What a night of bowls! The Men’s County Triples kicked off with an absolute bang, serving up everything from total rink demolitions to nerve-shredding, final-bowl thrillers that had spectators biting their fingernails. If last night was anything to go by, we are in for a wild ride this season!
The Champ is Here!
All eyes were on Gosforth as defending champion and National Silver Medalist C. Yeomans (G) rolled up to begin his title defense. With a massive target on his back, Yeomans didn’t sweat it. Facing a very decent G. Miller (F) trio, the champs put on a masterclass in game management, finding their feet early and cruising to an assured 21–14 win. Message sent: they aren’t giving up that crown easily!
Heart-Stoppers and Away-Green Robbery!
While the holders made it look easy, elsewhere the tension was dialed up to eleven. We had four match-ups that came down to the absolute final bowl of the night.
Talk about a nail-biter! Down at Forest Hall, M. Milner (FH) survived a furious late comeback from S. L. Brown (R) to scrape home by the barest of margins, 14–13.
Meanwhile, three traveling rinks pulled off pure away-green robbery. J. Gordon (PE) showed nerves of steel to silence the Benfield crowd with a 19–17 win over D. Ross, while R. Donkin (RY) pinched a 17–16 absolute thriller against A. Johnson (BD). Not to be outdone, G. Richardson (PD) left Gosforth with the spoils after edging out M. Cooper (G) 17–16 in a brilliant, see-saw battle. That is how you win on the road!
The Total Wrecking Crews
If some rinks had to sweat for every single shot, others turned up and completely blew the doors off the joint.
Performance of the night? Hands down G. Myerscough (ST). The St. George’s boys were simply unplayable, dismantling A. Bojke (HS) in a ruthless 30–10 drumming. J. Curtis (G) was in a similarly scary mood, locking down the jack to dispatch M. Hayden (ST) 23–5.
On the road, the story was just as brutal. A. Johnson Jr (WK) put on a clinic at St. George’s to win 26–2 against M. Bowyer, while M. Wilson (AM) played lockdown defense, conceding just a solitary single shot in a 20–1 masterclass over S. Blackett (R). Someone check that wood for magnets!
With the pretenders weeded out and the survivors officially battle-hardened, Round 2 is shaping up to be an absolute blockbuster. Grab your tea, find a spot by the rink, and buckle up—this is getting good!