Saturday March 5 saw the lousy weather of late improve enough for three of the four quarter finals in our Major Singles Championship for 2022 played.

Please note that all matches over the quarters, semis and final will be first to 25 shots and not 31 as per the new 2022 Zone and State conditions of play.

In the first match, Tony Dalton did battle with Barry Elder, who had played very well indeed in earlier rounds, to reach the final eight, but would Tony’s experience over many years in singles championships throughout the district finally bring Barry undone?

Barry began well to win the first two ends and lead 3 – 0, however Tony hit straight back with five shots over the next two ends to take the lead 5 – 3. Barry dug his heels in though over the next four ends and was well and truly in the game at 8 all at the completion of the eighth end.

Tony, however, was about to find some real touch with his “magic wand” bowling arm and proceeded to gain control of the match winning the following five ends to lead 18 – 8, and although Barry came again with three shots over the following two ends, it was Tony who finished the game well scoring the required seven shots over the following two ends to take the game 25 – 11.

The second quarter final on the day saw the very experienced Peter Gillespie take on Jason Ryan.

This was very much a game of two halves with Peter getting off to a ‘flyer’ winning six of the first seven ends to lead 13 – 1 after the seventh end and continuing on his great play to lead 17 – 3 after 12 ends.

Jason however, had no intention of throwing in the towel, and began what can only be described as ‘the comeback of all comebacks’ winning four of the next five ends to trail 8 – 18 and nine of the next eleven ends to complete a memorable victory 25 shots to 23.

Very well done indeed Jason and commiserations to Peter…certainly a game that all who witnessed will remember for a long time.

The third quarter final on the day matched Leith Basset against Alan Gough, and although Leith had the better of the start to lead 6 – 1, Alan came back hard over the next four ends to take the lead 9 – 7. The next five ends saw neither player give an inch as scores reached 11 – 10 in favour of Leith. Leith took five shots over the following two ends to open up a six-shot break 16 – 10, but Alan ‘reeled Leith in again as the scores reached 20 all after 27 ends.

The game was obviously up for grabs, but it was Leith who produced the goods when it mattered winning three of the remaining five ends and scoring the five shots required to take the match 25 shots to 22.

Our Wednesday March 2 social pairs had 36 players on the greens, with our winners on the day being Jamie Pye and Neville Henwood; runners up went to Paul Goratschow and Keith Garner, while Neil Payne & Alan Gough won the Consolation prize. The ‘first resting toucher’ prizes went to Barry Elder on green 1 and Brian Napper on green 2.

On Friday March 4 we had one of the best days in terms of player numbers on the greens for quite a while with 56 players keen for a game after the recent wet weather. Our winners on the day were Alan Madden & Brian Hall; runners up went to Col Clark & Garry Gumbleton, while the consolation prize went to K. Wright & J. Caldwell. The ‘first resting toucher’ prizes were won by Darren Brown on green 1 & Ray Marchant on green 2 while our three ‘free game’ winners were Terry Dwyer, Brian Hall & Allan Knox.

See you next week.

Wrong Bias