Bowls: Knockout woe hits Clarence (From York Press)

Bowls: Knockout woe hits Clarence

10:31am Thursday 19th July 2012 in Sport

CLARENCE suffered a second successive final defeat as they were edged out by Huntington in a thrilling climax to the York C&IU Bowls Evening League Knock-out Cup.

Huntington were 55-48 victors in the final at York Railway Institute ’s green in Ashton Lane, which went ahead despite a burst of heavy rain before the start.

Bob Howland’s rink built up a strong ten-shot lead for Huntington, but that was being matched by Gary Bunce’s rink for Clarence.

After nine ends, the scores were tied at 22 shots apiece.

On the next end, Huntington’s skip Colin Ellis changed the course of the game significantly when he trailed the jack to pick up five shots.

Howland’s rink continued to score almost at will and, with Dave Imeson’s rink managing to peg back Bunce’s lead with five shots, Huntington appeared to hold an unassailable 21-shot lead with only three ends to play.

However, Clarence had different ideas.

John Stroughair’s rink had gradually whittled away at Huntington’s lead and, with one end to go, were only four shots down.

Meanwhile, Bunce’s team had won their last five ends, picking up ten shots in the process.

When Ron Newton’s side scored a four on their penultimate end against Howland, it looked as if a surprise finish was in store.

However, on the last end, with only seven shots in the game, Howland saved his team when he used his last wood to cut Clarence’s four shots down to one.

Ellis then denied Clarence by bowling the winner on his last end. The cup was presented to winning captain Dennis Watson by C&IU League secretary Malcolm Dewhirst.

Clarence, however, avenged their defeat later in the week with an 8-0 victory in the Evening League and they are now second in the table behind Railway Institute.

Holgate , South Bank and St Clement’s ‘B’ continue to lead the way in the Afternoon League.

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