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 Eleven Round-Up – Sunday 4th September
Women’s Fours
The Women’s Fours quarter-finals provided four high scoring matches across A Green on an evanescent rainy afternoon at Victoria Park.
Oxfordshire’s Donna Knight, Carol Gaskins, Katherine Hawes and Lorraine Kuhler enjoyed a resounding success over Tina Cooper, Nadine Mullins, Cathy Taylor and Ann Halliday of Middlesex. Resounding scoring from the seventh end onwards saw the Oxfordshire four win 25-8.
Helen Butler, Louise Whyers, Penny Strong and Annalisa Dunham (Lincolnshire) only dropped three ends on their way to beating Surrey’s Margaret Brookbank, Brittany Clarke, Jacqui Waterman and Kate Capon 23-5.
A five on the 11th end for Cumbria’s Dorothy Westwood, Angela Hayton, Pauline Hodgson and Karen Westwood proved to be very decisive in an otherwise tight tussle against Gloucestershire. Cumbria won 18-12 against Jill Forward, Marguerite Cobb, Marilyn Wear and Jacky Howes (Glos).
Suffolk’s Kirsty Rowe, Amy Rowe, Tracey Johnson and Joanne Rowe started superbly against Lancashire, racing to a 15-0 lead after just six ends. Louise Yates, Chloe Smith, Michaela Smith and Gillian Hinsley (Lancs) weren’t down and out so easily though. The Lancashire quartet scored on seven of the next nine ends to pull the match back to 19-12. Ultimately, Suffolk saw out the game and sealed a 21-12 victory.
Find full scores here
Men’s Fours
There were stunning scenes for Surrey spectators this afternoon as the four of Richard Corne, Josh Hawkins, Russell Stanley and Don Leach secured a 19-16 victory over John Tufts, Matt Flatman, Richard Summers and Wayne Willgress (Norfolk).
It was a brilliant match that was close all the way only for Surrey to score in the crucial final ends to bag the win and progress to the last 16.
The Surrey four had earlier beaten Gloucestershire’s Lawrence Oliver, Alan Tregoning, Paul Bryant and Ian Gauld 24-6 in convincing style.
Last year’s semi-finalists Mark Smith, Karl Finch, Luke Horne and Adam Smith of Warwickshire had to come from behind to beat Durham in the last 32. Vince Rewcastle, David Newman, Tony Macey and Liam Macey had the better start but Warwickshire quartet swung the match back in their favour to win 19-14.
That came after the Warwickshire four defeated Northumberland’s Lee Taylor, Bob Dodds, Christian Lowes and George Richardson 21-7 in the preliminary round.
It was a momentous day for David Poole (Northamptonshire) as he got down on one knee and proposed to his partner Christine Ball on B Green this afternoon. Christine’s “Yes!” was met by amazing applause by those in attendance.
A tremendous congratulations to David and Christine on their engagement!
Unfortunately it wasn’t to be for David, Allan Johnson, Alan Mann and Pete Milburn (Northants) in their match against James Nobbs, Craig Hatherall, Graham Hatherall and Neil Collett of Wiltshire. The Wiltshire four triumphed 19-13 to progress to the last 16.
Find full results here
Day Twelve Preview – Monday 5th September
We dive straight into the Women’s Fours semi-finals tomorrow morning. Helen Butler, Louise Whyers, Penny Strong and Annalisa Dunham (Lincolnshire) face Kirsty Rowe, Amy Rowe, Tracey Johnson and Joanne Rowe (Suffolk) in the first semi-final.
In the other semi, Donna Knight, Carol Gaskins, Katherine Hawes and Lorraine Kuhler (Oxfordshire) play Dorothy Westwood, Angela Hayton, Pauline Hodgson and Karen Westwood (Cumbria).
The winners of those two matches will go head-to-head in the final tomorrow afternoon and we will be crowning the Women’s Fours champions.
Elsewhere, Men’s Fours action continues with last 16 and quarter-final matches taking place. The remaining 16 counties will be vying to make it through to Tuesday’s final for a chance of lifting the Men’s Fours title.
Monday will also see the Tony Allcock Trophy and Women’s Two Bowl singles commence.
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.