ROCHESTER BLIND BOWLING GROUP

  Five of our bowlers entered the Gravesham Cup with high hopes, after some pretty decent bowling in rollups and matches, but it was Marian and Terry who took the honours.

  Chris met Frank, from Bexley, who went on to the final, beating Chris 11-3 in their first round match. Hans also fell behind, early on in his match with Ron, and despite a rally, lost 11-6. David was just 6-5 down, after 8 ends to Mike, who has bowled for England, but lost 5 shots in ends 9 and 10; it meant going for broke in end 11 - and broke it was, 14-6 down. Terry gave James a few shots start, but then traded shots, going down 12-7 over the full 12 ends.

  This left four RBBG bowlers in the plate competition. Chris met Terry and, after 5 ends, it was 4-4. Chris could only pick up one more shot; Terry won 5 ends, but never by more than the single shot, so that they shook hands after 11 ends with Terry the 9-5 winner. Another tight match saw Terry into the final where he played Joan Chinnery, from Bexley, who had beaten both Hans and David en route. Hans had taken an early 6-2 lead, but Joan came back, strongly.

  Terry’s final, with Joan, was exciting. Terry took 3 shots at end 4, en route to an 8-5 lead at the halfway point, but Joan took 3 on end 8, to level at 8 all. Terry’s last wood on end 9 ran the jack, but he also ran his wood behind Joan’s, to lose a shot. Joan put a wood on the jack in end 10 to lead 10-8, but Terry promptly took 3 shots in end 11 to lead 11-10. Terry’s last wood on end 12 took the shot for a 12-10 lead. Two ends to play...

  Joan might have been holding 2 on end 13 but promoted Terry with her last wood, to get one shot back. Going into the last end Terry’s first wood was just 18 inches from the jack and he held shot, as Joan’s second wood was two feet away. Joan’s final wood promoted her own wood, just inside terry’s – 12 all and sudden death!

  Joan won the toss and put the jack at 33 yards, but all at once her consistency deserted her. Terry’s first was a couple of feet away, his second was strong and, thankfully, just missed the jack as Joan had gone well past, with her first two woods. She was short with her last wood and no need for Terry to bowl. A magnificent final and victory in the intense heat, for Terry, who was pretty tired - as was Pat, who had accompanied him, every step of the day. Well done, both of you!

  Back in the main draw, Marian had drawn Cliff from Bexley, who had been in great form in our recent match, and he quickly moved into a 4-0 lead. But Marian refused to be rattled and, after 6 ends, she had pulled back to 5 all. A shot in each of the next two ends and 3 shots in end 9 on a long jack, saw her lead 10-5. Marian was holding 2 in the next end, before Cliff produced a superb shot to run the jack and take 2 shots, himself, and at 10-7 down he was holding three shots in end 11, before Marian took out his closest wood, for 1 shot on the end and 11-7 victory, overall - a fantastic performance.

  It got better! In the next round, she let a lead of 8-1 slip and was 11-9 down to Fred, going into the final end. But she took 2 shots (one on a measure!), to go into sudden death.

  Her first wood was good, but Fred’s second wood knocked her out to take shot, only for Marian to come back and leave her wood inside Fred’s. He could do nothing with his final wood and Marian was through to the semi final, against Frank (who had knocked out Chris).

  At 3-4 down, Marian set the jack on the fifth end at 28/29 yards, rather than the 35 at which she had just taken 2 shots. Frank was metronomic, at this distance, and never let Marian back in, running out a 14-3 winner - but a great performance, nevertheless, on this gruelling day. 34 ends of intense competition on a very hot day, when Marian has never bowled more than 16 in a day before, and a semi finalist trophy to mark it. Absolutely superb!

  So, a mixed day for our bowlers, but a good one for Marian and Terry.

  Congratulations to Alf LLewelyn, who beat Frank, in another thrilling Gravesham Cup final. (Both finals stood at 9-8 after 9 ends!). Many, many thanks to Geoff, for organising it, and to his team of helpers, especially the markers, who themselves spent hours under that hot sun. RBBG really appreciates this opportunity to play against other, very good partially sighted bowlers and we look forward to July 2nd, 2011!