Rothbury up for the Challenge

Rothbury BC today won the Northumberland Challenge Cup Final at Alnwick BC.

Northumberland Challenge Cup 2021 Winners – ROTHBURY

On a wet day 6 teams took part in this years’ final at Alnwick BC – the teams were Benfield, Health & Security, Willington Quay, Cramlington, Rothbury and Hexham Elvaston. The beauty of the Challenge Cup is nothing is decided, or clear until the last ends are played out and this was in evident again on Saturday. Before the double header 2 sessions were played with Rothbury winning all of their games so far, and Willington Quay winning 3 of them as well. In other games and back from his trip to the Bowls England National Finals Jonty King lost against Cramlington’s Tony Fantozzi 9 – 1. The double header pitched Benfield against Hexham Elavaston, who had lost all of their games previously, however Hexham won on both rinks to take the 2 points. Across the green Willington Quay took on the previously undefeated Rothbury, and Willington’s Quay rink skipped by Derek Palmer comprehensively beat Rothbury’s Graeme Donkin 18 – 2, and with the other rink only losing by 1 it secured Willington Quay 2 points and +15 shots. Cramlington defeated Health & Security 10 – 4, but lost on the other rink 8 – 6 but Cramlington took the 2 points but only a slender 2 shot advantage.

The 4th session was played and Willington Quay defeated Cramlington 8 – 3, and with the other Willington Quay rink winning 9 – 4 earlier in the day, meant they collected 2 points +10 shots. Cramlington beat Benfield 10 – 4, and again had won previously in the day 9 – 1, and collected 2 points +14 shots. At the same time Rothbury collected 4 points with wins over Hexham Elvaston and Health & Security.

So going into the last and final session there were 3 clubs in contention, with Willington Quay in pole position – as had a 3 and 5 shot advantages going in to their final games plus a good shot aggregate. The other clubs were Rothbury and Cramlington, with both clubs facing each other but Cramlington had a 7 shot deficit to make up. Willington Quay faced Hexham Elvaston and had a 3 shot lead going into this game, the game did not start well for them, as they found themselves 6 nil down after only 2 ends. The Willington Quay rink skipped by Anthony Errington clawed themselves back and with 2 ends to play the score was 8 – 7 to Hexham. At the same stage Cramlington were 7 nil up over Rothbury, and lay shot again, but Rothbury’s Mark Heron had other ideas and killed the end, and this proved to be a momentum shifter and changed the whole game. Over on rink 6 Willington Quay were playing Health & Security, and they had a 5 shot advantage going in to this game. On the 5th end Willington Quay scored a treble to tie the game at 5 a piece. However this was the last time Willington Quay quartet would score, and despite Derek Palmer’s red shoes they lost a double on the last end, to lose 11 – 5 (and overall 16 – 17) and lost the 2 points. This result meant things were back in the mix with the 3 clubs all vying to lift the cup. Mark Heron’s rink scored a 2 and then a 3, to make the scoreline 7 – 5 over Cramlington with only 2 ends to play, as not forgetting Cramlington needed to overturn a 7 shot deficit. Rothbury scored 2 singles on the last 2 ends, to make the final score 7 – 7. This meant Rothbury collected the vital 2 points from this game, and with a further 2 points after beating Benfield 8 – 5 (earlier in the day it was 8 – 4).

This duly meant Rothbury lifted the Northumberland Challenge Cup – and for their first time in their history – well done to all concerned. The Rothbury team consisted of T Dixon, A Oliver, D Bolton, M Heron, B Wylie, C Cairns, R Donkin, G Donkin, M Grant and K Portsmouth.

Challenge Cup Runners Up – WILLINGTON QUAY