Welcome to The Delivery! This is our daily feature that brings you a round-up of the action from the Aviva National Finals 2023 at Victoria Park, plus a preview for the following day.
Day 12 Round Up – Monday 21st August
As we enter the final week, Day 12 bought us the start of the Men’s and Women’s Senior Fours as the Men’s Fours started to whittle down with two remaining to play out for the title in the Final on Tuesday. The Women’s Singles continued with last 32 and 16 being played out on a glorious Monday at Victoria Park.
Women’s Singles
Round Two of the Women’s Singles was on offer for spectators at the Aviva National Finals on Day 12. Last year’s runner-up Elaine Score (Essex County BC, Essex) was on form in her match against Sharon Todd (Cheriton, Kent) with a 21-12 victory putting Elaine into the next round. Continuing her journey in the competition is Val Osmond (Henleaze BC, Gloucestershire) after an impressive 21 – 1 win against Victoria Symons (Wooler, Northumberland). Bedfordshire’s Jayne Christie (Potton BC) defeated 2016 runner-up Rachel Mackriell (Polegrove BC, Sussex) 21-16 to ensure her place in the next round. It was the end of the road for Izzie White as she fell to a 21-18 defeat to Marian Moore (Fairford BC, Gloucestershire).
Into Round Three and it was the last 16 battling it out for a place in the Quarter-Final of the Women’s Singles. 2021 winner Stef Branfield (Clevedon BC, Somerset) continued her bid to regain the Women’s Singles by showing her class with a 21-9 win over Liz Smerdon (Crediton, Devon). It was a ‘val’ient effort from Val Osmond (Henleaze BC, Gloucestershire) who looked like at one point the comeback was on but Elaine Score (Essex County BC, Essex) showed her ability and got the job done winning 21-15. Tina Broderick (Wellingborough BC, Northamptonshire) also put herself into the Quarter-Finals by defeating Hannah Smith (Wellington BC, Herefordshire) 21-9.
You can view the Women’s Singles results here.
Men’s Fours
The Men’s Fours had produced some memorable moments on Day 11 and Day 12 was no different. Fans were treated to some tasty Quarter-Final match-ups to start the day. Steve Hill, Harry Mycock, Dominic McVittie, Martin Spencer (Royal Mail Cart BC, Lincolnshire A) produced a strong performance to put themselves into the Semi-Final, beating Nigel Williams, Grant Howland, Anthony Booth-Young, Robert Stirling (Heaton Hall BC, Lancashire) 20-11. Michael Gomme, Tim Godman, Matthew Hyde, Andrew Briden (Gerrards Cross BC, Buckinghamshire) played some wonderful shots during their match with Colin Boston, John Lynch, Andy Kirtland, Barry Hopkins (Darlington Railway Athletic BC, Durham). It was the men from Buckinghamshire showing their class with a 22-10 win. After a cracker yesterday against Norfolk, Luke Mann, Joe Lovett, Mark Smith, Matt Larman (Ashford BC, Middlesex) was up against Kenny Muir, Willy McGinn, Alan Muir, Alistair Melville (Corby Forest BC, Northamptonshire) on our live stream. Once again there was a superb following for both sides with plenty of noise being made throughout. It was Middlesex who clinched a 23-13 win to put themselves into the Semi-Finals. Leicestershire, playing some unbeatable bowls, putting themselves into the hat for the Semi-Final with a 14-10 win over a strong Buckinghamshire side with Stephen McAlister, George Reid, Richard Reid, Alan Price(Gerrards Cross BC).
