Tony Allcock shares his most memorable matches- played in or observed

ALL players will recall playing at least one shot of equal standing and brilliance. There is however, one aspect which possibly makes any great shot more memorable than any other. This is the timing of the same. For example, a shot to remove a bowl for six shots to win a match with the last delivery on the final end is exactly the same shot when similarly played on the first.

The fundamental difference between the two is impact. Couple this with nervous tension and anticipation from players and onlookers and it makes that ‘special’ shot so much more memorable.

These are my most memorable matches, having either observed or personally experienced.

1980 World Bowls in Melbourne, Australia, triples event

Scotland were losing by seven shots against USA. The Scottish triple comprised John Summers, David McGill and Willie McQueen.

Obviously this trio were heavily fancied to do well in this event so it was hardly surprising therefore, that as all the teams were finishing their morning session, they stopped adjacent to the rink where this match was about to finish. A shock result in the happening.

The greens in Melbourne varied considerably due to the changing climate but after two consecutive days of blistering heat, the greens were lightening fast.

The last bowl of the match was a Scottish bowl. David McGill and John Summers conferred at the head, Willie looked on. David then illustrated to Willie that the only way to score seven shots was to play onto the opponent’s bowl at an angle, that bowl was to split two others and his own to follow through.

It was certainly a long shot as the distance between these target bowls was approximately two metres and an angle of 40 degrees! And yes, Willie played the shot and literally, like balls on a snooker table, the bowls scattered with absolute perfection.

When the dust had settled seven Scottish bowls all counted in the head. This miraculously tied this round robin game. Scotland went on to win the silver medal but success was most definitely attributed to this magical shot.

Cheltenham Bowling Club Rink 1, 4th round of the Gloucestershire county singles

My opponent a very useful club bowler from Cirencester BC and I was the defending county champion. I was losing 20 -5. Whatever anyone says about a game is never won until the last end. Okay, but more often than not, a match will rarely change course given such a vast score line. I believed I was going to lose (rightly or wrongly).

I decided therefore, rather like a last ditch attempt, I would change the style of my game.

The objective was to get to double figures (often a very comforting sight when the score board flips from single figures to double figures).

If I could get to double figures, then the score printed in the local press would be look a tad better. The approach I took was an aggressive one.

I made a few changes and prematurely ran at a few heads which normally I would have drawn to. I achieved the first hurdle 10-20. I still had a long way to go and there were no signs of my opponent feeling any pressure whatsoever.

He was, in all probability, deriving more determination and confidence from seeing me playing ‘unconventional bowls’ whilst at the same time seemingly reaching for the panic button. In reality however, I still had a sense of resignation and continued to adopt this rather cavalier approach.

My opponent held match five or six times before my last delivery when the situation was arrested and he failed to respond with his last bowl. I had achieved 15 – 20.

There was a sign that my opponent’s tension was increasing and disbelief at what was actually happening!

I then changed my style completely and set a target of trying to win the next six ends by securing a single shot each end. My adrenalin rush actually kicked in at this point – the finishing post was in sight, albeit a good way off.

It was the first time in this match that I felt that this rush had given me extra focus and determination. I won the next three ends and tried to forget the fact that my score was 18.

I had never liked this number and unlike the figure 13 (which I love), 18 was, undoubtedly, my most unlucky number!

I tried desperately to forget about this (I always tried to!!). It was on this end that I had a major decision to make – I was back in the match – I was three shots from victory but my first three deliveries were poor. I had no bowls within two metres. It was here that luck played a great part.

My opponent, trying to get a back bowl around the head, clipped my short bowl in for shot. It was a great relief but then I had to contemplate – was I to try to get another shot with my last bowl to press for a 20 – 20 score line or to try to play safe? I decided on the latter.

I played a very successful block shot which worked. Score 19-20. It was at this point that the emotions of we players changed.

I was playing each end as simply and safely as possible, thinking positive, my opponent was becoming lost in thought at how could 13 shots could disappear in almost as many ends when on each and every occasion he had the last bowl to play. My opponent, having seen the significant change in the match take place due to my aggressive play, opted to do the same on what was to be the last end.

In all fairness he just missed the jack with his last firing shot but ultimately he had lost the match rather than me winning it!! I went on to win the county title again and in late August of the same year lifted the National Singles Trophy in Beach House Park. So the morale of the tail is – it can happen – albeit rarely – so it’s always worth a try!

Mazda Classic Final in Sydney

I was a 23-year-old teacher, playing the great Kenny Williams, renowned and respected Australian champion. This was a great challenge and undeniably one which I relished.

I had nothing – absolutely nothing – to lose and it was a David and Goliath confrontation. Being the underdog has a certain feel about it and when it happens the experience can often feel comforting- I felt fairly relaxed.

The spectator stands were full of supporters, live TV commentary was exciting and the match was neck and neck until the very end. I led 20-17, one shot from victory. I was trying to resist the temptation to look at the trophy and to anticipate the sweet taste of success.

