SCGBA Mixed Doubles Competition played by kind permission, on the green of Madeley BC on Sun. 11th July 2021.
Pre-lims
Scott Moseley & Natalia Connor 21-10 Alex Evans & Amy Ryder
Stuart & Jackie Rutter 21-14 Angela & Tom Killlen
Jamie & Sally King 21-07 Paul Gilmore & Linda Potter
Quarter -finals
Scott Moseley & Natalia Connor 21-16 Stuart & Jackie Rutter
Angela & Martin Gaut 21-20 Jamie & Sally King
Rich & Susie Lawson 21-04 Sybil & Simon Rhodes
John Clarke & Helen Clee 21-14 Dan & Jodie Taylor
Semi-finals
Scott Moseley & Natalia Conner 21-06 Angela & Martin Gaut
Rich & Susie Lawson 21-11 John Clarke & Helen Clee
Final
Scott Moseley & Natalia Connor 21-13 Rich & Susie Lawson
Arriving at Madeley an hour before competitors on a warm summer’s day, with very little breeze, and with the Mercury rising in the thermometer it was soon realised we were in for a scorcher of a day. As the entries began arriving, many were happy and chat about their experiences with locked down for 15 months being the main topic of conversations between old friends as everyone embraced the relative freedom of getting out and about. For this year only, instead of the usual 1 qualifying pair, this year we would get to send 2 entries to the National finals of the BCGBA Centenary Pairs in Derbyshire in October. When entering the bunting adorned entrance to Madeley CC, we were greeted with the sight of the lush grass surface green along with perfectly presented surrounds and clubhouse Highlights of the day’s games – all games with 3 on the card for each pair
Prelims
Two Shrewsbury based pairings were thrown together in a pre-lim that saw Scott Moseley & Natalia Conner race, unanswered in to a lead 18-03 before Alex Evans & Amy Ryder wrestled possession of the jack to fight back to make double figures to trail 10-18 but halted in the 15th end as Scott & Natalia finished it 21-10. Stuart & Jackie Rutter saw a 13-07 lead quickly evaporate as Angela & Tom Killen levelled the game 13-13 but then Stuart & Jackie took back the jack and only dropped 1 more chalk to win after 21 ends, 21-14. Jamie & Sally King began their game in the strongest manner by taking a full house 4 chalks in the first end against Paul Gilmore & Linda Potter. There followed a even period where they matched each other until from 11-7, Jamie & Sally turned up the pressure and run out in 12 ends, 21-07.
Highlights of the quarter finals
Scott Moseley & Natalia Connor started strongly, going from 7-3 onto 15-5 before the seasoned pair of Stuart & Jackie fought hard to close to trail 10-15 only for Scott & Natalia push on to 19-13 and after sharing the next 6 ends, after 23 ends completed their 21-16 win. Angela & Martin Gaut trailed 8-12 and levelled 12-12 against Jamie & Sally who then suffered losing 2 full house 4s as Angela & Martin moved on to 20-15, but it wasn’t quite over as the scores were tied 20-20 which after the 19th end the Gauts took the game 21-20. Being the sole home player to enter and thus conceding 2 chalks to their opponents, Sybil & Simon Rhodes found the going particularly hard going as Rich & Susie Lawson took advantage and raced to 12-1 and 17-4 and soon after 13 ends took the game 21-4. John Clarke & Helen Clee’s game went evenly from 6-6 and 9-9 before they made a move for the finish by going onto lead Dan & Jodie Taylor 18-11. The next 2 ends proved decisive as both hit a 3 each for in 16 ends John & Helen won 21-14.
Highlights of the semi finals
Scott & Natalia burst out of the traps from 4-4 to bamboozle the luckless Angela & Martin who just couldn’t find a way in as they tried from 6-7 in all of the next 7 ends as their challenge was quickly ended in 12 ends by Scott & Natalia booked their place in the final, winning 21-6. Meanwhile, Rich & Susie raced to a 6 chalk lead of 9-3 and 12-6 over John & Helen and maintained it at 17-11 before running out in 15ends to win 21-11.
Highlights of the Final
The final began with Scott & Natalia opening up a 4 chalk cushion 9-5(5ends) that would be maintained against Rich & Susie as they battled to get back in by trying different marks and lengths, with little success as the scores ran down the card 12-8(10ends) and 16-12(16ends) and double the advantage by taking 4 of the last 5 of the 20 ends to finish the game 21-13.
Shropshire County Competition Secretary/Deputy President, Mike Potter thanked host club and its members, Madeley CC for their generous hospitality, supplying a quality green and refreshments before presenting the prizes to the competitors and wished both pairs of Scott & Natalia and Rich & Susie. Good Luck when they carry the hopes of Shropshire at the Centenary Pairs finals day in Derbyshire in October. Then, finally presented the Dave Card Rose Bowl to the worthy champions, Scott Moseley & Natalia ConnorWell Done & Congratulations
Competitions Secretary Mike Potter
