Pete and Phil secure Eastfield triumph
FINE weather and an excellent, easy running bowling surface provided perfect conditions for the Marshall Hondasponsored Eastfield Bowling Club drawn pairs merit on Sunday, and the 64 players responded with some outstanding play.
At the quarter-final stage Lee Tankard (Robin Hood’s Bay) and Kenwale (Whitby) beat Ian Hadden (Borough) and Tim Purcell (Robin Hood’s Bay) 21-14, Pete Richards and Phil Todd (both Hunmanby) beat Richard Thompson (North Cliff) and Sue Emerson (Whitby) 21-12, Ray Leeman (Whitby) and Jenny Richards (Hunmanby) beat Tony Bland (Borough) and Arthur Wilks (Eastfield) 21-19 and Janet Bundy and Lee Deighton (both Dukes Park) beat David Bould (North Cliff) and Dennis O’neill (Dukes Park) 21-18.
With all the players then having had a good feel of the green the standard of play got even better, with everyone in cracking form for the semi-finals where Richards and Todd, at one time 19-12 ahead, were lucky to beat Tankard and Wale 21-20 thanks to an unwanted touch of the jack which gave them the winning point.
In the other semi, both ladies contributed to an exciting contest with Leeman and Jenny Richards taking the honours 21-15 against Janet Bundy and Deighton. This meant that husband and wife Pete and Jenny Richards were on opposing sides in the final, played with five start on the card.
Pete Richards and Todd established a 12-7 lead after five ends and, despite some excellent deliveries by Leeman and Jenny Richards, continued ahead throughout: 16-12 after 11 ends, 20-15 after 15 ends and claiming the match 21-18 after 18 ends. Worthy winners and worthy opponents.
Eastfield president Moira Audsley thanked all who had helped to run the competition and the players for taking part before presenting the prizes.
On Sunday there will be a mixed doubles merit at Hunmanby BC, and the following Sunday the first singles merit of the season will be held at Dukes Park BC, both 9.30am start.