After an enthralling week of singles competition, this week saw the spotlight turns to the pairs bowlers. The format consisted of two sets of seven ends, with three bowls per player, and a three-end tiebreaker if the match was drawn. With 23 pairs challenging for the championship title, it was always going to be a busy and highly competitive week.
Monday evening alone saw six matches, all of which went to tiebreaks—such was the closeness of the competition.
Two of the teams drawn together on Monday evening were also contenders for the Premier Pairs League title: Wayne Roberts and Trevor Quayle versus Glenn Boland and Jordan Cain. The match lived up to expectations, and after a hard-fought contest Roberts and Quayle progressed to the next round.
Newcomers Jack Murray and Kyle Mayer edged through their opening match via a tiebreak, only to meet the more experienced pairing of Paula Garrett and Neil Dunwell. Garrett and Dunwell went on to face Roberts and Quayle in the semi-final.
In the second half of the draw, Kevin Firth and Sue Gawne narrowly lost out in the tiebreak to John Kewley and Andy Dixon. Following a two-set victory in the next round, Kewley and Dixon advanced to the semi-finals, where they met Alan Moore and James Teare. On their route to the semis, Moore and Teare won a tiebreak against Dave McCabe and Toby Hart, then took both sets from Eddie Carlyle and Brian Lindsay.
Both semi-finals were tense affairs, with spectators on the edge of their seats as they tried to follow the progress of each match. With such accurate bowling on display, it was often left to the skips to drive into the head to dislodge either the jack or key bowls to gain crucial points.
Garrett and Dunwell put up a valiant fight, however, it was the accuracy of the driving of Roberts who more than once won the end. The match ended with Roberts and Quayle through to the semi-final.
In the second semi-final, Kewley and Dixon claimed the first set, with Dixon delivering some excellent lead bowls. Teare and Moore responded by taking the second set, sending the match into a tiebreak. With one point apiece, the last end would decide the semi-finalist. Teare laid a strong lead, and Moore successfully protected it despite Kewley’s determined attempts to move the winning bowl.
Well done to all the players who took part and provided such entertaining bowling for the spectators. Arrive early to secure the best seats for the final, which takes place on Sunday 8th February at 2pm.