Yesterday our young guns took centre stage, where we played Lincolnshire in the Men’s Under 25 White Rose (Double Rinks) at York RI. The opening exchanges were tight, with only 1 or 2 shots seperating the teams. The rink skipped by Matty Bishop, recovered from a 4 nil deficit to level at 5 ends, and take the lead 7 – 4 after 7 ends, with the other rink skipped by Alex Scott was more than holding their own against Lincolnshire’s and National Fours Winner in Harry Mycock – where Alex lead 6 – 5 at this same stage. However, Mycock produced telling bowls, turning heads, and running jacks through to lead 9 – 7 at 10 ends, and this extended out to 16 – 9 at 15 ends. But there was better news on Bishop’s rink, who were 1 end ahead, with Connor Harvey having a super game at second, supported well with Alex Simpson at lead, and Connor’s club colleague Luke Jameson at 3, were 16 – 8 up at the same time at 16 ends. So the game was delicately poised with ourselves being 1 ahead. On end 17 with Bishop facing two against played slightly over the pace and nudged both the shot and second shot bowls away and lay 5 shots, the Lincolnshire skip could not reply and we collected a significant count. But Scott dropped a two at the same time, so the lead was 4. Across the next few ends each rink cancelled each other out, and the lead was still 4, with Matty’s rink playing the last end and Alex playing his 20th end. Matty’s end was being played out, and despite us lying one it was vulnerable, and the Lincolnshire third removed the shot and lay 3 shots. Bishops’ first bowl just caught the 3rd shot and fell away, and didn’t make a difference, the Lincolnshire skip edged off the 2nd bowl and landed next to the jack (jack high!) – and Bishop played over the draw and turned the jack to the side, and scored one, which in a way was a little unlucky as Matty’s bowl also caught the shot bowl which ran through, if not would have been 4 shots. At the same time our lads on the next rink were lying a good head, and were holding 2 shots, and despite Mycock’s best efforts he could not salvage the end, and we scored 2, which meant we were 7 up with one end to play. The final end was played out, although we were trying to make it exciting perhaps as two of our first few bowls went in to the ditch. Lincolnshire then tried running our other bowls off, and with Alex’s last bowl he drew the shot and locked on to the second bowl which put paid to any possible counts, and we took the victory.
Lincolnshire 29 Northumberland 37
A Simpson, C Harvey, L Jameson, M Bishop 23 – 10
J Walton, L Heard, G Rogan, A Scott 14 – 19
Team Manager added – The lads overall did fantastically well, produced great bowls throughout, including pressures bowls where required. Brilliant performance by everyone – well done to you all.
We now go to the regional finals at Dunnington BC, York on 16th June – we play Lancashire at 10am that day.
To view the Bowls England Draw – CLICK HERE.