Page 26 - Spring 2019

Page 26_Layout 1 04/04/2019 08:53 Page 1

The semi-finals saw a close match between Mann and Hawksworth, Greenacre and Blun-
26
dell with Hawksworth's final wood again claiming shot when the match looked to be head-
ing to an extra end with the score 10-8 and Blundell playing a fine last wood to hold two only for
Hawksworth to fire and get shot to see them through.
The other semi-final saw Warnes and Best beat Warnes and Cooke 12-5 with three three's
in the match providing a one sided result in the end. The quarter final results were L. Hawksworth
10 M. Woods 5, J. Forster 4 D. Blundell 15, G. Best 9 S. Willies 5, K. Cooke 7 J. Pye 6.
Mann finally captures first singles title
Mann finally captures first singles title
Chris Mann of Wymondham SMBC won his first Norfolk
county singles title after a string of fine performances
over the weekend, which eventually saw him beat
Simon Willies of East Tuddenham SMBC in the final 13-
5 with an end to spare. Mann now joins an elite group
of five players who have won all five county titles (Sin-
gles, Pairs, Triples, Fours and Mixed Fours), an
achievement that for many years had eluded him much
to his frustration.
The final against Willies saw Mann make a strong
start with a three and two singles giving him a 5-0 lead
after three ends. Willies, last year’s runner up also, was
not to be beaten easily however and fought back with
Singles Finalist Simon Willies back to back braces to bring the score back to 6-5 with
Singles Finalist Simon Willies
and Winner Chris Mann three ends remaining. Mann though returned to his best
and Winner Chris Mann
outdrawing Willies in the next two ends scoring a four then three to seize his first title.
The third fourth playoff saw Bob Carter's Gary Best concede his match against Wymond-
ham's Mark Linsdell giving him third place. The semi-finals saw one of Mann's best performances
to overcome two time champion Gary Best who was looking for his third straight singles title
since moving to Norfolk but this time Mann got revenge for his 2016/17 season final defeat with
some superb shots to deny Best with the final score a resounding 12-3.
The other semi-final saw Simon Willies edge out Wymondham's Mark Linsdell in a titanic
battle which saw Willies secure a brace on the last end to win 11-10. Both players had picked
fours up late on but Linsdell's last bowl of the match missed by millimetres giving Willies a chance
for two which he claimed. Linsdell had bowled well all weekend and will have been gutted not
to have made the final. The quarter final results were G. Best 8 M. Warnes 7, C. Mann 13 K.
Cooke 4, M. Linsdell 8 J. Sparham 3, S. Willies, 12 S Warnes 5.
Davidson guides Marshall and Mann to triples glory
Davidson guides Marshall and Mann to triples glory
Wymondham’s Chris Mann, Jack Marshall and Hempnall’s Neil Davidson claimed the county
triples title with a 10-5 win over Bob Carter’s Steve Bridge, Halvergate’s David Lamb and Bob
Carter’s Gary Best in the final. Four shots picked up on
the first end by Davidson’s triple put Best straight under
pressure but responded well with a single and brace to
reduce the arrears to one at 4-3 after three ends.
The next three ends however proved decisive as a
1, 1, 3 put Davidson in control at 9-3 with just two ends
remaining. Davidson’s performance throughout the day
epitomised the final where he was the standout player
and was backed up well by Mann and Marshall.
This was Marshall's first county title after the disap-
pointment of reaching the final the last two seasons in row
and losing out twice. The match ended 10-5 and was the
same result when the triples played their first match in the Wymondham Winners
Wymondham Winners
group stages.