We had a field of sixteen starting after a couple of withdrawals , numbers were slightly down in the men with some other bowls event happening and a full week of Masters starting on the Monday.  Each player was required to play three rounds of singles and mark another.

The weather forecast was good but with heavy rain late in the afternoon and fine for Sunday.  Both grass greens were open, Knightsbridge for the first time this season, it appeared to play very well although a little slow.  We shortened the games in anticipation of the rain, which worked well until the rain hit.

Fortunately we had only one game in progress when the heavy downpour arrived. It was so heavy that in two minutes both greens had completely flooded.  We then moved to carpet to finish the round three game and then play round four.

There were six qualifiers after three rounds where two and three winners qualified.  Tony Stanaway, Peter Orgias, Barry Baillie and Gordon Jenkins all had three wins and along with Ron Horne and Graham Ward two wins they qualified for the finals.

Sunday saw a nicer day with little wind.

Tony Stanaway and Peter Orgias had a bye with Barry Baillie playing Ron Horne and Graham Ward playing Gordon Jenkins for a place in the semi-finals.  Barry Baillie played very good bowls to beat Ron 21-9. Ron struggled with the move on to the carpet.

Gordon also had a good win against Graham 21-11, with Graham leaving his Saturday form behind.

Tony Stanaway played Peter Orgias in the one semi-final. Peter running out the winner 21-14. Peter very consistent, and Tony another not playing up to his previous day form.

Gordon Jenkins played Barry Baillie and a similar result with Gordon winning 21-11, Gordon very consistent and Barry not quite up to the form of his previous four games.

But an excellent effort never the less.

So to the final Peter Orgias on scratch and Gordon Jenkins on 1 handicap.

The game was marked by the Club President and semi-final loser, Tony Stanaway.  This was a great game, Gordon rushed out to a 10-1 lead after seven ends bowling extremely well.  Peter found his range and won the next five ends to trail 8-10.  Gordon won the next two ends, leading 12-8.  The next seven ends went to Peter, he leads 18-12.  Gordon stages a fight back winning the next three ends and he trails 17-18.  Peter gets a one on the next end, he leads 19-17.  Gordon, a one on the next, 19-18, anyone’s game. Peter draws a great shot when down two to grab another one. 20-18.  Gordon fights back to grab a one, 20-19.

So close.

Peter grabs another one with a top bowl to win 21-19.

A great game, very exciting and top bowls.

Well done to both players.

A big thankyou to everyone who helped out on both days, particularly the markers on Saturday, Kevin Cameron, Stuart Jamieson, Graeme McGregor and also Graeme Storey who marked on the Sunday.

Report by Alan Daniels.