Ladywell Captain through to second round of bowls knockout competition

Ladywell's Captain, Phil Welch won a tight contest in the first round of the Beckenham, Bromley & District Bowling Association (BBDBA) Men's Bowls Singles on Monday 9th June at Bellingham Bowling Club.

On a cool evening, Phil faced the Bellingham champion, Matt Doyle, with the first player to 21 points going through to the second round.

The match started well for Phil, with a score of three shots on the first end, and although Matt hit back with two shots of his own on the second end, Phil extended his lead by a further three on the next end to take a 6-2 lead.

Both players exchanged single shots on the following two ends, before Matt gained three shots of his own to narrow the margin to one point at 7-6 to the Ladywell player. But this seemed to spur Phil on, and he gained six shots over the following four ends to take a 13-6 lead.

Two shots for the Bellingham player cut the lead to 13-8, before Phil pulled away again with three shots on the 12th end. Matt immediately hit back to take control of the jack with a shot on the 13th end, but Phil regained the initiative with a shot of his own on the next end. With the score at 17-9 to the Ladywell player, victory was within touching distance, but Matt wasn't going to accept defeat without a fight, and he gained three shots over the following two ends, leaving the score at 17-12.

It was on the 17th end that the match swung decisively in Phil's favour, with a score of three, to leave him just one point away from victory. Matt fought back again, with three shots of his own on the 18th end, to cut the lead to five points. And on the 19th end, with the Bellingham player bowling his last wood and Phil holding two shots, Matt once again showed his fighting spirit, firing and splitting the head open to gain another shot and leave Phil waiting for the victory. But on the following end, with Phil once again holding two shots, Matt fired his final wood marginally wide to hand the win to the Ladywell player by 21-16.

So, Phil goes through to the second round after a closely-fought contest where both players showed off their skills. His next match will be on his home green at Ladywell against a player from either Bromley Town or West Beckenham, to be played by 11th July.