Gloucestershire Bowls Association
County Competitions
Two Wood Semi-Finals
OLVESTON’S Paul Bryant went out of the Gloucestershire Bowls Association’s County Two Wood competition at the semi-final stage after a great game against Cheltenham’s Nathan Kitchen.
Kitchen having eased past Steve Burdock, of Bradley Stoke, by18-11 in the quarter finals came up against fellow Middleton Cup player Bryant and took a early 5-3 and 7-4 lead before the Olveston man won three consecutive ends to lead 8-7.
The gap then opened up to three shots and with only four ends to play, the score stood at 12-9 in favour of Bryant.
Two shots gave Kitchen hope and with a couple of other twos, he squeezed into the final with a 15-12 win.
Kitchen will now play Barnwood’s Ben Coldrick for the title at Pineholt Bowls Club. Coldrick beat Cheltenham’s Lee Williamson in the other semi.
* Bryant, meanwhile, will be back on the rink and playing alongside Kitchen this Saturday as part of Gloucestershire’s men’s Middleton Cup team that takes on Herefordshire.
Bryant will be joined in his quartet not just by Kitchen but by Olveston team-mate John Smallwood.
Gloucestershire need to get a convincing win over Herefordshire to have a chance of finishing second in their group.
Manager Rob Griffiths has made a few changes from the win over Cornwall as he looks to develop the squad.
Gloucestershire team.
Rink One,   Brian Burleigh (Dursley), Dave Smith (Cam Mills), Russ Mellerup (Cam Mills), Keith Hinder (Dursley).
Rink Two,   Adam Smith (Dowty), Vince Wilks (Gloucester City), Grant Baldwin, Chris Davies (both Coleford).
Rink Three,   Jack Daniels (Bishops Cleeve), Graham Griffiths, James Speller, Steve Knight (all Cheltenham).
Rink Four,   John Smallwood (Olveston), Nathan Kitchen, Nick Holliday (both Cheltenham), Paul Bryant (Olveston).
Rink Five,   Ben Coldrick (Barnwood), Roger Bird (Tetbury), Pete Stinchcombe (Tetbury), Stuart Hodges (Cheltenham).
Rink Six,   Chris Roach (Cheltenham), Nigel Cansdale (Cirencester), John Roach, Matt Cuthbert (both Cheltenham).
* Olveston's Sue Latham has been named in Gloucestershire's women's team for their final John’s Trophy group match on Saturday against Somerset, know that to finish top of the pool, they must win all six rinks.
Gloucestershire team.
Rink One, Val Ayres (Lydney), Pat MacGregor (Arrow), Sue Osborne (Kingswood & Hanham), Joy Sheward (Cheltenham Whaddon).
Rink Two,  Iona Bird (Caer Glow), Jenny Stanfield (Moreton), Pauline Gunn (Caer Glow), Jacky Howes (Stroud).
Rink Three, Jan Bishop (Tewkesbury), Myra Savage (Falcon), Kay Gent (Caer Glow), Sue Latham (Olveston).
Rink Four, Val Webb (Victory Park), Anne White (Arrow), Val Molton (Kingswood & Hanham), Rachel Hughes (Royal Forest of Dean).
Rink Five, Val Osmond (Ardagh), Rita Gerry (Moreton), Julia Stannard (Nailsworth), Lindsay Collin (Page Ladies).
Rink Six, Sally Rolls (Gloucester Spa), Val Major (Churchdown), Cynthia Winter-Alsop (Wotton), Gill Fry (Gloucester Spa).