ROMILLY Bowling Club held their Finals Day on Saturday with eight Men’s games taking place in four sessions, with the Women sharing the green to play their six finals. There were concerns on whether the games would take place due to the heavy rain the day before and during the early hours of Saturday but the green showed no sign of lying water and was presented in perfect condition having been cut in readiness for the 10 start. The first session consisted of three finals the Tim Evans Trophy the Mottram Cup watched by Dennis Mottram whose father gave the Cup to the Club and the Men’s two wood pairs. The Tim Evans was fought between two in form bowlers George Trepleton and Graham Cogbill and at five ends the scores were level but over the next eight ends Trepleton turned the screw with some consistent bowling and scored twelve shots without reply. Cogbill then scored a single on each of the next two ends but Trepleton hit back with a two and a three to lead 20 – 5. Although Cogbill won the next four ends Trepleton sealed the victory with a single on the 22nd end to win 21 – 10. The Mottram Cup contested by Rhodri Phillips and Jeff Coles was a hard fought affair with the scores level at end fifteen 12 – 12, the match began to swing in favour of Phillips who won four of the next five ends to move 17 – 14 ahead. Phillips continued the pressure over the final few ends scoring four shots to two to win the game on the 24th end 21 – 16. First Year bowler Dave Phillips joined Tony Freeman to play Alan Bannister and Phil Gershenson in the two wood final played in two sets of seven ends. The first set began with Bannister and Gershenson taking an early lead 6 – 2 but Phillips and Freeman fought hard scoring three shots on ends six and seven but to no avail losing the first set 6 – 5. In the second set Phillips and Freeman went into a three shot lead but Bannister and Gershenson scored seven shots over the next four ends to seal victory with their opponents unable to gain enough shots on the last end, leaving Bannister and Gershenson winner’s two sets to nil.

2nd session consisted of two games, the two wood singles and the two wood triples. The two wood singles involved Brian Foscolo and George Trepleton and once again the in form

Trepleton ran out an easy winner 15 – 6. The fifteen end two triples was between Gary Eastment, Rhodri Phillips, Bryn Gough and the triple of Len Jones,Phil Gershenson, Graham

Cogbill. The game was another hard fought affair but the triple skipped by Cogbill always held the upper hand winning by a comfortable 16 – 11 even after dropping six shots on the last three ends.

Session three included the men’s handicap final with Jeff Cole receiving a five shot start from Graham Cogbill. The first ten ends went in favour of Cogbill who lead 12 – 8 by end fifteen the lead had increased to 17 – 11, ends sixteen and seventeen again went Cogbill’s way scoring three more shots to lead 20 – 11. With Cogbill requiring just one more shot,

Coles through caution to the wind and with some excellent bowls started to claw back the deficit by scoring eight shots to get to within one shot at 20 – 19. The next end proved

to be the last but not without more excitement as Coles was holding one shot and had one wood left to draw and hold game but failed in his attempt, Cogbill had one wood left and with the score standing at 20 – 20 he bowled the perfect wood to touch the jack making a three to win an exciting final.

Session four contained the Men’s Fours and The Club Championship, the fours was played between the rinks of Colin Davies,Rhodri Phillips, Brian Cheal, Mike Doyle and Jeff Coles,

Gary Eastment,Ray Hewitson, Alun Bryan with Championship involving Mel Newman and George Trepleton.

The Fours started with Bryan’s rink taking an early advantage and at five ends held a 4 – 2 lead but Doyle’s rink fought back well and took the lead going into 10 – 5 lead by end

eleven but concentration appeared to wane on end twelve when dropping a five allowing Bryan’s rink to draw level but Doyle’s rink recovered to score a 1-2-2 on the final three ends to secure the win 15 - 10.

The Club Championship was eagerly awaited by Club Members and they weren’t let down as both Players played some excellent bowls to keep the game close with Trepleton leading by just two shots at the tenth end, this increased to four shots by the fifteenth end. Newman managed a single on the next end to reduce the score to 13 – 16 but with Trepleton taking a single on each of the next four ends the score stood at 20 – 13 in his favour, requiring one for the Championship but that is when the fighting qualities of Newman came to the fore bowling some brilliant pressure bowls, scoring a two on each of the next four ends for a fantastic win 21 – 20.

Congratulations to all participants for making the finals day exciting especially the Winners with special mention and well done to Jeff Coles, Rhodri Phillips and George Trepleton, three players who took part in three finals apiece on a green although looking pristine, playing exceptionally heavy.

All Romilly Members wish Good luck to 2013 Romilly Singles Champion Graham Cogbill who plays in the Champion of Champions final on Friday at Cefn Cribbwr.