Nationals finals update

Post date: Apr 22, 2016 7:21:29 AM

FRIDAY

Hopes of Northants players featuring in the finals of the English Women's Bowling Federation finals were dashed in a gloomy ten minutes at Newark IBC, writes Bob Warters.

After an exciting first round win, Fiona Richardson and Julie Masters were aiming to keep county hopes alive in the pairs. But the draw was cruel to them and after dispatching Durham came up against Derbyshire's Karen Chapman and Pauline Marples in devastating form.

They trailed 2-19 at 12 ends and finally conceded at 2-25 three ends later.

Meanwhile on the tricky rink four Joan Robinson had her hands full against Melanie Haylett from Norfolk but was hanging on at 13-14 until her opponent grabbed five shots in three ends and finally ended it with a killer bowl drawn within inches.

In the Under 25 two bowl singles, Stephen Harris lost a thrilling encounter with his good friend Jonathan West from Boston 21-20.

Both bowled superbly and Harris led 16-14, 18-17 and 20-19 but when holding a single shot advantage going into the 27th end, he failed to nail the jack and let his Lincs rival in for two vital shots.

His consolation was winning the Lincs IBA county Under 18 (Senior) title at Boston the previous night - 21-5 against Ruby Hill from Spalding.

THURSDAY

A late surge of form by Nottingham's Dave Adams robbed Martyn Dolby of a place in the final of the Veteran singles this morning, drawing three bowls within inches on the 22nd end to win 21-17, writes Bob Warters.

Earlier the Stamford bowler, seeking his fourth singles title of the indoor season, having already won the Northants Federation, Lincs EIBA and club titles had led 8-2 and 16-11 using unfamiliar Tiger Pro bowls which reacted better on the end rink.

But when holding shot for a 17-11 lead he saw Adams fire his bowl out of the head for a three count and never looked back.

In a thrilling finish to their women's pairs, Fiona Richardson and Julie Masters picked up three shots on the last end when trailing 11-13 to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat against Durham.

They had led Jean Chapman and her young Thai-born lead Nina Riches throughout until dropping three shots in two ends, they went behind by two shots going into the last.

Riches dropped her first bowl on the jack but Masters removed it aggressively and drew a wide counter to claim three on a measure.

Sadly no such fortune for Northants' other pairs.

Nick Wilkie and Joe Randall were also up against it against Lindsey Swannell and world indoor singles champion Nicky Brett who quickly raced into 20-8 lead after 16 ends with superb drawing skills. Though bowling tidily, the Peterborough pair had only limited responses to their Hunts opponents, eventually needing a maximum eight off the last two ends when Brett fired their nearest bowls off the rink.

For Martyn Dolby and Christine Ford, they were unlucky to come up against a Derbyshire pair of Pauline Marples and Russell Robinson in excellent form. The Stamford pair were never in front and despite switching positions on 11 ends with the score at 8-13 they were only able to pick up scraps before eventually losing 12-21.

County president Joan Robinson lifted some of the gloom with a decisive 21-6 defeat of North Cambs Jean Warren in the senior singles late in the day. Her next opponent has had to withdraw so she gets a bye to the semi-final on Friday.