Finals Week Kicks Off with a Sizzling Start!
Monday What a way to launch Ilford & District Bowls Club’s Finals Week! The Men’s Fours Final delivered a thrilling spectacle, as the underdog team of Bob Smith, John Cobold, Mark Bleach, and Gary Burns faced off against the formidable quartet of Paco Rodrigues, Glenn Stephens, Dennis Tuarena, and Mark Banning—all accomplished skips in their own right.
The match began evenly, with both teams showcasing their skills. Skips Bob Smith and Paco Rodrigues were called upon early to execute some miraculous shots, keeping the scores tight after three ends.
However, the tide turned as Smith’s team found their rhythm. By the fifth end, they had edged ahead to a 6–2 lead, extending it to 7–2 after six ends. John Cobold was in fine form, contributing to a 10–2 advantage after seven ends. Despite Paco’s efforts to minimize the damage with a crucial final wood, the momentum was firmly with Smith’s side.
Bob Smith delivered a masterclass in calm, precise draw shots, consistently placing bowls in the head and securing vital points. A three-shot gain in the eighth end and a brilliant two in the ninth propelled the score to 15–2. Another brace in the tenth end made it 16–2.
Desperation set in for Rodrigues’s team in the eleventh end, with Paco attempting aggressive shots to salvage the game. However, they dropped four more shots, bringing the score to 20–2. Gary Burns was now delivering with precision, and Mark Bleach provided solid support, tightening their grip on the match.
A brief respite came in the twelfth end, with Paco rescuing a single shot, making it 20–3. Glenn Stephens then took the jack into the ditch in the thirteenth end, allowing Paco to add another shot, narrowing the gap to 20–5. Was a comeback on the cards?
Alas, it was not to be. In the fourteenth end, with the score at an insurmountable 22–5, Paco conceded, and Bob Smith’s team claimed the silverware.
A hearty congratulations to Bob, John, Mark, and Gary for a well-deserved victory!
What a Final
