Both the Women’s and the Men’s Major pairs are currently being played. Unfortunately, the entries in both sections have been disappointing due to player unavailability and the very busy bowls schedule! Despite this there have been some very interesting battles between the teams involved.
In the Women’s event Judy Bramble and Lorraine Wake came from behind to snatch victory in their game against Di Fletcher and Cheryl McRae. McRae dominated the first half of the game and had set up a 18 – 10 lead after 12 ends. Wake started her comeback then and cut the lead to just 2 shots at 18 -16 after 15 end. McRae was able to steady things with two shots on the 16th end but Wake and Bramble were able to pick up 6 shots on the 17th end to take the lead 22 – 20 with just an end to play. McRae won this but 1 shot was not enough and Wake advanced with a 22 – 21 win.
In the other first round match in the Women’s draw Vickie Wheelahan and Lorrie Bird played Julie Barningham – subbing for Sue Fahey – and Doreen Monks. Wheelahan and Bird proved too strong and won the game 22 – 11.
In the Men’s draw Noel Downie and John Monks played Phil Welsh and Ben Hewison. Welsh and Hewison started strongly and by the 7th end had established a handy 12 – 4 lead. Downie and Monks fought back to halve the lead after 10 ends but they found Wesh and Hewison too strong on the day. The ‘youngsters’ went on to win the match 20 – 13.
The other first round match was between Mark Velder and Allan Etheredge and Mike Bromfield – sub for Graeme Garner – and Doug Williams. This was a very tight battle for the first two-thirds of the game with Etheredge leading 12 – 10 after 12 ends. Velder and Etheredge then won the next five ends to give them an unassailable lead of 20 – 13 after 17 ends.
The first semi-final in the Women’s section was played between Rose Farrington and Irene Macdonald and Vickie Wheelahan and Lorrie Bird. Farrington and Macdonald meant business and by the 8th end had a very heavy 13 – 2 lead. Wheelahan and Bird picked up 6 shots on the 9th to give them some hope. The score was now 13 – 8. However, Farrington and Macdonald continued to dominate the game winning 6 of the next 8 ends to score an emphatic 21 – 10 victory.
The real highlights of the competition to date came in two games played on Saturday September 20. They were semi-finals – one in each section. In the Women’s section Judy Bramble and Lorraine Wake played Jenny Marks and Stephanie Dennett while in the Men’s Col Fletcher and Marcel Kors played Phil Welsh and Ben Hewison. Unbelievably they both ended in 15 all draws requiring and extra end and, in both cases, the final score ended up 16 – 15!
The drama in the Women’s game started when Lorraine Wake had to withdraw due to illness after 6 ends. Marg Downey came into the game as a sub meaning Judy Bramble had to play skip. At this stage Marks and Dennett had a narrow 5 to 3 lead. In a very tight battle, they slowly extended their lead to 10 – 4 after 11 ends with all players contributing well. On the next end Bramble played a great weighted shot to move the shot bowl and give her side 3 shots to change the momentum of the game. Downey and Bramble won three of the next 4 ends to take the lead for the first time in the game at 14 – 11!! Marks and Dennett regrouped quickly and picked up 4 shots on the 17th end to regain the lead at 15 – 14 with an end to play. This end was very close and required the umpire to do a crucial measure to determine who had won it. Bramble prevailed meaning the game ended 15 all.
The extra end was tense as the players battle for the advantage. Downey played two excellent bowls only to have Marks move the jack to give her side the advantage. Wisely, Dennett played away from the jack with her last bowl but, under pressure, Bramble played a beautiful weighted bowl to disturb the head and give her side the shot and the game 16 – 15!
In the Men’s game Welsh and Hewison had a good start with Hewison in great touch. They had a 7 – 1 lead after 5 ends. Some great lead bowls from Fletcher changed the momentum and by the 9th end the teams were locked at 7 all. The sides shared the spoils over the next few ends before Fletcher and Kors won four ends in a row to set up a 15 – 10 lead with just 2 ends to play. On the 17th end Hewison played a key bowl to trail the jack and give his side 3 shots. The score was now 15 – 13 with an end to play. On this end it was Welsh’s turn to ‘produce the goods’ for his side. He was able to bump up one of his bowls to give his side the two shots they needed to force the extra end!
As in the Women’s game, the extra end was very close. As it played out the advantage swung from one side to the other. With his second last bowl Kors was able to draw the shot which Hewison couldn’t match! Fletcher and Kors won 16 – 15! The quality of the bowls on display was in no small part due to the excellent conditions of the greens combined with the beautiful spring weather! Bramble and Wake now play Rose Farrington and Irene Macdonald while Fletcher and Kors await the outcome of the other semi-final to see who they will play.