We now know the line up of the finals night at the Horwich RMI open singles after another thrilling qualifying session.
On a night that sadly started with a few players, who were in the draw, not able to attend and didn’t give the organiser, Sue Ainscough, time to find replacements.
The game of the first round was undoubtedly between Whelley Labour’s Dave Jarret and Wigan’s Will Harrison. It was a game that could easily have gone either way and both would have been a worthy winner or an unlucky loser. Another notable game in the first round was a clash of the Wiganers as the legendary Alan Broadhurst took on Ian Dennis.
The second round saw Edgeworth’s Barry Robinson just have too much for St Pauls Neil Preston (both had received a bye in the first round). Derek Bissell was mightily impressive against Dave Jarret using not much more than a bare mark to give Dave little chance.
The two games of the round were more than worthy of the entrance money. Over Hulton’s Ian Pendlebury beat Westhoughton legend Kev Shaw. This was truly a classic as Kev was playing superbly in the corners and Ian was doing well to stay with him. Kev always had a lead but couldn’t pull further away to finish Ian off. Still at 20-15 up Kev was clear favourite but Ian showed wonderful belief and a never say die attitude.
It was a nothing sort of a two-paced mark that did it for Ian. Reach away from the club and just have the right pace coming back. It was too much for Kev who lost his length at the wrong time. Kev will be wondering what if though, at 16-20 Ian lay with a single and Kev had the option of striking or just sitting either block or bowl. He chose the latter, and perhaps the more difficult, option then could only watch Ian give him little chance.
The final game of the second round saw Wigan Alan Broadhurst go up against North Ashton’s Harvey Birch. Alan had the early advantage and looked likely to pull clear but Harvey used his experience and also used a fiddly mark against a ridge to drag himself clear. At 17-10 up it looked likely that Harvey would be a comfortable winner but Alan has been too successful at this game for too long to give up without a fight. Harvey was almost counting a brace when Alan turned his peg got round Harvey’s counting bowls. Alan changed the mark, and playing a much fuller length, got right back into the game. It was Harvey’s turn to hang on and he kept pulling the odd wonder bowl out to stay clear and ultimately win the game
The qualifying games, with Barry Robinson playing Ian Pendlebury and Derek Bissell playing Harvey Birch, were both games about who could keep hold of the jack.
Firstly Ian then Barry had runs with the jack. Ian led 8-7 before Barry kept hold of the jack for six ends to go 14-08. This was the decisive break in the game as points were swapped oner the remaining ends as Barry kept the gap to six points.
The other qualifier saw Derek Bissell lead out onto the mark he was so successful on in the previous game. He swiftly went seven points clear before Harvey could get the measure of the mark. As soon as he did it became a different game as a ten-break put him ahead and then to dominate the rest of the game.
The full results were:
B. Robinson W/O J. Wilson DNA (Informed organiser)
N. Preston W/O A Thomas DNA (not informed organiser)
I. Pendlebury W/O G Harris DNA (not informed organiser)
C. Hughes 01 K.T Shaw 21
D. Jarret 21 W. Harrison 19
D. Bissell W/O T. Harris DNA (not informed organiser)
A. Broadhurst 21 I. Dennis 11
H. Birch 21 I. Penzer 03
2nd Round,
B. Robinson 21 N. Preston 15
I. Pendlebury 21 K.T Shaw 20
D. Jarret 02 D. Bissell 21
A. Broadhurst 17 H. Birch 21
Qualifying game,
B. Robinson 21 I. Pendlebury 15 (Barry drew no 01 for finals)
D. Bissell 13 H. Birch 21 ( Harvey drew no 05 for finals)
The draw for next Saturday’s finals night is complete and should provide some high class bowling action. The action starts at 6pm.
1. Darren Allsopp
2. Barry Robinson
3. Martin Ogliev
4. Neil Bithell
5. Harvey Birch
6. Andrew Cairns
7. Gary Sisswick
8. Wayne Ditchfield