Bowls England National Finals started yesterday (Thursday) with our Women’s 4’s in action and Men’s 4 Wood Singles. As reported earlier it was a mixed day in terms of results.
Firstly the Women’s 4’s and the Forest Hall quartet of Kacee Sultman, Geraldine Garbutt, Mazorah Leighton and Thelma Napier lost to South Cave BC (Yorkshire 21 – 12). Despite the result this was a great achievement in getting to the national finals and I am sure it will spur them to get back next year.
Our other 4’s from Benfield – Pat Browne, Rosey Bartram, Rachel Cartwright and Kayleigh Proctor opened up with a close victory over a four from Lee on the Solent BC, Hampshire 17 – 15. In the afternoon the girls played Berkshire A, and our girls were narrowly behind in the early stages, but over the last third of the game fought back and were unlucky not to be ahead going in to last end, as on the 17th end the Berkshire skip facing 4 down, managed to get second shot, which meant it was 14 all playing the very last end. It was not to be, and despite holding shot throughout the end, until the skips last bowl and Kayleigh could not remove the bowl and Berkshire took the victory 15 – 14.
On to the Men’s 4 Wood Singles, first up in action was St. Georges Dragon Chris McGready and took on Gloucestershire A Russ Mellerup, and Chris started the game very well and opened up a 13 – 2 lead. This pattern continued throughout and Chris wrapped up a good victory 21 – 4
In our other singles representative Gosforth’s Simon Richardson played Kent’s Lewis King. King started off the better and led 4 – 0, but Simon battled back to take the lead 5 – 4. But King then scored on next few ends to lead 8 – 5, and then 13 – 7. Simon fought back again to trail 14 – 11, then 14 – 17, and then 16 – 20. Unfortunately for Simon, King collected the single to take the tie 21 – 16.
Day 2 –
Chris McGready continues in the Men’s 4 Wood Singles and Chris takes on Wiltshire B’s Graham Hatherall (Royal Wootton Bassett BC) at 9:30am, in round 2.
Later today will see Gosforth BC in action in the Men’s Club Two Fours at 2:30pm. Gosforth BC are in the quarter finals and will take on Worcester BC this afternoon.
We wish all players the very best of luck today and I will update later today on their results.