The Delivery | Wardle and Dawson win Men’s Pairs classic on Day Six

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 Six Round Up – Tuesday 15th August

Supporters in the stands and viewers at home were treated to an outstanding Men’s Pairs Final on Day Six of the Aviva National Finals. We also saw Women’s Triples finalists decided and discovered the semi-final line-up in the Men’s and Women’s Junior Pairs plus Men’s and Women’s Champion of Champions. In the latter stages of the day, the first Women’s Pairs Round One matches took place.

Men’s Pairs

In an all-time classic at the Aviva National Finals, Nick Wardle and Joe Dawson (Kingscroft BC, Leicestershire) claimed the Men’s Pairs trophy in astonishing style.

Playing against Steve Gunnell and Ed Morris (Essex County, Essex), the final was a close encounter all the way through.

The Leicestershire pair picked up five shots on the fourth end to take the lead in the game for the first time, at 5-4, after brilliant leading from Nick Wardle.

Essex’s Gunnell and Morris pushed ahead again, jumping to a 13-9 lead after 14 ends.

Heading into the 18^th end, the Essex duo were ahead 15-14. They held the match shot before Joe Dawson fired and killed the end, forcing the end to be replayed.

It was Leicestershire that held one shot on the replayed 18^th end. Essex’s Ed came mightily close to drawing the shot but finished second bowl resulting in the match becoming level at 15-15.

Needing an extra end to decide the winner, the calibre of bowls on show was more than worthy of the final. A superb runner from Ed Morris meant Essex held game. Once again, Dawson drove at the head and connected with the jack to kill the end.

The bowls were taken back and the crowd were gripped to the pulsating conclusion. With the final bowl in Dawson’s hands, Gunnell and Morris held one and were in the winning position.

Dawson went quick again, delivering an inch-perfect runner to remove the Essex bowl out of the head and seal the win in dramatic fashion. Wardle and Dawson burst into jubilation with their supporters overjoyed. The final score 16-15 to pair from Kingscroft BC.

Earlier in the semi-finals, Wardle and Dawson overcame Aaron Johnson and Ian Catchpole (Norfolk BC, Norfolk), beating them 16-13.

Essex’s Gunnell and Morris edged through 15-14 against Warwickshire’s Dan Box and Andy Walters (Welford On Avon BC).

Women’s Triples

In the morning’s Quarter-Finals, Devon’s Sophie Tolchard, Nicole Rogers and Harriet Stevens surged to a 21-13 win against Leen Hampshire, Sandra Aldridge, Anne Bernard of Ryde Marina BC, Isle of Wight.

Hayley Kenny, Michelle Carlin and Rebecca Smith (Clockhouse BC, Essex) won 24-8 in emphatic style against Rachel Forster, Carole Bannister and Victoria Forster (Workington BC, Cumbria).

Rachel Gingell, Kelly Jenkins and Pam Garden (Egham BC, Surrey A) beat Donna Taylor, Sue Dyson and Allyson Flint from Cove BC, Hampshire, 21-11.

Oxfordshire’s Donna Grant, Katherine Hawes-Watts and Lorraine Kuhler (Oxford City & Cty BC) booked their Semi-Final spot by winning 23-18 against Rebecca Willgress, Christine Rednall and Katherine Rednall (Norfolk BC, Norfolk).

In the Semi-Finals, the Oxfordshire triple took on Sophie Tolchard, Nicole Rogers and Harriet Stevens of Devon. After exchanging excellent shots all through the match, it was delight for the Devon triple as they won 20-18.

Surrey’s Gingell, Jenkins and Pam Garden claimed their place in tomorrow’s Women’s Triples final by triumphing 18-15 against Hayley Kenny, Michelle Carlin and Rebecca Smith of Essex.