Day Thirteen Pairs Battles and Semi-Final Night Lights!
By the Green-side Insider
Monday at Victoria Park brought a high-intensity day of national championship action, featuring hard-fought battles in the men’s pairs and a massive evening showdown as our Gosforth triple took to the rink for their semi-final battle!
Day Thirteen Round-UpMen’s Pairs Championship (Morning/Afternoon Session – Rink A4):
A. Stewart and G. Myerscough (St Georges Dragons) kicked off their championship campaign against Northamptonshire’s strong Northampton West End pair (A. Fowkes and W. Walker). Despite battling through a tough early arm-wrestle, the opportunity to turn the game around came on a pivotal 9th end: Myerscough played a brilliant running shot right through the head, utilizing the jack to clear both back bowls off the rink to hold 4 shots, however the opposition’s next bowls was a side toucher forcing forcing Myerscough to fire again and kill the end. Northamptonshire managed to pull away in the closing stages to seal a 20–10 victory. A tremendous effort from the St Georges duo!
Men’s Pairs Championship (Afternoon Session – Rink D1):K. Jameson and L. Jameson (Gosforth) took to the green to face Kent’s sharp Appleyard pair (P. Barnicott and L. King). Finding themselves under early pressure trailing 12–0 after 5 ends, the Jameson pair showed phenomenal spirit. Facing a dangerous situation on the 7th end, Luke played with immense confidence and bravely played out the bowl and pull off a magnificent 5-shot haul to roar right back into the game! Though Kent kept up heavy pressure down the stretch, our Gosforth lads fought tooth and nail right to the final wood, finishing with a strong late charge before bowing out 24–17. A display full of heart and grit!
Men’s Triples Championship Semi-Final (Evening Session – Rink A1):J. Minto, B. Byles, and C. Yeomans (Gosforth) took on Berkshire’s Shrivenham triple (D. Murray, J. Webster, and M. Titcombe) in a match for the ages.
Flying right out of the blocks, our lads stunned the opposition on the opening end with a brilliant fire shot to clear the shot bowl and pick up a fantastic 4-shot haul! Maintaining their composure through a fiercely contested arm-wrestle, they led 5–4 after 4 ends, 8–6 after 6, and 10–9 after 10.
The game hit peak drama on the 11th end: after Shrivenham’s skip took our shot bowl out of the head leaving Gosforth 5 down, Yeomans produced a stroke of sheer genius with his final bowl—drawing down to trail the jack and swing an unthinkable 5-shot deficit into 1 up!
Holding a narrow 16–14 lead after 16 ends and 16–15 heading into the final exchange, the lads fought valiantly to the very last wood. Berkshire managed to edge the decisive closing ends, taking the 17th and 18th to snatch a razor-thin 17–16 victory. Heartbreaking for our lads but Minto, Byles, and Yeomans have done Northumberland proud beyond measure! 🥉🌟
Looking Ahead to Day 14 (Tuesday 25th August): Women’s Singles Take Centre Stage!
The blue riband action rolls straight on tomorrow morning as our women’s singles contenders step up to begin their national campaigns at Leamington Spa:
09:00 (Rink C2) – Women’s Singles Championship: Shelagh Carter (Hexham Elvaston) kicks off her championship quest against Isle of Wight’s Anne Bernard (Ryde Marina).
12:45 (Rink C6) – Women’s Singles Championship: Kacee Sultman (Forest Hall) takes to the green to face Hampshire’s Jayne Christie (Alton Social).
Let’s get right behind our singles stars tomorrow!