THE Vale of Glamorgan County Finals took place last weekend at County President Robin Charlton’s Green at Cefn Cribbwr with Romilly’s Graham Cogbill involved in three finals.

His first game was on Friday evening in the Champion of Champions final against a fellow South Vale opponent in Penarth Windsor’s Tony Holmes in what promised to be an intriguing game. The game started with the advantage with Holmes who was proving just that bit more consistent than Cogbill and was ahead 9 – 6 at ten ends and even further ahead at 15 ends 15 – 9. Then the qualities of Cogbill kicked in and the fight back began with Cogbill clawing back the deficit to draw level on the 22nd end at 18 – 18. On the 25th end with Cogbill now in the lead Cogbill put in an excellent back toucher which virtually sealed the match as Holmes was unable to get at the jack as Cogbill bowled well positioned protection bowls to finally win an excellent game 21 – 18.

On Sunday morning Romilly’s Senior’s rink of Brian Foscolo Mel Newman, George Trepleton and Graham Cogbill played a Pontycymmer four skipped by the experienced Mal Goss. An exciting game ensued with the Romilly rink having the edge over the early ends and at halfway held an 11 – 4 lead. The game continued with the Pontycymmer rink recovering to be just three behind with two ends to play, then on the penultimate end the picked up a two to be just a single shot behind going into the last end. What a final end it turned out to be, as 2nd Mel Newman with his second bowl take the jack into the ditch and basically kill the game with Newman’s Bowl lying a foot from the jack but with both skips to bowl the excitement reached fever pitch as first Goss with his first bowl just failed to draw shot as his bowl just dropped into the ditch, then Cogbill just missed drawing another close bowl. Goss then bowled a wonder bowl to draw shot as the bowl this time stayed an inch or so on the green, the game was now level and looking to go into an extra end but Cogbill still had last bowl and the only shot available to him was to drive Goss’s bowl into the ditch. The tension was incredible with both teams of supporters on the edge of their seats but for the Romilly supporters they knew if anyone was to make the shot then Cogbill was that man and yes he didn’t let them down as he played the perfect bowl and take Goss’s bowl off the green for a 21 – 18 Romilly victory.

In the afternoon Cogbill was joined by Ray Hewitson for the senior pairs final once again against a Pontycymmer side. The Romilly pair found it difficult against a pair who began well and went into a lead 10 - 3 at end eleven with Cogbill struggling to adjust to the new rink and change of pace from the morning session. Once again there was a defiance in the Romilly pair as they fought back to level at 15 –15 on the nineteenth end but their opponents regained the lead with a single on the penultimate end and then on the final end the Pontycymmer lead delivered a bowl which was in excess of two yards overweight but it hit the jack into the ditch taking any opportunity away any recovery from the Romilly pair who lost 18 – 15.

Also, congratulations to the two Romilly Triples of Alun Bryan, Mike Doyle, Graham Cogbill and Jeff Coles, Mel Newman, Fred Phillips who won the Hugh Meddins Tophy last Wednesday at Dinas Powys.