Rockcliffe Rollers won the Jubilee Cup this afternoon at St. Georges BC, and duly won their first ever county title.
Jubilee Cup 2021 Winners-Rockcliffe Rollers (L-R: Dave Sancaster, Darryl Illingworth, Shaun Lee Brown, Andrew Debenham)
This afternoon the Jubilee Cup took place with the 4 clubs competing for the cup were Benfield B, Rothbury, Rockcliffe and New Delaval Knights B.
The opening games saw Benfield B, skipped by Jonny Morgan take on Rothbury, skipped by Graeme Donkin. The game looked to be heading the way of Rothbury, with Donkin scoring on 4 consecutive ends to lead 8 – 5 with 2 ends to go. But this was the last time Rothbury would score, as Benfield scored a double to trail by 1 playing the last end, and Morgan changed the head and removed a Rothbury bowl to collect 4 shots to win 11 – 8. In the other game between New Delaval Knights B and Rockcliffe was tight with a 6 – 5 score in favour of the Knights at 5 ends, however from this point Rockcliffe scored on the final 4 ends to take the game 10 – 6.
In game 2 the games were completely different and both one sided. Firstly Benfield B dominated against New Delaval Knights B winning 16 -2. In the other game Rockcliffe got off to a great start against Rothbury winning 8 nil at 3 ends, and 11 – 3 at 7 ends, and despite losing a count of 3 on the last end the rollers took the victory 11 – 7.
Rollers Andrew Debenham (on the mat)
Therefore going into the last games there were 2 sides with maximum points, who were Rockcliffe and Benfield B, with Benfield B having the slight edge on shots difference, and in a way it was a final and they faced each other. Rockcliffe started well again and built up a 6 nil lead after 4 ends. Benfield got on the board on the 5th end, but then dropped a 2, then a significant 5 on the 7th end to leave the score-line at 13 – 2 with only 2 ends remaining. On this penultimate end Benfield tried to kill the end, but missed and Rockcliffe collected a further treble to wrap up the victory 16 – 2. This result meaning Rockcliffe Rollers had WON the Jubilee Cup, and Benfield B finished second. In the other game Rothbury drew 7 all with New Delaval Knights B.
The four players that represented Rockcliffe Rollers were Dave Sancaster, Shaun Lee Brown, Andrew Debenham and Darryl Illingworth. The runners up from Benfield B were Stephen Gardner, Alan Welsh, Jonty King, Jonny Morgan.
I would like to congratulate all the players involved throughout the Jubilee Cup this year, especially the 4 teams today. And of course to the winners Rockcliffe Rollers on capturing their very first county title and to the runners up Benfield B.
A final thank you – goes to St. Georges BC today – and in particular to Club President Paul Lawson, and for the continued work, help throughout by club members Bill Browell and Alan Ord.
