Isle of Man County Crown Green Bowling Association

Saturday saw the welcome return of the above competition, kindly sponsored by Newsbeat, and a quality field of 16 pairs took to the green in what turned out to be better than expected weather conditions.

A number of Island players were entered and made quick work of their first round matches, particularly the pairings of Dave Bradford and Glynn Hargraves, and Bob Clark and Jordan Cain who both won 21-5. In the other first round matches, last minute entrants Peter Hughes and Peter Partington were unlucky to lose 20-21 to Ian Kissack and Mike Hargraves; similarly Grahem Moore and Les Warburton lost 21-19 to Neil Withers and Paul Dunn who struggled to get over the line as they took 4 ends to get the final point.

In the quarter finals, Dave Bradford and Glynn Hargraves took on Neil Withers and Paul Dunn in what was expected to be a close match. In the early stages this was the case but from the sixth end it was Withers and Dunn who found their length and with the help of 2 and 3 point ends they quickly raced to a 21-10 victory. Arthur Halsall and Tony Epifani came good against Kevin Mort and John Lightfoot with a 21-15 win and a similar scoreline took Bob Clark and Jordan Cain past Ian Kissack and Mike Hargraves. The last quarter final match between Derek Allen and Dave McCabe, and James Teare and Alan Moore was much closer with the scores level at 16 each after 14 ends but it was Teare and Moore who made the better finish to win 21-18.

The semi finals saw Arthur Halsall and Tony Epifani on home ground get off to a good start but they couldn’t match the 2 and 3 pointers thrown at them by Neil Withers and Paul Dunn who eventually romped home 21-9. The second semi final was similar as James Teare and Alan Moore won the first four ends to lead 11-5 against Bob Clark and Jordan Cain but once again it was the 2 and 3 point ends that helped Clark and Cain win 21-17.

On the basis of their earlier performances the final was eagerly awaited but it took Neil Withers and Paul Dunn 6 ends to get off the mark and with Bob Clark and Jordan Cain playing some exquisite bowls and scoring a 3 and a couple of 4’s the match was all over in 10 ends with Cain and Jordan running out worthy winners by 21 points to 8.

The prize presentation was made by Peter Partington, Chairman of Finch Hill Bowling Club and Ken Kinrade, Competition Secretary with the losing semi finalists receiving £20 Newsbeat vouchers, the losing finalists £50 Newsbeat vouchers and the winners £100 Newsbeat vouchers and the R H Green Cup.

Special thanks go to our generous sponsors Newsbeat, to Merve Sayle for preparation of the green and to Lyn Kinrade and Hazel Hughes who kept everyone fed and watered throughout the afternoon and to all those who helped make this a very successful competition.