Welcome to The Delivery! This is our daily feature that brings you a round-up of action from Victoria Park plus a preview for the following day.
Day Twelve Round-Up – Monday 5th September
Women’s Fours – Winners: Lincolnshire
It was glory for Lincolnshire today in the Women’s Fours. Lincolnshire’s Louise Whyers, Pearl Flowers, Penny Strong and Annalisa Dunham lifted the trophy after winning 20-14 against Oxfordshire’s Donna Knight, Carol Gaskins, Katherine Hawes and Lorraine Kuhler.
The Lincs four made the better start in the final, leading 8-3 after seven ends. Oxfordshire hit back though with a handy four shots and brought the scoreline back to 9-8 to Lincs at ten ends.
A superb six on the following end for Whyers, Flowers, Strong and Dunham put them in a healthy position in the match. Despite another four for the Oxon quartet, Lincolnshire managed the remainder of the match brilliantly to seal the victory.
Pearl Flowers came into the Lincolnshire four to sub for Helen Butler who couldn’t partake in todays semi-final and final.
In the earlier semi-finals, both finalists enjoyed big victories.
Oxfordshire found themselves behind against Cumbria’s Dorothy Westwood, Angela Hayton, Pauline Hodgson and Karen Westwood at 5-4 after five ends.
Tremendous scoring in the last eight ends saw them surge ahead of Cumbria. Two fives and a four helped the Oxfordshire four seal a 26-12 win.
Lincolnshire led their semi-final match all the way against Kirsty Rowe, Amy Rowe, Tracey Johnson and Joanne Rowe (Suffolk).
Suffolk were contained by Lincolnshire during the course of the match and a six for Lincs proved crucial in claiming a 24-10 triumph.
Men’s Fours
Lancashire completed a sensational comeback against Hertfordshire in the quarter-final of the Men’s Fours this afternoon. Ken Chan, David Lockhart, Jason Parkinson & Chris Gale found themselves 17-6 down at 11 ends.
A six for the Lancs four on the 12th end stunned Hertfordshire and Lancashire scored on the next five ends to take a 21-17 lead going into the last end.
Steve Horwood, Glenn Williams, Scott Lepley and Jerry Rumball could only manage a two on the last end as Lancashire went through to the semi-finals with a 21-19 win.
In the last 16, Lancashire beat Roger Teague, Andrew Laity, Tim Phillips and Mark Foster (Cornwall) 19-6. Hertfordshire won 16-14 against Joe Melmore, Simon Broom, Dominic Tuckett and Jamie Chestney of Devon.
Huntingdonshire’s Ean Morton, Simon Law, Stuart Popple and Tristan Morton were too strong for Mark Smith, Karl Finch, Luke Horne and Adam Smith (Warwickshire).
A great start for the Hunts four and bold scoring late on saw them beat the Warks quartet 24-12.
Earlier, Huntingdonshire beat Surrey’s Richard Corne, Josh Hawkins, Russell Stanley and Don Leach 22-8. Warwickshire defeated Dave Maines, Andy Fowkes, Matt Pownall and Will Walker (Northamptonshire) 25-8.
In the other quarter-finals, Leicestershire’s Jonny Lynch, Jonny Green, Chris Moore and Joe Dawson beat Jonathan West, Scott Whyers, Gary Kitchen and Chris Gill 26-11.
John Coatham, Jason Haskins, Steve Marrett and Roger Kendrick (Kent) triumphed 21-14 over Andy Anderson, Steve Dowdell, Alan Forrest and Adam Smith (Hampshire).
Full results here
Women’s Two-Bowl Singles
Somerset’s Stef Branfield made a brilliant start in retaining the Women’s Two Bowl singles title.
Branfield won 15-10 against Kent’s Erika White, 13-8 against Berkshire’s Jane Murphy and 19-9 against Yorkshire’s Amica Fordy to progress to the quarter-finals.
Rebecca Wigfield of Northamptonshire beat Devon’s Ella Crouch 14-13, Cambridgeshire’s Ginnie Marsh 18- 13 and Leicestershire’s Helen Lewis-Wall 16-5.
Morgan Merryweather (Berkshire) claimed wins over Yasmina Hasan (Surrey) 16-11 and Dawn Slaughter (Middlesex) 15-10.
Find full results here
Tony Allcock Trophy
Littleport BC (Cambridgeshire) narrowly beat Box BC (Wiltshire) 34-32. It was also a tight encounter between Bromley BC (Kent) and Mersea Island (Essex) with the former winning 31-28.
Buckinghamshire’s Bletchley Town BC impressively sealed a 47-16 victory over Barbourne BC of Worcestershire.
Shires BC (Lincolnshire) won 41-24 against Falmouth BC (Cornwall).
Day Thirteen Preview – Tuesday 6th September
Expect another busy day at Victoria Park as Men’s Fours champions will be crowned. That will come after Kent play Lancashire and Huntingdonshire play Leicestershire in the semi-finals.
There will also by morning semi-final action in the Tony Allcock Trophy with the final following in the afternoon.
Defending Women’s Two Bowl champion Stef Branfield will be hoping to lift the trophy again as the final of that competition also takes place.
Sam Tolchard, Silver and Bronze medallist at Birmingham 2022, begins the challenge of defending the Men’s Two Bowl Singles title.
Social media coverage is available on Bowls England’s Facebook, Twitter and Instagram sites.
Tickets to the National Finals start at just £4 for adults and £1 for Under 21s offer a full day of top-class sporting action. Tickets increase to £5.50 adults and £1.50 Under 21s at weekends. Event passes are available and all tickets are cheaper in advance.
Please note: U16s must be accompanied by an adult. Under 3s enter free of charge.