Play-off match decides destination of Singles title

MEGAN Devin and Caitlin Floyd finished level pegging after the 10-week Juvenile Round Robin Singles tournament at Greenhills Bowls Club, resulting in a nine-end play-off last Tuesday night to decide the overall winner.

The members were treated to a fine display of bowling from the two young ladies and the lead changed hands several times in an exciting first four ends. Caitlin edged in front two up, only for Megan to steady the ship and it was nip and tuck then until Megan showed nerves of steel to take a slender lead in the sixth end - one up.

Caitlin responded with a glorious backhand draw shot to the head to storm back into a two-shot lead, only for Megan’s heavy pressure to square the match.

There was just one end left and Caitlin changed tack and put weight on her bowls, splitting the head but unfortunately leaving a path way into the jack for Megan who showed her creative drawing skills to clinch victory in the tournament overall by three shots.

Earlier, the first match out of the hat was Megan Devin v Tadg Reilly and the play-off contender stormed five up after five ends. Tadgh didn’t throw in the towel and at one stage he got the deficit back to two shots, but in the last two ends Megan attacked the head and produced her best bowls to run out the victor by four shots.

The next game was Noel Mc Donnell v Caitlin Floyd, and after trailing by four shots after three ends Noel turned it around to lead by two after five ends.

Back came Caitlin, and taking advantage of missed opportunities by her opponent she wiped out the deficit and opened up a four-shot lead. Noel fought hard in the last three ends, but it was all in vain as Caitlin ran out a three-shot winner.

The third match turned out to be a ding-dong battle between Diarmuid Loughman and Ciara

Floyd. Diarmuid had the better start but saw his early threeshot lead wiped out by the sixth end.

Diarmuid, rocked by his opponent’s recovery, got his act together in the next two ends, though, and his lead was back to three entering the last end.

Drama was about to unfold, though, as Ciara attacked the head and picked up three to share the spoils in a very tense finish.

The final match of the evening was another rollercoaster affair as Chloe Dykstra led by three early on against Leo McDonnell, then found herself trailing by two, only to bounce back and edge three up with two ends remaining.

Leo continued to compete hard, though, and he duly squared the match to set up an exciting last end.

Both played some lovely bowls to the jack in that nervy deciding end and ultimately it was Chloe who came up trumps by two shots.

Oriel Zone are holding a doubles nationals qualifier in Greenhills tonight (Tuesday) at 7.30pm and the presentation of prizes for the Singles Round Robin tournament will be held on the same night.

Times of play this week: Juveniles - Tuesday 7 to 8.15pm; Seniors - Tuesday 8.15 to 10.30pm, Thursday 8 to 10.30pm.