HOST NATION TAKE GOLD ALONG WITH ENGLAND

Cyprus A and England delivered the goods to wrap up their Atlantic Senior Fours challenge with the host nation taking out the Women’s title and England A the men’s. Substitute Carole Deadman, Linda Wilkinson, Maria Staniland and skip Sara Trotter outplayed England’s Cheryl Hanslip, Glenys Bolt, Anne Burchell and Caroline Callum in the final, only dropping four ends, and signing off at 21-6 with an end to spare. In the semi-finals Cyprus stood all square at 10-10 at eleven ends against Scotland’s Jane Carruthers, Verronica Cockburn, Kay Purves and Sheila Douglas but produced a grandstand 2, 1, 5 and 1 finish to progress to the final 19-10.

In the other semi-final, England looked comfortable at 10-4 up with five ends to play against title favourites Glenda Matthews. Nan Roos, Pam Cole-Cook and Sue Tarr, but the South Africans dug deep and scored on the last five ends to level at 10-10 and force a tie break. The Springboks looked to be heading to the final but a perfect strike from England skip Caroline Cullum ran the jack to the ditch, while Tarr’s last bowl marginally missed the count, falling into the ditch and leaving England to take their place in the final. The Men’s title decider was an intriguing game of two halves. South Africa’s Francois, Gianni Gatti, John Connellan and Kenny Kyriacou led the first half exchanges, leading 9-3 after nine ends, but a resurgence saw England scoring on five of the remaining six. In a nail-biting conclusion, both sides were locked on 11-11 playing the last – with the advantage changing frequently. However, lady luck deserted the South Africans with the closing bowls – as they rocked England holding shot no less than three times, but failed to get that vital match winner.

In their semi-finals, England ‘s score did not reflect the quality of the game as they overcame USA’s Frankie Napoli, Ron Rollick, Peter Ritchie and Phil Dunn 16-6, while South Africa got revenge on Wales – the only team to defeat them in the round robin stages. However, it wasn’t to be for the Welsh team with Ciaran Leaden, Andrew Harvey, Chris Williams and Richard Janes losing out 23-11.

Thunderstorms continually threatened to disrupt the semi-finals and finals but the organisers were delighted that torrential monsoon like weather held off until five minutes after the finals had been concluded.
The next stage of the Championships continues on Sunday 10th December with the Mixed Fours getting underway at 9.15am.

MEN’S FOURS KNOCK-OUT STAGES SEMI-FINALS

South Africa (F Koen, G Gatti, J Connellan, K Kyriaco) bt Wales (C Leaden, A Harvey, C Williams, R Janes) 23-11, England B (B Arkley, A Humphries, A Bryden, A Theobald) bt USA A (F Napoli, R Rollick, P Ritchie, P Dunn) 16-6. FINAL England B bt South Africa 12-11.

WOMEN’S FOURS KNOCK-OUT STAGES SEMI-FINALS

Cyprus A (C Deadman, L Wilkinson, M Staniland, S Trotter) bt Scotland (J Carruthers, V Cockburn, K Purves, S Douglas) 19-10, England (C Hanslip, G Bolt, A Burchell, C Cullum, G Bolt) bt South Africa (G Matthews, N Roos, P Cole-Cook, S Tarr) 11-10 (after extra end).

FINAL Cyprus A bt England 21-6.

Anne Dunwoodie