Onto the artificial green this morning to see if Fred and my team could qualify with a win in our games against the two teams which had already done so.
Fred, Rex, Murray and Omeka were up against Neville, Dave, Shoota and Keith and got a point on the first end. A single shot on an end became the main scoring way for Fred, nine of them and a single 2. Neville’s Four won three 2’s but only two singles .. And so the final score was Fred 11 and Neville 8. Fred’s team had qualified.
My team with Paul, Jack and Brian were up against Trevor Tuataras (already qualified) Four with Keith Ken and Bill.
It turned out to be one of those games when everything seemed to go right for my team, not just luck but I was really impressed with how my front three played. Everything just seemed to go right and in the end Trevor’s team had only scored three points to our 22.
The draw was then made for post section play and lo and behold, Fred and I were drawn to play the teams that we had just beaten.
Things now turned out completely in reverse. By the eighth end, my team was leading 10-8. Perhaps that looks good but we had only scored on 3 ends at that stage, one of them being a 7. Unfortunately we only scored once more and lost the game 12-20. Obviously we just didn’t perform as well as we had in the morning.
On rink one, Fred got off to a good start with a 4 on the first end but from then on, Neville’s team maintained their lead, winning the game 24-17.
The final proved to be a wonderful game to watch by the very good viewing crowd.
Trevor’s team got of to a good start, winning the first five ends to lead by 8-0. By the eighth end he lead 9-5, but a single, three and then a five put his opponents in front to lead 14-9.
The pressure was now really on and a 2, 2 and 1 brought the score to 14 all with just one end to play. Real pressure now on both teams.
Bill lead off for his team and thrilled Trevor by putting both his bowls close to the Jack. It was then Keith’s turn to excel by drawing the shot. Things were now looking good for Neville’s team until one of Dave’s bowls came down with the intention of pushing back one of Bill’s bowls. Instead we saw his bowl disturb Keith’s, and the team was again down.
Now it was up to the skips, one not to disturb the winning position and the other to somehow regain the shot. No change after Trevor’s first bowl.
Keith sees that his team’s blue bowl is still shot.
Neville now, close, but no change. Trevor again played safe, and then it was up to Neville to achieve something with his last bowl.
Down came his drive, (reminded me of what happened in our last end against him yesterday), right on target, hitting bowls on the head and when all had settled down, Neville’s’ team had one point to take the win for this years Men’s Championship Fours.
Keith’s pink bowl is the winning shot
Congratulations to both teams for providing all of us with a great game to view.
2011 Men’s Championship Fours winners.
Neville (s), Dave, Shoota and Keith