Bowring win 2016 KGJ Insurance County Cup Final

The 200 players and spectators that gathered at the sports complex at Prees were there to see history in the making as holders, Shrewsbury based Castlefields were looking for their twenty-fourth championship title against finalist debutants Bowring, bidding to lift the Glynn Hill Cup for the first time ever. And the loud vocal crowd there witnessed just that as Bowring refused to accept and defied their “underdog” status by sharing the winning cards and out-shooting their illustrious counterparts as the Wellington team secured an emphatic, deserving sixteen chalk victory.

The first four games were shared, however Bowring emerged with a 17 chalk advantage as….
Rob Roden, after turning a 1-6 deficit into a 12-7 lead over Paul Williams saw it evaporate to again trail 15-12 before levelling at 17-17 and 19-19 only for Paul to end it 21-19.
Jamie King and Clay Flattley played the first half of their game, evenly matched at 5-5 and 9-9 before Clay seized control and led 17-12 forcing Jamie to fight hard to tie at 19-19. The result ended with Clay taking it 21-19.
Rich Lawson. in a game that brought together the two captains, got the better of Keith Walton who battled back from 0 – 8 to trail 5-10 before Rich pushed forward and from 16-8 went on to run out 21-8.
In another even opening half of the game, Stuart Clee from 10-10, took control to stretch into a strong 18-10 lead over Mike Beer and after brief exchange of neither player holding the jack, Stuart got home to record a 21-13 card.

Bowring 80 – 63 Castlefields

In the middle, with the teams again sharing the wins Castlefields marginally reduced the deficit by 3 to trail by 14 as….
David Lloyd opened a 10-0 lead over Glynn Herbert and maintained the pressure on his opponent pushing on to 17-5 but stalled as Glynn rallied and fought his way back to trail 15-19 before David eventually got the two needed to card a 21-15 win.
Aaron King had to fight back from 3-10 down to Andy Duckett and closed the gap to 12-14 and going on to open up an 18-15 lead of his own. Andy did recover to tie the game before Aaron finished it 21-19.
John Cooke came from 4-7 behind against Andy Judson to lead 12-7 and 18-14 before losing the jack that saw Andy almost run out to win 21-19.
Liam Stevens began strongly to lead Rich Goddard 6-2 only to be pegged back before the game was levelled 12-12 at which point Rich gained a commanding control of the jack and didn’t give it back as he ran out 21-12.

Bowring 153 – 139 Castlefields

In to the back four, and yet again these games were shared. But with a lead they weren’t going to relinquish easily, Bowring made the result decisive, in their favour as …
Josh Bradburn had to dig deep
After trailing Callum Wraight 0-9 and digging deep to push forward into a 15-11 lead of his own, Josh Bradburn continued hi fine run of form to get out 21-14.
Andrew Jones found it tough going as he trailed 3-13 to Steve Duckett who went on to lead 19-8 and after Andrew mounted a mini revival Steve got home to post a 21-13 card.
Steve Cox took control taking his game with Dave Peach from 9-9 in to a 15-9 and 18-11 but had a struggle to hold on to the end as Dave fought his way up to 17 before Steve got home 21-17.
Yet another close evenly matched game was played out that saw Glyn Hayward and Adam Jones share the scores as the card read 8, 10, 16 and even 20 across which left the only be split them was the 30th end that Adam took to finish 21-20.

Bowring 228– 212 Castlefields

County President, Phil Scott led the presentations announcing the recipient of The Alan “Wishy” Dodd as Josh Bradburn for his Man of the Match performance on the green. Followed by handing the coveted Glyn Hill Cup to Bowring’s elated captain Rich Lawson sparking rapturous celebrations from his team and their supporters.
Congratulations must go to Prees BC for providing a superbly prepared green and facilities along with many thanks to both teams for giving those of us fortunate to have been there possibly one of the keenest, hard fought yet ultimately sporting County Cup finals in recent times of the counties premier team event.

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