Qualifying
Round
The second
stop of this season’s new-and-improved Rocks Tour saw players once again take
to the lanes at Leisureplex Stillorgan for the five-game qualifying round which
would decide the four finalists.
Scoring was
typically high as players got to grips quickly with the familiar lanes
conditions in Stillorgan, and it became clear early on that the qualifying
average would be very high after the five games.
Simon
English, winner of October’s opening event of the season, showed why he could
well be the man to beat all year by throwing a superb 297 in game one, only
missing out on a perfect 300 game after a slightly loose final ball could only
knock down seven pins.
Following
that up with a 247 in game two it looked like it would be difficult for anyone
to qualify above English, but as the games rolled on his standard dropped a
little, opening the door for others, including Gareth Williams, making his
return to competitive tournament bowling this season, and Alan Bride, returning
after 5 months out with a hand injury.
It was an
intriguing finish to qualifying, with English managing to get to 205 pins over
scratch, before Williams managed to better that target with 230 over. Their
averages were 246 and 241 respectively.
Joining them
in the finals were Brendan Healy and Alan Bride. The standard of play in
qualifying was remarkable throughout the field, with 21 bowlers averaging 200
or better.
In the
handicap section, October’s winner Aoife Hall, herself also returning to
competitive bowling this season, lead the way again with 1234. Her nearest
challenger in qualifying was Paul Flannery, who shot 1103, with Keith Rynhart
and Paul Chandler doing enough to join them in the finals.
Scratch
Section-Final Step One
The opening
game of the scratch finals saw Alan Bride, Brendan Healy and Simon English face
off in a one-game match, with the loser dropping out and the other two players
moving on to the next step.
English
never looked in danger of dropping out as he started strongly and eventually
comfortably qualified for step two with a game of 226. But there was major
tension in the battle between Bride and Healy as both struggled to seize the
remaining spot by the scruff of the neck.
Healy looked
like he may just have done enough, but then Bride stepped up and showed just
why he has been one of the top players in the country for many years, striking
out in the final frame to beat Healy by a single pin and take his place in
final step two.
Scratch
Section-Final Step Two
The second
of the three-step final saw leading qualifier Gareth Williams join the action,
but it was Simon English who took charge early once again, and never
relinquished his hold on the match, eventually shooting 276 to ensure his place
in final step three.
Once again
Bride gave the on-looking crowd plenty of excitement, with Williams this time
the opposing player contributing to the tension. Both players stuttered early
but then went on a run of strikes from frame six right to the final frame.
The
situation was simple, whoever had the better tenth frame would progress.
Williams went first, striking twice in the tenth to pile the pressure on Bride.
Bride matched his two strikes and then it was down to one final ball.
Williams
struck again to ensure that at the very least he would be part of a final frame
play-off. So the pressure was at its highest level. Bride simply had to strike
to survive in the match; and that is exactly what he did, again proving he can
handle the pressure situations.
So a play-off
would decide who would take on English in final step three. Both players struck
with their first shot, but Williams eventually blinked first with a nine with
his second ball. Bride stepped up and inevitably struck under pressure to take
the match and advance.
Scratch-Final
Step Three
So it was
October’s winner against the returning National Champion in final step three.
The two-game match is all about getting a good start and sustaining a lead, and
clearly English had this in mind, continuing where he had left off in the last
match with another massive game of 278.
In contrast
Bride must have understandably been feeling the pace of the event after a long
time out with injury, struggling a little to a 202.
Bride was a
long way back, but to his credit he dug deep to improve dramatically in game
two, shooting 245 to at least put some doubt in the mind of English.
But English,
despite dropping his level finally from the previous couple of games, was able
to shoot 198, which was enough to hold off Bride and take his second
consecutive title of the season and continue his hold on this season’s Rocks
tour.
Handicap
Section-Final Step One
The finals
of the handicap section got underway with Paul Flannery, Paul Chandler and
Keith Rynhart taking to the lanes for the first match. Each player started
well, but as the match wore on it was Rynhart who fell away a little, with both
Chandler and Flannery putting a long string of strikes together.
Rynhart
pushed for a big finish, but an unlucky ten-pin, which he then missed, but pay
to his chances of progression. Both Chandler and Flannery closed out big games,
eventually progressing, Rynhart’s 227 leaving him well behind their games of
265 and 277 respectively.
Handicap
Section-Final Step Two
Leading
qualifier Aoife Hall then stepped up against Chandler and Flannery, looking for
her second consecutive Rocks Tour victory on her return to competitive bowling.
Chandler and Flannery gave it their all to overcome Hall’s superior handicap,
but in the end she did enough to ensure her place in final step three, shooting
231 to progress.
It then came
down to who would join her, and it was close all the way. However, in the end
it was Chandler who was able to find that extra gear to advance, his 220 enough
to see of Flannery’s 214.
Handicap
Section-Final Step Three
Just as in
the scratch section, October’s winner was once again in final step three, and
Hall took a handsome handicap advantage into the match with Chandler. Game one
saw Hall bowl consistently as she had done all day, and with Chandler also
bowling well it was perfectly poised going into game two, Hall leading by just
14 pins.
Chandler
picked up the pace as game two moved on, and Hall knew she would need to stay
solid and consistent to hold on to her lead. It was an exciting finish, with
Chandler putting the pressure on, only to see Hall do just enough to take her
second consecutive Rocks tour win, eventually winning by just six pins over the
two games, 474-468.
Once again
the Rocks Tour served up some exceptional bowling, high tension and
exhilarating drama, but in the end both sections saw a repeat winner from the
first event of the season a month previously.
Leisureplex
Tallaght is the venue for event three on December 15th, when the
best players in the country will try to wrestle the titles away from Simon
English and Aoife Hall as the Rocks tour moves on towards the New Year.
