Woods seals summer league crown at Greenhills
PETER Woods was crowned Summer League champion as members were treated to a fine display of bowling at Greenhills last Thursday night.
In the first match Aileen Fitzgerald and Francis Fleming were caught napping early on by Jimmy Flood and Marie Maher, who raced into a four-shot lead. Aileen and Francis eventually found their rhythm and stormed back to take a two-shot lead with one end to play. But Jimmy and Marie showed their battling qualities to force a draw.
In the second match Josephine Moran and Tony Lacken took on two experienced campaigners in Claire Woods and Jack Howell, but it was Tony and Josephine who seized the initiative to open a five-shot lead. Jack and Claire seemed low on confidence and although they cut the deficit to four ahead of the final end, Josephine and Tony eased to a deserved win.
Ciara Floyd and Anna Farrell also made a lightning start against Jaymie Crone and Jackie Maher in match three. To their credit, Jaymie and Jackie stayed calm despite being behind got their breakthrough in the fifth end closing the gap down falling five shots behind. They managed to cut the deficit to two, but Ciara and Anna held on defiantly to take the spoils in a very tense finish.
The final match of the summer league doubles saw Peter Woods and Sadie Campbell take on Tom Devin and Gertie Griffin in a ding-dong affair.
Peter and Sadie got off to a flying star, but Tom and Gertie stuck at it to stay in contentions. However, another great surge from Peter and Sadie saw them open a four-shot lead with one end ot play. Tom and Gertie responded very well again cutting the gap to the minimum, but it was too little too late.
Victory ensured Peter had amassed the points he needed to clinch the overall title.
At the presentation vice chairman Eugene McKenna thanked all members who took part in the competition. He said Peter deserved great credit for staying ahead of his rivals, playing superb bowls in the last few weeks of the tournament to take the title by six shots. In hot pursuit in second place was Josephine Moran and in third was Tom Devin.
He also praised the umpires who officiated in over 50 games and he thanked the ladies for the refreshments during the league. The stand out performers on the night were, Juvenile Ciara Floyd, Jackie Maher, Jimmy Flood, Peter Woods and Sadie Campbell.
Congratulations to Tadhg Reilly and Jack Howell and Chloe Dykstra and Tom Devin on reaching both the A and B semi final open in the Redeemer Club last Tuesday night.
Names are being taken for the Championship Singles which will take place in a couple of weeks. Juniors and seniors will return to Tuesdays next week. This Thursday it’s juveniles from 7-8pm and seniors 8-10.30pm.