Harry Church retained the Shropshire Verti-Drain & Turf Services Mid Shropshire Merit after edging out Sinclair team mate Ayden Smith 20 in a classic final. Harry led 10-2 early on as it looked like he would run away with it. However Ayden got back to 11-9 down before then leading 16-15. Harry went 17-16 up and from then on in neither held the block. It was 17 across then Harry went 19-17 up and then to 19 across. Ayden then laid two on with Harry too far but he was good land and he hit the block to score one. He then was two on next end with a bowl a foot past the jack, but Ayden drew it. Ayden then played a 25m mark and had two bowls two foot either side but Harry drew them last end to win 20 and become the 5th bowler to retain this title after Jack Driscoll, Andy Stevens, Jamie King and John Breeze.
In the Semi Finals Harry held off a late comeback from Nathan Lacey after being 15-9 and 17-11 up. Nathan got back to 19-18 down but Harry got the two he needed. Ayden also had a late scare against 14 year old Ellis Griffiths who came back from 13-6 down to 15-12 adrift. Ayden kicked on to lead 20-14 but Ellis came back again to get back to 20-19 behind, but Ayden managed to get out.
Well done to Harry Church on his success and qualifying for the Mid Shropshire Champion of Champions and Shropshire Champion of Champions.
Thank you to Donnington Wood for hosting, and to Shropshire Verti-Drain & Turf Services for their sponsorship. Thank you to those who marked and measured today.
Pictures are below the reports for the first two rounds.
Full scores are here.
Quarter Finals:
Ellis Griffiths raced 8-0 up on Rob Clarke but Rob got back to 12-8. Ellis extended his lead to 17-8 and ran out from 17-12 up.
Ayden Smith went 14-8 up on Dan Williams but Dan closed to 14-12. Ayden though kept his advantage to win 15.
Harry Church went 7-0 up and despite Steve Worthington getting back to 10-5 behind he won 8.
Nathan Lacey was 9-7 down to Nick Mullinder but then went 11-9 up. From 14-13 ahead he ran out.
Round 1:
Ellis Griffiths went 9-6 and 12-11 behind Roy Bradburn but went 17-12 up and won 16.
Rob Clarke was 7-1 down to John Potter but went 14-9 up. John went 16-14 up however Rob then ran out.
Ayden Smith was 10-6 up on Gareth Jones then 13-10 down. From 14-13 behind he ran out in 1s.
Dan Williams was 10-4 up on Pete Farmer but Pete got back to 12 across. Dan went 17-13 ahead and managed to win 18.
Harry Church was 7-3 down and 11-10 behind Rob Steventon but went 17-11 up and won 13.
Steve Worthington from only 7-6 up went 16-6 ahead (to win the highest break) of Paul Osborne and won 10.
Nick Mullinder was 10-5 down to Allan Smith but then went 13-10 ahead. From 17-14 behind he won 18.
Nathan Lacey was 11-4 down to Lillo Farruggio but from 14-9 behind he went 18-15 up and won 18.
