Last Sunday saw the first lot of Regional Finals taking place across England. It was the turn of The White Rose Trophy and Amy Rose Bowl Regionals Finals hosted by clubs in North, East, South and West regions.

 

Amy Rose Bowl

North – York RI BC, Yorkshire – Winners: Leicestershire

The only match of the day at York RI BC, resulted in this clash between Lincolnshire and Leicestershire being Regional Final. Lincolnshire grasped an extremely narrow victory over Durham with the final score in their match being 38-37. The lead was back and forth between the two counties until Kat Bowman skillfully ditched the jack on the last end to make the game all square at 37-37 and force an extra end. The crowd were brilliant and cheered Leicestershire on to win the decisive end and send them to the Nationals.

East – Shouldham BC, Norfolk – Winners: Northamptonshire

Huntingdonshire faced Northamptonshire in the first of the two Regional semi finals. Northamptonshire’s Shannon Swift, Grace Wilson, Abbi Johnston and Katie Smith picked up a 21-12 victory over Huntingdonshire’s Keira Thurston, Hannah Redmond, Chloe Brett and Becca Moorbey. The win on that rink got Northamptonshire over the line as Billie Swift (Northamptonshire skip) and Sophie Purell (Huntingdonshire skip) played out an 18-18 draw. The overall score, 39-30 in favour of Northamptonshire.

In the other Regional semi final,  Norfolk took on Cambridgeshire. Emya Tomlinson and Lauren Finbow skipped winning rinks for Cambridgeshire with wins of 21-14 and 21-16. That gave them a 42-30 win over Norfolk and put them into the Regional Final.

Northamptonshire battled Cambridgeshire for a place at Royal Leamington Spa and Lauren Finbow’s rink (Cambridgeshire) took a narrow 13-12 victory over Billie Swift (Northamptonshire). However, Northamptonshire’s Katie Smith led her rink to another big win as they won 24-12 against Cambridgeshire’s Emya Tomlinson. The overall score ended Northamptonshire 36-25 Cambridgeshire.

South – Desborough BC, Berkshire – Winners: Kent B

Welcoming speeches at Desborough BC

 

After a welcome from Desborough BC’s president and Sandy Hazell, Team England Women’s Assistant Manager, Hampshire beat Oxfordshire 44-20 in the first semi final.

Kent A took on Kent B in the other semi final. Kent B came out on top with winning 40-32.

Kent B followed up that success by beating Hampshire 43-32 in the Regional Final to qualify for the National Finals.

Kent’s Amy Rose B Team

 

West – Devizes BC, Wiltshire – Winners: Worcestershire

Somerset claimed a 46-28 victory over Wiltshire in the first semi final.

Worcestershire had a convincing triumph over Gloucestershire in the second semi final with the score 62-21.

In the Regional Final, a twelve shots in seven ends burst from Worcestershire’s Izzie White and her rink gave them a 21-5 lead at sixteen ends over the Somerset rink skipped by Becky McMillan. Despite a small sign of narrowing the scoreline from McMillan’s rink, White’s rink scored four on the last end to win 26-11.

Somerset’s Laura Holden was 19-13 up at nineteen ends against Worcestershire’s Maddie Burgess. However, Burgess’ rink amazingly scored a three and a four on the last two ends to win 20-19. Worcestershire won 46-30 overall against Somerset.

 

Worcestershire’s Amy Rose Team

 

White Rose Trophy

North – Wigton BC, Cumbria – Winners: Lancashire

The first semi final saw Lancashire take a slim 38-34 win against Cumbria.

Lincolnshire sealed a 44-33 win over Northumberland in the second semi final.

In the Regional Final, Lancashire got the better of Lincolnshire and booked their place at the National Finals with a 40-32 win.

Lancashire’s White Rose Team

 

East – Royston BC, Hertfordshire – Winners: Suffolk

Suffolk defeated Hertfordshire 42-34 in the first semi final.

In the second semi final, Cambridgeshire cruised to a 58-29 win over Essex.

In the Regional Final, Suffolk grasped their place in the National Finals by the smallest of margins as they won 36-35 against Cambridgeshire.

South – Alton Social BC, Hampshire – Winners: Kent

Sussex claimed a 40-37 win against Berkshire in the first semi final.

Kent took a narrow win over Hampshire in the other semi final. The overall score finishing 38-37 to Kent.

Sussex’s Ben Fairhall skipped his rink to a 21-10 win. In the other rink, Kent’s Harry Goodwin and his rink emphatically picked up a six on the last end to win the Regional Final overall by 39-38 and send Kent to the National Finals.

West – Poole Park BC, Dorset – Winners: Warwickshire

The first semi final saw Warwickshire claimed a 47-41 victory over Somerset.

In the other semi final, Gloucestershire triumphed against Cornwall by winning 48-23.

In the Regional Final, Gloucestershire’s Ben Coldrick skipped his rink to a 15-9 lead at sixteen ends. However, the opposing Warwickshire rink, skipped by Harry Billington, sensationally came back in the last five ends. Billington’s rink scored fifteen shots without reply to win 24-15.

In the other rink, Gloucestershire’s Josh Phillips had led his rink to a 20-13 lead over Warwickshire’s Mark Smith going into the last end. With Warwickshire winning the match by two overall, Phillips hit the jack into the ditch with his last bowl to hold four shots and put the overall win in Gloucestershire’s hands. Mark Smith had last bowl of the Regional Final and exceptionally drew within a foot of the ditch for shot to give Warwickshire the overall win by 38-35.

National Finals

Amy Rose Bowl – Semi Finals – Saturday 27th August

Worcestershire v Northamptonshire

Leicestershire v Kent B

Amy Rose Bowl – Final – Saturday 27th August

Worcestershire/Northamptonshire v Leicestershire v Kent B

 

White Rose Trophy – Semi Final – Saturday 27th August

Warwickshire v Lancashire

Kent v Suffolk

White Rose Trophy – Final – Saturday 27th August

Warwickshire/Lancashire v Kent/Suffolk

 

See them in action at Royal Leamington Spa!

Get your tickets to see the Amy Rose Bowl and White Rose Trophy National Semi Finals and Finals today! Click here to see the scintillating action on Saturday 27th August.