Club News
FINAL QUALIFIER RESULTS - FRIDAY 26TH AUGUST
Report by Mark Atkinson
The big build-up to the 4th and final qualifying round in this year's Crosland Moor '64 was fully justified with a cracking evening of well-contested games and top class bowling that saw Simon Coupe and Dale Smith earn their places in next week's final.
Simon will be aiming to become only the second person to defend the title, and if he does he'll look back on last night's first round and know it could have all been very different. Leading out at 20-20 after a 90-minute marathon with Daz Goodall, Simon stuck the jack on the edge of the green on a fast finish. He then did what all class players do in this situation. Put one a yard short to pass? No he tubbed it Daz played a good un two foot off which was tough to lick, but Simon recomposed himself to find a dead un and sneak home by the slimmest of margins.
From then on normal service was resumed, as he kicked into gear and came through with impressive wins over Paul Ingleby (21-6) and Dan Petcher (21-16).
In the bottom half meanwhile, Greg was made to wait as long games in the top half didn't see him get onto the green until around 8pm. I'm sure Greg would agree he struggled early doors with the pace of the green, often short as he battled with Liam Griffin in a 21-14 win. From that point on however, I can honestly say it was one of the best performances I've seen on Crosland Moor as he made a mockery of a tough green, relentlessly ramming them on tough marks as he breezed through with big wins against Nicky White (21-8) and Robert Hitchen (21-9) with Bob having struck approximately 76,432 times as Greg didn't let up.
So onto next week's final and what a lineup we've got. 31-up remember for the final so sure to be plenty of twists and turns. Odds will be up through the week.
THE FINAL - FRIDAY 2ND SEPTEMBER
1. Lee JOHNSTONE (Lower Hopton)
2. Ian BOOTH (Lower Hopton)
3. Barry HOLLAND (Penistone)
4. Graeme WILSON (Lower Hopton)
5. Jack DYSON (Thongsbridge)
6. Simon COUPE (Preston)
7. Greg SMITH (Birmingham)
8. Chris BLY (Bury)
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