All 8 qualifiers arrived at the green in good time to get this merit day started,
who's day was it going to be?
We had 3 players who traveled over from Collingham, 2 from Wayside and Black Swan and the one gentleman from Bilton Dragon.
A cool breeze swept over the Knaresborough green as the crowds started to gather to support their club mates.
Quarter Final 1
Ian Jones v Tim Wilson
Both players were from Collingham and both relatively new to the game got the day started up towards the bank where Tim picked up his first pair of the afternoon, nerves still a plenty, Ian responded and happy to make his mark on the scorecard, however Tim started the brighter and moved into a comfortable lead 7-2, back came Ian with an impressive 7 break to take the lead going into the halfway stage.9-7, Tim leveled it up two ends later.
The green from the side looked to be running rather tricky and both players found it difficult to keep hold of the jack and by the 24th end they were still level at 14 across, unfortunately for Tim this is where his ambitions of winning the trophy started to unravel and Ian ran away with the game with another impressive 7 break to finish up 21-14.
Quarter Final 2
Angela Hodgson v Shaun Ellenthorpe
Angela won't mind me saying that she was clearly the more experienced of the two, Shaun has only been in the game for a few years, so this would be a big test for him, but boy did he start well, Angela got the first score on the first end, however Shaun soon raced into a fantastic 12-3 lead, with shouts of 'come on grandma' form the Black Swan support (mainly Hodgy) soon found some rhythm to battle back with four pairs and two singles to toke the lead 13-12, this quite clearly stunned Shaun and I am sure he will have learnt a lot from today, but today was not to be and Angela completed the win comfortably in the end 21-15.
Quarter Final 3
Hayden Whitehouse v Jake Coker
Hayden 14, Jake 21, let's hope we see more of these two young men in the future.
Jake made the better start, Hayden showing a few nerves understandably and after 5 ends it looked like we were in for a cracker! Hayden is showing great promise and started with some steady bowling to go 10-3 up, back came Jake to shorten the gap to just 4, again some good leading from Hayden got him his 7 lead back, 13-6.
Despite Jake's young age he has been around for a while now and showed some grit to get back into this game and with 9 points on the card and Hayden with just a single the game moved on with just a point in it at the 22nd end, 14-13 to Hayden. A bit of jack swapping over the next few ends, but Hayden was just outscoring Jake and with Hayden finally reaching 19 and laying game, Jake saved the game much to the annoyance of Hayden and this allowed Jake to pile on the pressure towards the business end. Four good leads from Jake and we were all square at 19 across, Jake was surely the favorite now?
Poor lead out allowed Hayden in and Jake didn't improve much with his second, Hayden had his chance to take the game, slowly his bowl rolled on and on but it was too close to call and out came the measures,
nail biting stuff for the youngsters.
To the relief of Hayden they pointed to his bowl and he had the two he required, great game! 21-19 to Hayden.
Quarter Final 4
Richard Bullough v Sarah Jarvis
Once again two players who are relatively new to the game got the last of the quarters away and Richard got off to a strong start going 6-2 up, 5 unanswered points from Sarah just nudging in front 7-6. These two were just dealing in pairs and the game was flying along, by the 20th end Sarah looked comfortable 17-15 up
back came Richard with a couple of singles and they were tied at 17's.
Poor lead out from Richard allowed Sarah back in with a great pair to go all but, just a good lead was required, not to be.... Richard found a great pair also to go 19-20, but this time Richard had the jack in hand and his lead was a lot better, Sarah got close but Richard found room to place his second in and laying game, Sarah just went passed and the hands went up for Richard, another great game! 21-20
Semi Final 1
Ian Jones v Angela Hodgson
Good start by Angela 3-0 in as many ends, but a fantastic break of 10 consisting of four pairs and two singles had Ian in a great position 10-3, however this must be the way Angela likes her games as she came storming back again to go 14-10 up 5 singles and three pairs, great bowling grandma was the call from Hodgy again and as she eased into a 17-11 lead and the clouds started to loom in the distance, could Ian make a comeback?
Not the best lead out from Angela for a change and Ian was back in the game, 3 singles and a good pair had him just one behind 16-17, a single from Angela and she was close 18-16, back came Ian, where was this game going? 19-18 to Ian. Jack sent out, poor lead and Angela capitalised with an important pair to go all but!
Good lead required and duly obliged, great game again, shake of the hands and Angela was in the final. Come on Grandma!!! 21-19
Semi Final 2
Hayden Whitehouse v Richard Bullough
Hayden struggled to get going in this one and in the blink of an eye he was 9-2 down soon to be 10-5. fortunately most of the points coming off singles and Hayden started to make his way into the game, a break of 9 with a brief interruption of a single from Richard had Hayden in a surprising lead 14-12, but this is where his efforts ended. Richard bowled very well to be said, not leaving much room and despite Hayden's best efforts Richard raced into the Final 21-14, we hope to see a lot more from this young man in the future, fantastic effort for getting this far.
Final
Angela Hodgson v Richard Bullough
True to form and Angela was slow out of the blocks, 7-1 down after as many ends and back she came again with her best bowling of the day to go 10-7 up, but Richard had other ideas and produced his best of the day, showing that both players clearly deserved to be in the final. With a brief swapping of jacks and Richard's 10 break the game looked to be going only one way and at 18-12 Angela had work to do, she dug deep but the leads started to drift, one more to Angela, but Richard replied leaving him just needing two, Angela produced a saving pair only to see Richard take the next end and now just the one away, Jack in hand and a good lead out, Angela went close but not close enough, Richard was a little wayward with his second, but it didn't matter as Angela could not beat his and the day was done.
Congratulations to Richard and commiserations to Angela on a great final. 21-15
Thank you to Knaresborough BC for hosting
Presentation by Derick Fox
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