Day 12 was concluded with edge of your seat action as the Men’s Fours Semi-Finals were played out on A green. It was a captivating game from start to finish, with both sides playing top class bowls and the atmosphere of the crowd adding to the occasion. It went down to the wire, with the score going into the last end 14-13 to Luke Mann, Joe Lovett, Mark Smith, Matt Larman (Ashford BC, Middlesex). Steve Hill, Harry Mycock, Dominic McVittie, Martin Spencer (Royal Mail Cart BC, Lincolnshire) had to produce one of their best ends of the competition if they were to progress. And produce they did with an astonishing end scoring 3 and winning the game 16-14 and advancing to the Final. It was despair for the men from Middlesex but they bought some fantastic memories to spectators throughout their Men’s Fours journey. The other Semi-Final saw Michael Gomme, Tim Godman, Matthew Hyde, Andrew Briden (Gerrards Cross BC, Buckinghamshire) and Nick Wardle, Jonathan Green, Chris Moore, Joe Dawson (Kingscroft BC, Leicestershire) battle it out for a place in the Final. Both sets of players had produced some brilliant bowls and was coming into this one on top form. However, it was Leicestershire’s quartet who showed their dominance and continued their fine form by securing a 23-11 win. Michael Gomme, Tim Godman, Matthew Hyde, Andrew Briden (Gerrards Cross BC, Buckinghamshire) showed a lot of quality and fight but just fell short.
Tomorrow we are in for a classic with a Lincolnshire side which contains former Men’s Pairs Champions Steve Hill and Martin Spencer up against a Leicestershire side which has current Men’s Pairs Champions Nick Wardle and Joe Dawson.
For all results in the Men’s Fours, please click here.
Men’s Senior Fours
As the Men’s Fours came to the business end, it was start for the Men’s Senior Fours on Day 12 of the Aviva National Finals. Mike Cox, Ian Ball, John Crews, Martin Butchers (Plessey BC, Isle of Wight) narrowly won to put themselves into the next round with a 21-19 win over last year’s runners-up Gary Toward, Graham Chappell, Keith Smith, Joe Breward (Blaby BC, Leicestershire). Kent quartet Andy Laslett, Gary Wood, Mick Homersham, Gordon Charlton (Sandwich BC) performed well and put themselves into Round Two with a 25-19 win over Colin Foster, Moosa Patel, Len Welton, Ken Spicer (Wanstead Central BC, Essex). It came down to one in the match between Gary Clark, Martin Sampson, Simon Greenwood, David McCallum (Camberley BC, Surrey) and Barry Flatt, Peter Harlow, Richard Haydon, Gary Goodrum (Wymondham Dell BC, Norfolk) with a 19-18 victory to Surrey.
For all results in the Men’s Senior Pairs, please click here.
Women’s Senior Fours
The Women’s Senior Fours began on a sunny start to the final week. Dawn Grisley, Jenny Ralph, Jayne Christie, Jackie Bryant (Potton BC, Bedfordshire) booked their place in the next round with a comprehensive 17-6 win over Chrissie Beamish, Jules Blaxill, Sue Bard-Bodek, Sue Bernard (Borough of Eye BC, Suffolk). Margaret Excell, Kate Strong, Helen Naunton, Marilyn Gozna (Portishead RBL, Somerset) showed their class beating Sue Collins, Phyl Parry, Lorraine McDermot, Pam Reynolds (Wellingborough BC, Northamptonshire) 22-9. Elsewhere saw Kent’s Women’s Senior Fours Dawn Slater, Lynn Andrews, Di Sekjer, Jane Cogle (Borough Green) progress with a 22-14 win over Pat Thornon, Ann Wortley, Cath Smith, Joan Mather (Dukeries BC, Nottinghamshire).
For all results in the Men’s Senior Pairs, please click here.
Day 12 Preview – Tuesday 22nd August
It’s going to be a jam-packed day of bowls on Day 12 with two captivating competitions reach the end on this great day of lawn bowls. Will it be Leicestershire or Lincolnshire to clinch the Men’s Fours title as the Women’s Singles starts to heat up, with 2022 winner and England Rising Star Rebecca Moorbey retain the prestigious title she memorably won last year? Senior Fours action continues and Men’s Junior Singles preliminary rounds take place, with Daniel Ellicott fighting to retain his title. It’s a day to guarantee high-drama and quality bowls! Buy your tickets online for discounted tickets. Or you can purchase on the gate.
You can watch Men’s Fours and Women’s Singles Final tomorrow over at bowlsengland.com/bowlstv.
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