I kept motivated by constantly overestimating my opponent’s deliveries- expecting every one of them to do exactly what he had intended. I worked on the philosophy that he was Australia’s number one player at the time and I should expect that when stepping onto the mat he would be laying the shot. When he did, I accepted (if not expected it), if he didn’t it was a momentary bonus but I had to remember he had other deliveries to follow.

All bowls were delivered and it was a measure for shot. I just needed this last shot. I never had a great eye for determining a measure and simply had no idea which bowl would be declared.

The umpire took an absolute age to measure these two bowls. Finally, he turned away my bowl and I was absolutely elated – I could not believe it – I had won – it was just too good to be true – and indeed it was.

Unlike in the UK when the umpire turned away the shot bowl, in Australia at the time, the umpire turned away the bowl which was NOT shot. I had never experienced this in any previous match and was baffled at why Kenny had not shaken my hand or the crowd had shown due appreciation for the victory of the young Englishman. The rest of the match I cannot remember. I lost 21-20 and list this as one of my great disappointments in singles play!

National singles final, Worthing, 1987

Having taken many years of trying to be successful at EBA National Championship level, I finally made the final in 1987. My opponent was a completely unknown young player from Lancashire, David A Holt.

Rink three on the finals rink had, in the past, produced some fabulous matches irrespective of that rink not being one of the easiest to find. I saved my worst nightmare game of singles for many years for this occasion.

David played with such supreme confidence, his crown green upbringing had taught him to ‘just get on with it’ – and he did. He completely and utterly annihilated me and as far as I can recall of the remnants left of this nightmare it was all ‘over and done’ in record time.

After the disappointment had diminished and I could reflect on what had happened on that occasion, there was a common denominator.

There was an expectation from me (along with the crowd) that this would be a fairly comfortable victory. It was!! Looking back I should have known better as David had, only a day or so before, won the EBA Pairs so was certainly not ‘just’ a crown green player but a great flat green player too.

David possessed that fantastic mentality that the crown green code breeds-play it as it is and keep it simple.

The same philosophy was employed when successfully training England’s hugely successful 2002 Commonwealth Games bowls team in Manchester.

David, as the record books reveal, skipped a fours in those games to win the gold medal on newly laid greens in Heaton Park which simply required the attitude of ‘get on with it lad’!

World Singles, Adelaide, 1996

I was to defend the title won in Beach House Park Worthing in 1992. I had made a mistake, I was offered a contract to play with a certain make of bowls that had many virtues except for playing in Australia.

In the weeks previously I had led for Andy Thomson MBE in the pairs and it was clear to me that despite not qualifying for the semi-finals by a few shots, it was Andy that had almost got us to a medal play off.

Notwithstanding this, playing lead for that amount of matches I had been able to practise drawing rather than being required to play a variety of shots. It helped.

In the singles I had one match to play against Noel Kennedy from Hong Kong (Bandana Man) and the winner of this match would go on to play Kelvin Kerkow in front of his ‘home’ crowd.

I was struggling and at 15 -24 (25 shots up) I heard the English team manager, Mel Hughes, shout from the stands ‘Only ten more shots needed Tony’ – I smiled.

The crowds drew larger and larger poised to witness the current world champion’s defeat – 1 hour 6 minutes later the score was 24 – 24! It was on this end that I played the most perfect opening bowl. The green was like a skating rink and the bowl took an age to get to the other end.

Noel, with his third bowl, drove at my shot bowl and caught both the jack and shot bowl, his toucher following the jack into the ditch and coming to rest therein some 10″ from the jack.

I had no toucher so it was a draw to the absolute edge of the rink as the ditch was deep and gave full advantage to the live bowl resting in the ditch.

I delivered but knew that the end of the rink was virtually unstoppable. My line was perfect – but how was the weight? I had so much time to chase the bowl as it was turning so slowly, as I arrived level with it I did not know whether to shout it on or to verbally draw it back.

The bowl took its very last turn just before the edge of the ditch. Seemingly stopped but then sat down, wobbled on the edge and stayed there immediately above the jack.

By this time the stands were packed to bulging and although Noel was the ‘underdog’ and therefore naturally had a lot of support, the English had tremendous support and the cheering from the English contingency and hundreds of ‘ex pats’ residing in Adelaide was deafening. The crowd went silent. Noel was preparing to drive at my bowl. He let fly- it was bang on target. I closed my eyes then opened again them to see my bowl was still in situ.

The next morning playing the Australian on home soil was a great joy – the very nature of being in the semi-final was fantastic. The previous afternoon it appeared an impossibility. I went on to retain the title again later in day.

At Christmas the former EBA Treasurer Bob Jack MBE, sent me a video recording of that very delivery played against Noel Kennedy to win the match.

Under the circumstances the best bowl of my bowling career and played at the optimum time! To have it recorded it is quite unbelievable and I cannot wait to get it transposed on the a DVD to witness again!