Harris part of Lincs Under 25s beaten in final

Post date: Mar 26, 2017 5:41:05 PM

Stephen Harris (19) was part the Lincolnshire Under 25 team beaten by Devon in the final of the national double rink at Melton IBC on Sunday.

In a dramatic finish, the destination of the title went down to the last bowl of the 18th and final end.

Devon, winners of the championship on four previous occasions took an early lead, which was soon countered by Lincolnshire (three-time winners), who kept their noses in front for most of the remainder of the match, but the nail-biting finish was dramatic in the extreme.

When Harris, James Staples, Ben Wilson and Jordan Philpott completed their 18 ends, they were five shots in front (20-15) of Zach Kidd's rink but there were two ends still to play on the other rink - and the counties were tied at 31 apiece.

James Hampton's Devon rink and the Lincs four of Sam Ashton, Lewis Skinner, Adam Berridge and Jonathan West played out a tied end on the 17th end, when the Umpire could not separate the bowls in contention for shot.

With the fate of the championship hanging on the very last end, the shot changed hands a few times, but it was Hampton who drew close for three shots (19-11), which West could not beat, and Devon, the holders, won for the fifth time 34-31.

Matt Whyers, Graham Smith, Martin Spencer and Matt Orrey were beaten 19-8 by South Shields in the quarter-finals of the national fours at Melton.