lost to the winners!
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||