Colchester Indoor Bowls Club will for the second time in four years be representing Colchester at the National Fantastic 5’s summer competition. This year the Finals are being held in Melton Mowbray indoor bowls club.
All summer long Andy Smith and his squad of 12 have been knocking out contenders as they fought their way to last week-ends quarter finals against Wellingborough BC. The match was played at a neutral venue, Risby BC.
In the singles QF game Shaun Cook played against a Commonwealth Games bowler and won 12-9 over 12 ends. After 9 ends it was 7-7. On the 10th end Shaun got all four bowls to count, plus another shot on the 11th end. Leaving him just having to game manage the final end.
In the fours QF game Andy Smith and team, Brian Smith, Gail Barrett and Pam Smith won over 8 ends. They were 4-7 down after 5 ends but won the last three ends to win 8-7.
Shaun Cook and Pam Smith played in the 3 wood pairs over 10 ends. After 7 ends they were struggling 3-8. They won the final 3 ends to tie the game 8-8.
In the two wood trips Andy Smith playing with Brian Smith and Gail Barrett won over 10 ends. After 4 ends they led 7-1 and looked comfortable. However, after 8 ends their lead had been cut to a slim 9-7. Despite Wellingborough holding 5 shots on the 9th end CIBC skip Andy Smith drew the shot with his final bowl at which point Wellingborough conceded??? A 10-7 win for CIBC. Conceding seems like an odd move as both teams each had six woods to play, but it was really logical.
There are four games in the match each worth 2 points. CIBC were 4-0 up after winning the singles and the fours. However, CIBC were struggling in the pairs 3-8 down with 3 ends to play, plus in the trips CIBC were 5 shots down on the 9th end. These two games were being played at the same time so Wellingborough were looking good to snatch 4 points from the final two games and may well have won the day on shot count. By winning the last three ends to get a tie in the pairs and Andy cancelling out the five shots in the trips Wellingborough could not catch CIBC. Plus it was late and a 3 hour drive home…….CIBC win 7-1.