Early start for a few, but the smell of bacon sandwiches coming out of the clubhouse soon perked people up, ably provided by Mr & Mrs Forbes
The warm weather was just staring to come through and take off the early dew on the green ready for the only prelim which was comfortably won by Andy Lloyd and Phil Hill form Bardsey against Peter and Paul McIntyre from Wayside.
Last 16
Due to injuries, Tom Beecroft and Tony Derrick moved into he Quarter Finals without having to throw a bowl. Follow by a win for Brad and Stephen Walker who they were to play next.
A great between the Bilton Dragons ladies Carol Sunter and Clare Howes defeating probabaly one of the favourites Dave Hodgson and Adam Valey from Black Swan 21-19.
Up next for them was the pairing from Bilton WMC's Derek Fox and Alan Rothery, having just beaten homesters Greg Johnstone and Rich Gundich 21-9.
Brothers Paul & Jason Worsnop made their way past another pairing from Bilton Dragon Mr Mudd & Mr Rudd 21-6.
Steady start from home favorites Brian Walker and Mark Reynolds defeating Alan Whitaker and Roy Flynn from Black Swan 21-11.
Chris Sunter and Steve Webster also made their way comfortably past Bilton Working men's John Jennison and Paul Renton 21-9.
Arguably the most entertaining game of the Last sixteen came from prelim winners Andy Lloyd and Phill Hill, nicking the last end to win 21-20 against farther and son pairing David & Lee Singleton from Wayside. Boy do I hate handicaps!
So into the Quarter Finals we go, the sun was high up above and a good crowd was now in attendance.
Q1
Clearly from the picture above Mr Tony Derrick was in a good mood, partnered by young Tom Beecroft in the white shirt, they got off to a flyer against Brad and Steve and with them starting on minus 2 they needed a good start. Four on the first end for the Black Swan lads, not what was required, but a single and a pair got them into a positive score.
TD and Tom were bowling very well and soon found themselves 14-1 up, a single doubled their score to 2, but again they were bowling some great stuff and at 19-2 surly it was all over?
Tom went down to pick his bowl up and felt pain immediately, his back had gone, disaster.
Questions were asked what to do next? it was impossible for Tom to carry on and the lads were gutted having bowled so well. Nurse Forbes did her best to get him back on the green, but it was not to be and the Wayside pair were the luckiest boys alive, was it to be their day?
Q2
Alan not too impressed with the handicap system soon put this to one side (Maybe?) got off to a great start against the Bilton ladies Carol and Clare, great leading from Derek and they had a lead of 4 going into the eight end, the ladies halved this, however Derek stepped up another gear and with Alan supporting well found themselves only requiring 2.
Carol and Clare dug in with a couple of good ends, but it was not to be and Alan & Derek ran out 21-9.
Q3
Tough one to call this, Paul & Jason previous pairs winners against multiple individual and pairs wins for Mark and Brian. Great start from the Wayside pair, 4-1 by the forth end, back came Paul and Jason, Jason leading the way with some good bowls,10-4 up.
Back came Mark and Brian, you wouldn't expect anything less, a break of four and they were within touching distance, 10-8. Fifteen ends gone and Jason & Paul just started finding better lines as the green sped up with the hot weather. A fine break of five had them 17-10 up and all to do for the home pairing, but it wasn't to be and Paul & Jason were just too good on the day to advance into the Semi Finals. 21-12.
Q4
Third game for Andy and Phil and clearly the game before had taken it's toll, however they did get off to the better start leading 5-3 in as many ends. Steve Webster having had a good season put on the pressure with some great leads and in the blink of an eye himself and partner Chris raced away 16-5. A paltry single halted the onslaught, but a strong finish from the Dragon old boys and it was game over 21-6.
Semi Final 1
Things were starting to warm up nicely and hopefully Brad and Steve were going to turn up?
Fortunately no handicaps required for this one, only poor old Derek having to carry Alan (only joking Mr R!) steady start from both pairings not giving much away from the off, 5-4 to the Wayside lucky ones, Brad starting to find his range, a 3 and a 2 doubling their advantage.
Alan and Derek were just hanging in there with some important singles, but whenever they got close, out came Steve's missiles, one which found Mr Rothery's bowl flying into the neighbours hedge and the crowd went searching.
Clare Howes, Alan Rothery, Mr Missile, Carol Sunter
So after all the fun and games, back to the bowling.
Three singles on the bounce for Alan and Derek, 8-13 down, Brad lead out well again, 14-8, one more to Derek and this was the last time they scored. 1,1,1,2,2 was the finish, all joking aside, great effort from Alan and Derek.
Semi Final 2
Youth v experience and it was getting hot, Mr Sunter starting to cook, but Steve was still producing some great bowls.
Good start from the Dragon old boys 5-1 up in as many ends, slow one from the clubs brothers. Jason starting to warm up ably supported by Paul, 3,2,2, 8-6 up, back came Chris and Steve to take the lead 9-8, however disaster at the next, 4 down :( not good.
This was followed up by a 3 and two pairs and now only requiring 2 for the win and a place in the final, a game saving single at the next, but Jason rounded the game off with two good leads 21-10. Once again a great effort by the losing Semi Finalists Chris and Steve.
Final
Brad & Stephen Walker (Wayside) v Paul & Jason Worsnop (Bilton WMC)
Wrong way round clowns!
Paul, Steve, Jason, Brad
Great start from Brad finding his customary 20 yard mark towards the clubhouse and back to the trees, 12 unanswered points and this really was their lucky day! (to be fair no luck here, just on Brad fire!)
Finally Jason and Paul got on the board with a single, but their game was just starting to allude them and unable to keep hold of the jack to close the gap. A 3 at the eighth end helped a little, but again they lost the jack at the next end, 2 to Brad & Steve, 15-4.
Jacks swapped hands on the next two ends again, but unfortunately for the brothers it was 3 against, back came Paul and Jason with a single and a pair, but at 18-8 down it was far too much to ask. one more at the next, 19-8.
Back towards the trees and it was shake hands time 21-8.
Congratulations to Brad and Steve Walker who took advantage of a massive piece of luck earlier in the day, however in the last two games they were unstoppable.
Commiserations to Jason and Paul Worsnop who entertained with some fine bowling all day.
Presentation by Derek Fox
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