Steve S beat Jim in a tense, friendly but controversial finish in the final of our first Club Weekend Tournament on Sunday (16th July).
10 across, (playing up to 11) Jim sent the jack dangerously close to the edge of the green. He followed with a very decent wood, brave enough to land about 4 feet from the jack. Steve’s bowl, equally brave, knocked Jim’s further forward but even more to the left of the jack and just on the green, while Steve’s ran on a few inches towards the target. Jim declared that if he bowled off then the match was over, reflecting both players’ visual impression that Steve was now “on”. To your humble reporter it was unclear that Steve was closer, and I began to make my way down for a green-side look at to advise the players. Jim however, believing that he was behind, and with the fear of going off in mind, bowled, and left himself short. The players shook hands and the crowd applauded enthusiastically in appreciation for the high quality of bowling the final had provided. And because they could finally go home.
Collecting the mat, Steve followed Jim to collect their woods. But drama! On arrival at the jack, Jim saw that in fact he looked to be on, and called for a measure. But the mat had been moved, the end agreed finished, and Steve’s rhythm unfairly disturbed. After much discussion, Jim sportingly agreed that Steve had won the end (although Steve’s only bowl was not the closest) – and with it the tournament.
The sporting resolution was fitting for the competition which has been played in a friendly spirit throughout. After all, the whole thing was intended as a learning experience, and it was fitting that, the player who had played more competitive games than the rest of the field put together, (Jim) learned an important lesson himself!
Your humble reporter is still regularly surprised at the proximity of bowls to jack upon approaching them – especially when the candidate bowls are of differing lengths. Lesson: Don’t concede an end unless you are absolutely sure of the outcome!
Jim bowled well throughout the tournament, beating Max, Dave and thrashing Paul T in the semi-final. Steve had had a tougher journey to the final, fighting past Brendan before very close encounters with Adrian (quarter finals) and Tom in the semis.
10 players participated, all getting at least two games, and three more players, who did not enter, also got games and match experience.
The tournament had been scheduled for the afternoon but with Saturday’s downpours, the decision had been made on the previous day to postpone the tournament to a later weekend. However, as the sun was shining on Sunday morning, your humble reporter saw an opportunity to fit in a competition before the inevitable rain in the afternoon -which indeed arrived minutes after the final finished.
Thanks to everybody who made the impromptu event and all who helped with scoring, making drinks and doing measures!
Another, hopefully even dryer tournament, will follow soon.