Page 16 - Winter 2013

Page 16:Layout 1 09/02/2014 09:50 Page 1

Jurassic Singles
16 Jurassic Singles
Tournament 2013
Tournament 2013
East Devon’s Jurassic Short Mat
Bowls arm held their inaugural
Singles Tournament at the sport-
ing venue of Cloakham Lawns on
the edge of Axminster.
Forty Eight top flight bowlers
from around Devon and Somerset
surrounding area competed for
the honour of being the first name
on the coveted trophy.
This particular tournament
joins a long list of tournaments
Cloakham ready for play
Cloakham ready for play played under the Jurassic Banner
over many years. However the
standard was raised yet again thanks to the support given by “Bob Weafer’s Bowls Holidays” by
supplying all twelve of the mats for the occasion. Jurassic Bowls was most grateful for this support
as the tournaments are now able to provide a consistent playing area to all competitors.
Split into a number of groups, bowlers played
out the round robin throughout the morning and
early afternoon. Surprise after surprise as score
cards were filed, with many a game going against
form.
With pressure mounting a brief pause for
lunch, prepared by Jurassic Bowls’ own catering
team, the battles continued on the mats. Top two
places in each group, some very tight indeed and
only shot difference enabled players to progress
into the knockout stages.
The high standard of play along with the
Runner-up James Trott and
closeness of the scores encouraged a substantial Runner-up James Trott and
Winner Lee Toleman receiving
number of spectators to remain and cheer on the Winner Lee Toleman receiving
their Trophies from the chair of
players. In the quarter finals a mixed set of results their Trophies from the chair of
Jurassic Bowls (centre),
meant some of the fancied players did not progress Jurassic Bowls (centre),
David Hayler.
to the next round. The semi-finals reached a height- David Hayler.
ened sense of hope as the draws to the jack got ever tighter end after end.
It was form and experience that brought two Devon Premier players to a face off in the final.
Played out over ten ends, from the outset the final was destined to be the highlight. End one - first
blood to Lee Toleman, end two - more blood to Toleman, ends three & four level scores with several
touchers by James Trott, End five saw jack driven into the ditch and Trott head.
End six saw Toleman strike back with a three but not to be outdone another single shot plus
a measure for second brings Trott level, then end eight produces four touchers and a feeler gauge
measure, leaving Trott two up..
On end nine Trott surrounded the jack leaving only the tightest of gaps for Toleman to bril-
liantly force the jack into the open to gain two shots. All square - now for the sudden death play-
off. The noise of the crowd drops. Toleman bowls a toucher, Trott bowls a slightly long wood,
Toleman again rolls in a toucher and Trott was long again.
Toleman was piling in the touchers but open up the jack, Trott bowls and moves the jack
again, the watchers gasp, Toleman bowls and stops just inside the jack - a mere inch away. Gasps
fade away and silence pervades the arena. Toleman bowls a wood that seemed to take an eternity