Gloucestershire Bowls Association County Triples Semi Finals

TWO pulsating County Triples semi finals held at Cotswold Bowls Club, saw Dursley squeeze past Cheltenham by one shot 13-12 whilst Winget came from behind to beat Cam Mills 22-20.

Dursley, Dave Smith, Brian Burleigh and Keith Hinder up against John Roach, Rob Griffiths and Rob Gwilliam (Cheltenham) lost the first two ends and by the seventh end trailed 6-3. Scoring a single, Cheltenham then took command with a run of three consecutive ends that saw them score five shots to 0pen up an 11-4 lead.

Back came Dursley with a run of six winning ends to turn the tie around. In that run they picked up a two and a three to move into the last end 13-11 ahead.

In a nerve racking last end that saw the shot change hands, the outcome went in favour of Cheltenham but only by a single shot and that put Dursley into the final.

In the other semi Andy Mathers, Brian Workman and Ron Phelps (Winget) were up against Jim Beasley, Allan Norris and Phil Beames (Cam) and winning the first end with a couple of shots they then dropped three three’s and a single to be 10-2 down. Halting the run of Cam, they picked up a single on the sixth end and that then saw them produce a run of six winning ends to leap into an 18-10 lead. In the run the scored a six and as well as scoring a three and three two’s.

Not to be out done Cam then grabbed a five and a single to close the gap to three shots 19-16. A two followed by a single put Winget in the driving seat with two ends to play 22-16. That was cut to four shots going into the final end and despite Cam holding a hatful, Winget gained third wood for a two-shot win and a place in the Final.

Both winners will now meet in the County Finals at Moreton in Marsh on 3 September and will also represent the County at the National Championships at Leamington in August.