Spectatators treated to a weekend of scintillating matches during Indoor Bowls Club finals

SEVENOAKS INDOOR BOWLS CLUB – FINALS WEEKEND

THE finals weekend held at the Sevenoaks Indoor Bowls Club recently produced some fine displays right from the start of the first session with the two main singles matches providing a fitting finale.

CHAMPIONS: Mixed Triples winners Derrick Rodger, Sue Wallis, and Alan Browning.

Mick Adnett, the Men’s Singles runner-up two years ago, faced David Henning in his first final. Adnett was quick off the mark and soon went into an 8-1 lead but Henning introduced his favoured tactic of taking the mat up for a minimum length jack and slowly fought back to take a 13-11 lead.

The next four ends went to Adnett, scoring 5 shots in all, although four of these were singles which was an indication of how close the game was. Henning rallied again to bring the score to 17-18 but Adnett produced quality bowls over the last two ends to clinch the title 21-17 after a fine battle between two closely matched contestants.

The Ladies Singles final involved last year’s winner Brenda Bennett against the ever-improving Ann Munro. Bennett began with an immaculate opening end to pick up four shots which proved to be a valuable cushion throughout the game.

In a match truly worthy of a final, both ladies showed their high standard drawing accomplishments. Despite the best efforts of Munro in reaching 12-13, the closest point of the match, Bennett was able to cling to her advantage throughout to run out a creditable 21-17 winner.

The Mixed Triples final involved Sue Wallis, Derrick Rodger and Alan Browning against Tony Garvey, Sally Burton and George Jackson. The former triple opened up a 15-1 lead after only 8 ends and the match looked to be almost over.

However, Garvey, Burton and Jackson had other ideas and, much to the enjoyment of the watching crowd, managed to claw their way back to level the scores 16-16 on the 18^th and last end.   Their sterling effort was in vain though, as Wallis, Rodger and Browning picked up two shots on the deciding extra end to lift the trophy.

Ten other finals were played over the weekend with the Mixed Pairs turning out to be the closest.   Brenda Bennett and Derrick Rodger were well in control at 14-7 over Tricia Cave and Steve Hoskin at the half way stage but were pegged back as their opponents warmed to the challenge.  Improved drawing shots took Cave and Hoskin to 19-19 with three ends to play but experience showed in the end with Bennett and Rodger running out 24-19 winners.

The Club Competitions and Finals Day was efficiently organised by Anne Welch with assistance from Joe McGavin.

OTHER RESULTS

Men’s Pairs: Brian George and Peter Flory beat Tony Garvey and John Biles 25-15.

Ladies Pairs: Sue Wallis and Brenda Bennett beat Anne Welch and Rosemary Tuck 21-11.

Men’s Triples: Tony Garvey, Jon Pulley and Mick Smith beat Brian George, Colin Stevens and Alan Browning 22-14

Ladies Triples: Jackie Smith, Sue Wallis and Sally Burton beat Val Stevens, Joan Moffat and Sylvia Stiefel 20-15

Mixed Pairs Sets:  Mick Adnett and Ann Munro beat Tony Bysouth and Margaret Elsdon 19-7

Over 60 Mixed Pairs: Tony Garvey and Anne Welch beat Brenda McGavin and Pat Fogarty 33-7

Oaks Cup for Over 70s: Mervyn Fiander beat Richard Purssell 21-15

Novices Singles: Alan Penhallow beat John Wallis 23-9

Men’s Plate: George Jackson beat Brian George 21-10