Hemsby Pairs IX - August 2015

This year saw us move from the traditional Easter date to August as a result of clashing dates, however the move seems to have proved to be popular with a larger entry for this year's event.

However the weekend began with a little more excitement than usual, although it was nothing related to the bowls.

At about 1.00 in the afternoon on Friday, just as the guests were starting to arrive, the Fish and Chip shop down the road caught fire, the Fire Brigade sent 8 or so appliances and the Police closed off access. It was some times before the fire was out and a bit of a hold-up for some, but everyone got there in good time and would have a bit of story to tell after the weekend was over.

The two games on Friday evening gave us four teams who each won both of their games: Chamberlain/Marshall, Blundell/Holland, Bluett/Cocksedge/Bowyer and Agnew/Harden.

Saturday night would see the teams play twice more to decide the event winners and it looked like it was going to be a close fight between the previous night's winners. But it wasn't.

As it happened only one of those four was able to get any points at all.

That left the runner-up spot to be taken by a team who had only won one game on Friday and who had been lying all the way back in 8th spot. Peter & Kay Masters and Graham & Gaye Swan ended up with 3 wins and 6 points to finish second, a point clear of third place.

But the winners, taking four wins out of four were Sam & Trish Agnew and Roy & Jackie Harden. However it had been hard fought, their biggest winning margin was a 7-5, the other results were 6-5, 7-6 and 6-5. Narrow margins on each game, but a resounding win overall.

There were a total of 43 Pairs competing across 7 groups. Everyone would play everyone else in their group and for those in a group of 6 teams they would get a final, bonus game, to ensure that everyone would play 6 times.

The winners and runners-up from each group would qualify for the Knockout Stages, along with the 2 best third placed teams.

Group 1
Three teams won their first 2 games, Sam & Trish Agnew, Betty Johnson & Chris Tilbrook and Owen Allcock & Daphne Leggett. However only Betty and Chris won their third, while the others lost, leaving them two points clear at the halfway mark.

Saturday's final games saw Betty and Chris make it four out of four, while it was now Geoff & Margaret Holland who moved into second with their third win.

The top two clashed first thing on Sunday and not unexpectedly it was a close fought game which ended in a draw. That was good enough to see Betty & Chris through and a final game win saw them secure the group win. Meanwhile a final game win for the Hollands saw them comfortably through in 2nd.

Group 2
Keith & Prim Hume were the only team in the group to win their opening two games. They also won their third, putting them two points ahead of second placed Harold and Patricia Ball.

Both teams won again as Saturday ended, leaving their positions unchanged and both well clear of the rest of the teams in the group.

Both teams also won their first games on Sunday and with the rest of the teams in the group not improving their situations, they were both through to the Knockout Rounds.

Group 3
With 2 games played Valerie Game & Ken Drane and Sue Ross & Jean Love had 4 points, while Martin & Marilyn Bennet were just a point behind. The two leaders met one another in the next game and the result was a win for Sue and Jean, putting them clear at the top, one point ahead of the Bennets who also won, while Val & Ken lost and dropped back.

Saturday ended with the top Martin & Marilyn playing Sue & Jean in another crunch meeting. And the game (just) went the way of the Bennets, leaving them top of the group on 7 points and Sue & Jean second, a point behind.

The Bennets made sure of qualification with a win in their opening Sunday game, but Sue & Jean could only draw and were now being caught by Lin & Tony Cooke.

Martin & Martin & Marilyn won their last game to win the group. While Lin & Tony also won to go through in second, and Sue & Jean, despite losing their last game still managed to qualify as one of the best third placed teams, on 7 points.

Group 4
It was a good start for Chris Nunn & Alan Smith, winning their 2 opening games put them 2 points in the lead as everyone else lost at least one game.

However Chris and Alan lost their third game, and were now tied at the top with Tony & Patricia Staines. With everyone have lost and won at least once there was only 2 points covering the whole group.

Chris & Alan lost again to fall out of the lead, while The Staines could only manage a draw. That put them onto 5 points and were now joined on that score by Chris Clark & Max Poulter and Peter & Kay Masters as Saturday closed.

While the Staines lost first thing on Sunday the other two pairs both won and looked likely to qualify with a two point advantage and shots in hand.

The Masters' won their final group game to guarantee qualification, as did Chris & Max, just sneaking in by 5 shots ahead of the Staines'.

Group 5
Alistair & Lynne Kermath and Jim & Margaret Southgate both won their opening two games and led the way at Saturday lunchtime.

The Southgates won their third game, but the Kermaths lost. That put Jim & Margarets 2 points clear of the Kermaths, Don Poulter & Joan Clark and Dee Whittaker & Paul Daniels.

However Saturday's final round of games saw a change as Don & Joan beat Jim & Margaret. And with Dee & Paul also winning, the day ended in a 3-way tie for the top of the group.

As the Southgates lost the other 2 pairs won to open up a 2 point advantage at the top, with both needing no more than a draw to qualify.

As it was they both recorded wins and were through to the Knockout Rounds.

