Taylor Support Shropshire Premier Bowls League
Flowfit Shropshire Premier Bowling League’s Rob Fuller won the the Candlin Doubles at Sinclair on Sunday with Wrockwardine Wood club mate Sally Clee, who is long-term girlfriend of Bowring’s Jamie King. They beat fellow league bowlers John Potter and Kris Lewis from Hadley USC in the final 13. Please find a report from former County President Mike Potter below along with scores and pictures.
With a sprinkling of sun on a windswept early Spring morning, Sinclair BC greeted the thirty-two pairs of competitors to contest the annual running of the popular Candlin Doubles event.
Highlights from the Quarter Finals
Rob Fuller & Sally Clee fought back form 13-6 down to level their game 14-14 with Glyn Picknell & Tom Langford. From there neither pair could dominate the game until at 19-19, Fuller & Clee scrambled the points to win 21-19.
Brothers in law, Allan Gaut & Phil Clee found themselves in trouble as Rich Lawson & Rob Jones took a 9-7 advantage on to 15-7 before Gaut/Clee ended their hopes by conceding only one more end and got home 21-18.
Chris Smith & Steve Sterland converted a 9-11 deficit into a strong 17-11 lead over Stuart & Jackie Rutter and after enduring a strong challenge, Smith & Sterling held on to win 21-17.
John Potter & Kris Lewis quickly established an 11-3 lead before homesters Stuart Church & Adrian Bailey hit back hard with double full house scores to almost level the game at 13-14. From there the ends were shared until Potter & Lewis edged home 21-18.
Highlights from the Semi-Finals
Perhaps family and fellow club member ties made for a close game as neither pair of Rob Fuller & Sally Clee and Allan Gaut & Phil Clee could lose each other as the card remained balanced with the scores level at 5-5, 10-10, 15-15 and the inevitable close result of 21-19 went the way of the younger pair as Rob & Sally from 18-19 booked a final place 21-19.
Meanwhile, John Potter & Kris Lewis were initially enjoying a 14 shot run to lead 14-2 against the 2014 winners, Chris Smith & Steve Sterland. Even after a fight back to 14-9 Potter/Lewis regained control with a 4 and 1 to take them to 19-9 however there was a very late twist as Smith and Sterland scored 10 in 3 ends to level at 19-19. The last three ends went as the old adage of “last bowl wins” with Potter & Lewis finally emerging 21-20.
Highlights from the Final
The final between Rob Fuller & Sally Clee and John Potter & Kris Lewis began evenly 6-6(9ends) until Fuller and Clee, after scoring a 3 seized control and pushed on into a commanding position that included a full house as they quickly went onto a 17-8(16ends) lead which would not be given up as the next six ends were alternately shared as after the 22end and 11 ½ hrs action, Rob and Sally finally closed the competition with a 21-13 card.
Club Chairman, Don Hood thanked organizer Stuart Church, club members for providing refreshments and referees before inviting Mrs Candlin to present the prizes to the worthy competitors.
SINCLAIR BOWLING CLUB
Candlin Doubles Competition Sun. 10th April 2016
Quarter Finals
Rob Fuller & Sally Clee 21-19 Tom Langford & Glyn Picknell Allan Gaut & Phil Clee 21-18 Rich Lawson & Rob Jones Chris Smith & Steve Sterland 21-17 Stuart & Jackie Rutter John Potter & Kris Lewis 21-18 Stuart Church & Adrian Bailey
Semi Finals
Rob Fuller & Sally Clee 21-19 Allan Gaut & Phil Clee
John Potter & Kris Lewis 21-20 Chris Smith & Steve Sterland
Final
Rob Fuller & Sally Clee 21-13 John Potter & Kris Lewis
The last 8 in the doubles (from left): Club Chairman Don Hood, Steve Sterland & Chris Smith, Kris Lewis & John Potter, Rob Fuller & Sally Clee, Stuart Rutter & Jackie Rutter, Tom Langford & Glyn Picknell, Allan Gaut & Phil Clee, Adrian Bailey & Stuart Church, Rob Jones & Rich Lawson, Referee Terry Whitehouse.
Runners-up John Potter (left) and Kris Lewis (right) with Club Chairman Don Hood and Mrs Candlin.
Winners Sally Clee (left) and Rob Fuller (right) with Club Chairman Don Hood and Mrs Candlin.