Doubles Winners Crowned

Luke Saunders and Craig Ellis (Engineers) took the doubles crown after coming through the quarter and semi finals by the narrowest of margins before beating Sue and Frank Morris (Lodge Farmers) in the final.

In their quarter final game, Saunders & Ellis were always ahead and lead by six pins going into the last leg against James Marshall & Alan Cummings (Nomads). But the Engineers duo then posted a poor score to leave their opponents wanting 16 pins to force a play-off. And this was nearly achieved as Marshall & Cummings came close with a 15 leg score and the game finished 69 – 68 in favour of Saunders & Ellis.

No such drama for Sue & Frank Morris when beating Rachel Morris and Andy Rumble (Lodge Farmers) comfortably 75 – 51 to progress to the semi-finals. Sue Morris was in good form making a 14 pin stack in the first leg to open up an immediate good lead which was added to in each of the remaining four legs. Sue Morris eventually totalled 40 pins in the game.

Another Engineers pair, Craig Sears & Mark Ganderton saw off Rob & Len Quartly (Jumbo Jets) easily enough by 81 – 62. Sears finished with 44 pins incl a 16 stack in leg three which effectively decided which pair would go on to the semi final.

Dave Orton & Angela Guest (C&G Show) were also dominate in their game with Maurice Wroe & Ian Greenway (Engineers) to win 76 – 64. Orton’s stack of 15, in leg two, on his way to a match total of 43 proving to be decisive.

Both semi finals were close. No more so than Saunders & Ellis when overcoming Orton & Guest by a single pin, 72 -71. Saunders & Ellis took a first leg lead of seven on the back of a 14 stack from Ellis who finished with a total of 42. Orton & Guest fought back though and whittled the deficit down to a single pin after leg four. The C&G pair were finally left 15 to tie the game, and set up a sudden death play-off, but fell that vital one pin short and Saunders & Ellis made the final.

The other semi ended 74 – 70 for Sue & Frank Morris over Craig Sears & Mark Ganderton. The Morris duo’s lead of eight pins after leg three, slid to only a three pin advantage following the next leg as Ganderton made a 12 stack. But Sears, finishing with 39 pins, and Ganderton were unable to maintain their recovery posting only a modest last leg score. Left just 10 to win, Sue & Frank Morris eased over the line to book their final place.

Both finalists had scored well in the previous rounds and, having ridden their luck in the previous two rounds, Saunders & Ellis began confidently and were again in good form in the final scoring 37 & 36 respectively. Sue & Frank Morris’s form however deserted them. Saunders & Ellis had a three pin lead after leg one before building that advantage to nine pins after leg four. They then registered a 15 pin last leg score to leave their opponents a massive 25 pins to win. Needing to make big stack scores, Sue & Frank Morris never looked likely to do that and had to be content with the well earned runner up trophy. For Saunders & Ellis, the Doubles Cup was deservedly theirs for good consistent bowling throughout the competition.