Hatfield was busy again last night. We had the Gayler Cup reaching the Semi-Finals and the Summer Aussie Pairs league started. With five mats out there was one roll up mat with bowlers eagerly practising ready for their first Aussie pairs game. Our Gayler Cup semi-finals had two Shillington teams playing two Greenwood teams. Read on to see how that went.
Mat four had Greenwood 1’s team of Barry, Val and Darren playing Shillington 1’s team of Michelle, Trevor and Neil. Greenwood started well taking the first end of set one for a single and followed that with a triple. Increasing the pressure they followed on with a second single and a four to be 9 – 0 up after four ends. Shillington’s Michelle, Trevor and Neil started a comeback by taking a five on end five to reduce Barry, Val and Darren's lead to 9 – 5 with two ends to play. Greenwood pushed again, holding a four on end six Shillington conceded the first set with the score at 13 – 5 to Greenwood. The second set started and Greenwood held a single which Shillington matched on end two. They followed that with a second single to take the lead. Greenwood pushed again taking the fourth end for the fourth single of the set it was two all with three ends to play. Barry, Val and Darren upped the pressure. They took end five for a triple and followed that with a second triple. Shillington fought back on the last end and held a final single but Greenwood had the win at 8 – 3 and were through to next week’s final.
Our other Semi-Final between Shillington 2’s Paul, Tony and Julia and Greenwood 2’s Audrey, Brian and Mark was held on mat one. Greenwood started by holding a double on the first end. Audrey, Brian and Mark took the second end for a single and followed this with two more to be 5 – 0 up after four ends. Paul, Tony and Julia pushed and took a single on end five and followed this with a second single on the penultimate end. The last end saw Greenwood hold on for a single with the last bowl and the first set at 6 – 2 in a game of very close ends. Set two started with Paul, Tony and Julia holding a triple. Audrey, Brian and Mark took end two for a double but Shillington pushed again for a double of their own for a 5 – 2 lead after three ends. Greenwood attacked, holding a three on end four it was all square with three ends to play. Greenwood then pulled in front for the first time in this set with a single. Paul, Tony and Julia held on and took a single of their own on end six and it was all square at six all going into the last end. The last end saw a crowded head with all bowl jockeying for that winning shot. The last bowl rolled up the mat and Audrey, Brian and Mark were holding a single for the second set and the second place in the final. All six bowlers would like to thank Darren Stanford (our umpire) for the many measures that took place in this exciting two set game.
We now have our finalists, next week will see an all Greenwood final, only Darren Stanford our tournament organiser and umpire knows which mat they will be playing on but rest assured it is going to be a great final. Come along next week when you will have the choice of sitting to watch the final or getting your first Aussie Pairs game under your belt. Of course you can just turn up for a rollup if that is your wish. So see you all there next week for the culmination of our prestigious Gayler Cup.