Tight final a thrilling climax in fixed pairs series

LOVE Lane’s winter bowling championships continued with the fixed pairs series on Sunday.

Chris Barlow and Shaun Miller were the defending champions and had two handicaps to concede all day.

The duo started well though winning their opening group match 21-16 against a battling Ian Stokes and Anita Talbot. In their next game, Dave Jackson and Liam Lambert had them in all sorts of trouble. Barlow and Miller came storming back though to win 21-15 playing the back edge of the green to perfection. The reigning champions then wrapped up group top spot with a cosy win over Rodger Miller and Steve Crowther. With two qualifying from each group for the semi finals every chalk was vital.

Dave Jackson and Liam Lambert had enough in reserve to clinch the runners up spot. In Group 2 Jamie Bramley and Chris Talbot had few headaches completing three solid victorys 21-13 21-16 and 21-11.

Macclesfield visitors Wayne Greenwood and Bob Whyatt then turned in two sparkling displays to earn themselves second spot.

The semi-finals saw Whyatt and Greenwood race into a seemingly commanding 15-6 lead over Barlow and Miller.

The Cheshire Parks team-mates shortened things up though and came back strongly. At 19-20 Barlow played a corking running bowl to prop out Whyatt and seal his spot in the final with Miller. The other match was close with Talbot and Bramley under heavy pressure from Jackson and Lambert who was playing like a man possessed.

A good four on the top edge though allowed Talbot and Bramley to take command and win 21-14. The final was a corker it swung both ways with Barlow and Miller dominating the early proceedings and scoring three at the first end. Bramley took the jack a good distance and backed up by Talbot shot to the lead 16-10.

A good swap by Barlow and Miller though made things interesting and with Talbot really unlucky playing from the back the game levelled at 18-18. At the next end Talbot and Bramley swapped and with one bowl to be sent Miller and Barlow lay three. Bramley came through with a reacher and crashed into the head to secure a vital two for his pairing. This end put the duo’s tails up and they closed the match out nicely to see off the gallant holders Miller and Barlow 21-18.

Next Sunday it’s the big Kings at Christmas pairs which is nearly full already.