Page 5 - Summer Issue 2018 Final

Worlds 2:Layout 1 30/05/2018 07:19 Page 1

Dimitri is the son of Jonathan Payne, the other Belgian Singles player, who won his second 5
game in group “A” 16 - 9 over his Netherlands opponent. In Group “B” from 8 - 9 down
going into the last end Bronagh Toleman beat Ireland’s William Boggs 11- 9 with a last end
three. Wales Michael John was pushed hard by Canadian Chris Slade but edged home with a two
on the last end to win 12 - 9
The Final round of the day in Group “A” Dimitri Payne almost snatched a draw with a three
on the last end but Sweden’s Jorgen Karlsson won 15 - 14. England’s Gary Best finally won a
game, 19 - 8 over Canada, finishing with a full house four. Alan Paul won 16 - 9 over Norway and
Wales Andrew Hudson demolished Italy’s Nino Nocera 24 - 6.
In group “B” Ireland’s William Boggs needed a two on the last end to snatch a 12 - 11 victory
over the Netherlands Frans Roberts. Boggs held a 10 - 4 lead after ten ends but Frans Roberts
struck a rich vein of form and scored seven shots over the next four ends to lead 11 - 10 going
into the last end, on which Boggs snatched a two to win 12 - 11. Wales Michael John also needed
a two on the last end for a 13 - 11 win over Sweden’s Ingvar Nelson, whilst Belgium beat Canada
20 - 9 and England’s Bronagh Malone was 5 - 6 down after nine ends but took the next six ends
to complete a 20 - 6 victory over Norway.
There was still two days play to go and the fortunes of play often swung backwards and fore-
words but the two Welsh players of Andrew Hudson and Michael John kept up their good play and
they both won their groups. Andrew was undefeated and won his group by four points over Ire-
land’s Alan Paul, who also qualified for a semi-final place. The unknown surprise of the group
was Norway’s Morten Andre Coll, who had the same points as Alan Paul but lost out on shots dif-
ference. Michael John lost just one game to England’s Bronagh Toleman and whilst Bronagh fin-
ished on 11 points, so did Belgium’s Jonathan Payne, who edged the semi-final place with a
superior shots difference.
At the semi-final stage Jonathan Payne beat Andrew Hudson 17 - 7 and Alan Paul beat
Michael John 13 - 11 after scoring three shots on the last two ends. This left the two Welshmen
fighting it out for 3rd and 4th place and after a 10 shot run from ends six to eleven Andrew Hudson
eventually won 15 - 7. In the final a string of Singles gave Payne a 4 - 1 lead after five ends.
Alan Paul kept coming and by the eleventh end he was firmly back in the game at 7 - 8. By
end fourteen of the fifteen ends Payne led 11 - 8 but in an untidy end for him unflappable Paul
seemed to be holding the three shots that would get him and extra end but under immense pres-
sure with his last bowl to go Payne drew into take shot and a 12 - 8 championship victory and the
most exuberant celebration I have ever seen and well deserved after a great final.