AFTER more than 50 teams entered the Industrial Bowls Tournament organised by the Rotary Club of Crediton it is now down to the last eight teams to fight it out for the trophy.
Tonight, (Thursday, August 17) the four quarter finals will take place at 6.30pm and then on Saturday both the semi-finals and final will be competed to find out who will be crowned the 2023 champions.
As this is the 50th year of the competition it is obvious that the standard has improved year-on-year.
The rules state that if any team has a member of a bowling club in their four, this person must bowl the first two bowls, but there are many others now who have year’s of experience by playing regularly either through skittles, or indoors and so the final stages are always very competitive.
Three resounding victories for Crediton Bowling Club
The friendly matches this week have brought three resounding victories.
A home win against St Thomas was followed up by two very impressive away victories at Honiton and Barnstaple Ashleigh Road.
Julie Cole, Pam Swan, Kelvin Heath and Paul Vodden represented Crediton in the annual tournament at St Thomas and finished third while Allan Gibb, Anne Sullivan and Sue Norton entered the Torrington Triples Day following this up with Allan and Sue playing in the Pairs Day at Exonia the same weekend.
It seems I might have been a bit premature in writing off the Over 60’s A team’s chances of retaining their title after they have just recorded a morale boosting 8-0 thrashing of Topsham Blue.
This win still keeps them in fourth place in the league but the top is much more tightly bunched. If they win the final three there is still a chance if other results go their way.
The B team were soundly beaten 7-1 at Morchard Bishop but remain third with three matches to go.
It was a great week for the C team who recorded two victories. In their catch-up fixture away to Tiverton West End there was a 6-2 win and then this was followed up with an 8-0 victory at Topsham.
The team sits third in the table with thankfully no threat of relegation like in previous years.
Fixtures
Thursday, August 17 - Industrial Bowls quarter finals at 6.30pm
Saturday, August 19 - Industrial Bowls semi-finals and final
Monday, August 21 - Crediton Green v Crediton Yellow at 2pm
Tuesday, August 22 - Friendly v Bradninch at 2.30pm
Wednesday, August 23 - Over 60’s B v Pinces B - 2.30pm
Wednesday, August 23 - Over 60’s C v Ottery 6 - 2.30pm.
Mike Canning