Monday, September 26, 2011

TERRY TRIUMPHS IN CUP FINAL

(after sudden-death extra end)

  The Cup final saw Marian start well, five inches from the jack, in the second of two tight heads, taking one shot in each. In the third, Marian put the pressure straight on, with her first fifteen inches from the jack, but Terry’s first was closer, at one foot, and he ran his third wood inside Marian’s to take two - and level at 2-2.

  Terry now played some longer jacks and had the better of more good heads, to lead 6-2, after six ends. But, in the seventh, Marian took shot on a thirty-four yard jack. Her last wood caught her shot wood and moved it just too far for two shots, but she was back in the game, at 6-3. An unusually loose end saw Terry take one, in the eighth, with the only decent wood, but Marian’s first, in the ninth, was one inch from the jack and a second wood to five inches made two – she was now 7-5 down.

  Another thirty-four yard jack saw Marian just a foot away and holding. Terry’s last was probably on line for the jack, but took a wick off Marian’s short wood – however, it ran just inside Marian’s shot wood to add one to his score and he was leading 8-5, going into the final end. Terry impishly asked Marian if she wanted to play the end, being behind, but she was not buying that - she never gives up. And holding two, her last wood was a little too strong, although it made enough contact with Terry’s wood, holding third, to push it out and take third herself ... 8-8 - and sudden death.

  Terry was holding shot, in the decider; Marian promoted him, a little closer to the jack. Holding shot, with Marian having played her three woods, Terry inexplicably bowled his last wood. This made contact with Marian’s short wood ... the wood that had promoted him! But there was not enough contact to change the position and Terry was home and winner of the Cup, by 9-8.

HANS WINS A THRILLING SHIELD FINAL
(in a great close encounter with Marian)

  Marian elected to play Hans, after tea, in her second final of the day. And one shot in each of the first five ends showed how tight the match was, with Marian leading 3-2. Hans had saved one shot in the fifth end with his final wood when Marian was holding two.

  In the sixth his final wood was again good, making two shots for him to lead 4-3, but Marian came straight back at him, two inches from the jack, to level at 4-4, and taking a further shot, in the eighth, to lead 5-4. She was holding two, in the ninth, when Hans again made his final wood count and took shot ... 5-5, after nine ends.

  The tenth end was crucial. Hans was holding two, when Marian played the final wood of the end. It was coming through, on a good line and weight, to challenge for shot – but it caught Hans’ short wood and promoted it into the count. One second, it had looked like she might be 6-5 up. The next, she was 8-5 down and going into the final end.

  As in the previous final, Marian showed she is a fighter. She had two close woods, but Hans had one just better - and holding shot. With the last wood of the set eleven ends, she was a fraction from contact with Hans’ wood to move it and get the three she needed. She shaved his wood, but ran through. Shot to Hans, who wins the Shield, but 9-5 not really reflecting how tight the match was.

  So, many congratulations to our winners, Terry and Hans, who came through, in two superb finals. Great competitors, a first Cup for Terry and a first trophy for Hans. And a special word for Marian. Cup winner, last year, Couples winner, in the winter, and finalist in both competitions, this summer; Marian is a force to be reckoned with and she played a full part in two very competitive finals.