Group 6
It was Preston & Jo Gypps and Alan & Josie Long who made the best starts. Two wins out of two on Saturday morning gave them the joint lead of the group.

The third games saw another win for Preston & Jo, but only a draw for Alan & Josie. Graham & Gaye Swan, with 2 wins out of 3 were now in a clear third place.

The Gypps won again in their final game of the day, beating the Longs, which, with their third win of the day, raised the Swans to second place.

Sunday saw the Gypps lose for the first time, but held their top spot as the Swans could only draw and were now tied for second with Sheila Mann & Mike Daniels.

Remarkably the Gypps lost once more, but still made it through in second place, while the Swan's won their game to win the group. And despite a final game loss, Sheila and Mike made it though as the second and final third place qualifier.

Group 7
With 2 games played Peter & Diane Orrin already led the way, having won both games, while no one else had done better than one win.

And they won again, to take them on to 6 points, a win clear of Mike Walker & Jane Evans and Bryn & Margaret Bowyer.

Peter & Diane finished the day with a win, as did the Bowyers (who beat Mike & Jane), leaving them on 8 and 6 points respectively, in the top 2 spots.

The Orrins made it five out of five and qualified for the next round of games. Although the Bowyers lost they were still second with a two point advantage over three other teams all hoping for a shot at qualification.

And it was a sixth win for the Orrins (the only team all weekend to do so) which finished off their group games, while a win for the Bowyers saw them through in second.

ROUND 1
Peter & Diane Orrin stormed away from Harold & Patricia Ball in the last 2 ends, going from 6 all to win 13-6.

It was the same score in favour of Betty Johnson & Chris Tilbrook over Chris Clark & Max Poulter, although they had to come from 4-0 down.

Dee Whittaker & Paul Daniels were 7-3 up over Lin & Tony Cooke, but the Cookes came back to win 8-7.

Bryn & Margaret Bowyer led Geoff & Margaret Holland from the start and came home 7-3 winners.

It was 5-5 at full time between Peter & Kay Masters and Keith & Prim Hume, but the extra end went to the Humes to see them through.

Don Poulter & Joan Clark made a good start against Sue Ross & Jean Love, leading 5-0 after 2 ends and finished 9-4 winners.

Graham & Gaye Swan blazed off into a 9-0 lead after 3 ends against Preston & Jo Gypps and held on to win 11-5.

Another close game that had to go to an extra end saw Martin & Marilyn Bennet and Sheila Mann & Mike Daniels all square at 4-4. The Bennets taking the game 6-4 in the end.

QUARTER FINALS
Betty Johnson & Chris Tilbrook had a poor start and never recovered, losing 9-2 to Graham & Gaye Swan with an end to spare.

Keith & Prim Hume were never in any danger against Peter & Diane Orrin, also running out 9-2 winners.

Any early lead for Martin & Marilyn Bennet against Bryn & Margaret Bowyer saw them good. Although it was only 4-3 in their favour at 4 ends down, the went on to win 8-3.

A tit-for-tat final end between Lin & Tony Cooke and Don Poulter & Joan Clark saw the game go to an extra end which, with the jack pushed to the corner saw Lin & Tony able to walk up their final wood as they won 8-7.

SEMI-FINALS
The first 4 ends of their game saw Keith & Prim Hume edge their way into a 3-1 lead over Lin & Tony Cooke, but the Cookes picked up a pair of threes over the next 2 ends and saw their way home to an 8-3 win.

Martin & Marilyn Bennet held the lead against Graham & Gaye Swan until the fifth end which saw the Swan take 3 for a 5-4 lead. But it was a false dawn as the Bennets struck back with 3 for themselves and then took one on the last to win 8-5.

FINAL
Martin & Marilyn Bennet v Lin & Tony Cooke
End 1 – The jack is quickly moved to the side requiring a wide draw which Martin masters well to take one shot.
End 2 – The jack is pushed back behind a wall of woods. The Bennets take 2. 3-0
End 3 – Marilyn draws shot and again the woods pile up in front and Tony can't push through. Another 2 to the Bennets. 5-0
End 4 – Early advantage to Lin. Tony gets second, blocks with his next and they take 2 back. 5-2.
End 5 – Tony picks the jack up to take shot, but Martin draws the jack and Tony can't quite match it. 6-2
End 6 – Marilyn pushes the jack back and then draws it. Martin then drops in 2 perfect blockers. 7-2
Final End – Marilyn is close enough to pressure the opposition into trying too hard. A difficult situation quickly becomes impossible. Another 3 to the Bennets. 10-2.

For the Bennets (who dropped just one point all weekend) it was their second T & D win, following their victory at Sandown 2011. But for Lin & Tony it was yet another loss in a final at Hemsby, their 4th, following December 2009, April 2010 and December 2011.

Many thanks to everyone for another great weekend of bowling and for adding another £227 to the money we have raised for East Anglia Air Ambulance.

And finally, such was the popularity of the date change that we will be back at Hemsby again at the end of July in 2016.

Click here for the Full Results

tanddcarpetbowls@gmail.com
3rd August 2015