Roberts and Holden book their place for final’s day in pairs competition

The first two qualifiers for finals day on Sunday, November 15 are Graham Roberts of Brighouse Sports and Mark Holden of Elland, and Andrew Walker and John Ineson of Cleckheaton Sports.

Roberts and Holden started out a 21-12 success against a resolute pair in Nic Patchett and Joel Steele. Patchet and Steele led 12-10 only for Holden to play the luckiest bowl of the day, in off a short bowl, and take out Patchett, saving bowl for four, after which Roberts and Holden ran out a 21-12 victors.

Their next game was against Sheryl Robinson and Pam Woodhead of Hill Crest, who earlier staged a big recovery from 20-12 down to win 21-20. It was nip and tuck but Roberts and Holden ran out with a 21-15 win to qualify.

They played last year’s finalists Dave Rydings and Martin Atkinson. Roberts and Holden took a 6-3 lead only for Atkinson and Rydings to go 11-6 up. It was heading for 13-6 only for Holden to take out a bowl in off another, so it went to 8-11.

Then due to some good corner bowling by Roberts and good short game by Holden, they raced to a 20-11 lead and won to 12.

Andy Walker and John Ineson played some good steady bowling throughout. In teir first game they beat Martin Lingard and Damian Murphy 21-16 and then in their second game, against the Dawson’s, came from 18-8 down to win 21-20.

In the qualifier game against Russel Broadbent and Roy Nicholson they were never behind, opening up a 11-1 lead, and running away with a comfortable 21-13 victory.

Next week’s card is strong, and includes last year’s winners James Senior and Robert Hitchen as part of a quality field.