Third Division Meersbrook Park put up a creditable battle against top-flight Wraggs in the Sheffield Works League knockout quarter final (on Friday 18th August), going down 4-2 in a match of six singles games.
As the home side in a Cup match we were not allowed to roll-up. For those of us who had played on Tuesday this was not so much of a disadvantage as it turned out the green was running at a similar speed. As a team from two divisions lower than our opponents we did, however, get a six point start on each card.
Wraggs brought a strong team and watching them roll-up was a little intimidating. It was immediately apparent why they all rank highly in the Saturday Parks League – which is widely considered as the crem de la crem of Sheffield bowling leagues. Fears were whispered of 21-6 defeats all round. In the event though, most matches were pretty tight.
Agnes began really well, picking up from where she left off on Tuesday – which was playing brilliantly across her central “twenty to two” diagonal. Once her opponent managed to move her onto wandering and lengthening marks he turned the tide and, like his colleagues, rarely landed more than a yard from his target during his victory.
Steve had started less well. Dropping short too often he missed some decent openings before finding more conviction. Reaching lengths, Steve guarded his a now slender lead brilliantly and took the game right to the wire, only losing to 19 and, encouragingly in the view of your humble reporter, was critical of not doing better on the last end when he might have won it. Still, an excellent performance considering such a huge step up in level.
Andrew managed to go one better. Or, more precisely, two better. He played beautifully all evening and deserves credit for just focusing on staying in that rhythm despite some spectacular and accurate bowling from his opponent which could have knocked a lesser player out of their zone. Andrew protected his lead like scrooge, which is probably genetic, and held his nerve at the last to win 21-20.
Terry also bowled nicely. He lost to 16 but there was no shame in that. His 16 included many fine woods and, as for all of us, there were other fine woods that would normally win in our other leagues but that counted for nothing against this level of opposition.
Jon collected the MP’s second win of the night. This one was a little more decisive and Jon was able to use his knowledge of the green to keep moving his opponent around and not settle on a preferred mark.
One of three MP’s not to have benefitted from a game on Tuesday, Cei didn’t get this luxury of dictating play. The visitors start with the jack and it was hard to take it off them. Cei didn’t bowl badly but the gaps that were left for her to aim at were just too small to make on most of the ends.
Still, a creditable performance. Steve and Andrew in particular really stepped up and Meersbrook Park were within an end of a very unlikely tie.