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Wellingboro IBC 17th & 18th March 2007 |
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England v Scotland Fire Services International 2007 |
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The excellent facilities at Wellingborough
IBC once again played host to the annual home international. The event
this year, played over the weekend of 17/18 March 2007 provided a nail
biting finish!! The formalities commenced on Saturday with the Mayor
of Wellingborough, Councillor Tim Allebone and Chief Fire Officer of
Northamptonshire, Martyn Emberson opening the proceedings. Mr Paul
Broderick, President of Wellingborough Bowls Club also welcomed the
teams and handed over the green. Scotland needed to do a late team
change as Bill Taylor having had six stitches in a head wound after
hitting it on the team coach early that morning decided he could not
play so Evelyn Fleming was brought in as reserve. The match commenced.
England went into a 16 shot lead (38-22) after five ends thanks to
Rinks 3 and 5 who had 7 and 8 shot leads respectively and Rink 5 had
picked up 14 shots in three ends with a 4, 5, and 5. At 10 ends
Scotland had pegged back England’s lead to just six shots (62-56).
England’s Rink 5 were still out in front by 15 shots and the other
English rinks were holding their own. 15 ends came with the Scots
taking the lead by one shot (85-86) and things were getting tight.
England players were rallied and at 18 ends were six shots ahead
(101-95). Over the last three ends England picked up 16 shots and
Scotland picked up 20 (117-115) leaving the English Team with an
overnight lead of two shots. Rink 5 consisting of Vernon Cook, Dick
Pascoe, Stan Hayward and our President Malcolm George was highest
English winning rink with a score of 27-9 against the formidable
opposition of Bruce Milne’s rink. Day two dawned with everyone "fired" up for a tense finale. Both Scotland and England had a change in players on Sunday as Bill Taylor felt well enough to play with Bob Strachan standing down. England had Margaret Moore playing in place of Dave Pell, and although having had a nasty fall the previous evening and spending Saturday night in Northampton General Casualty Dept I decided that I would play. England were a bit slow to muster and after 5 ends we were behind by 10 shots (21-31) with only Chris Raddy on Rink 6 winning. Things started to go downhill and at 10 ends we were 22 shots down (46-68) with only one rink winning and one drawing. As the game progressed at its worst moment (11 ends) England were 26 shots down, but over the next seven ends picked up 46 shots against Scotland’s 27 and were only 7 shots down (97-104). Rink 5 skipped by John Pipes picked up 14 shots. Things were once again getting tight and you could cut the atmosphere with a knife. Over the last three ends there was a lot of shouting and oohs and ahs with everything going down to the last end and almost the last wood. England picked up twelve shots and Scotland picked up fifteen. The final score being 109-119. Taking into account the previous days score England lost by 8 shots. What a battle !! The strangest thing was that yet again on Sunday, Rink 5 was England’s top rink this time skipped by John Pipes with Alf Spratt, Brian Gregory and Jamie Walker. I would like to say as Captain that the team had been beleagued with illness and bereavement (thanks to those that stepped in to play at the last minute) and it seems that the bad luck was to continue when I had my accident, however, having said that I am very proud of the England Team and how they rallied and fought. We did ourselves proud and gave the Scots a run for their money. I am sure that it will be our turn soon to lift that trophy. The Presentation Evening went ahead back at the hotel with the Mayor and Mayoress of Wellingborough, the President of Wellingborough BC and our Umpire for the two days attending with his wife. Our thanks go to Banbury Plant hire who sponsored the English team and Emergency one who sponsored the Scottish team, and lastly to Wellingborough Indoor Bowling Club for hosting the competition. We look forward to Stirling in 2008. Venue for next years fixture in Scotland again staying at The King Robert Hotel Bannockburn Carole Andrews England Captain
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