BOWLS: Under 13s compete for singles title

Rugby Thornfield Indoor Bowling Club hosted the inaugrual running of the Bowl4Fun Under 13s Singles Tournament. The 20 entrants were split into five groups of four, each player playing the others in their group.

The five group winners and the best group runner-up automatically progress to the quarter finals while the remaining four runners-up take part in a play-off to fill the remaining two quarter-final places.

The five group winners were: Jacob Mills, Alfie Knight, Ollie Sloan, Millie Adkins and William Higham. Thomas Manderson was the best group runner-up. In the play-offs Kieran Chambers beat Erin Boyd-Hope and Elloise Collins beat Isabelle Pymm. Kieran Chambers and Alfie Knight had comfortable quarter-final victories against Jacob Mills and Thomas Manderson respectfully. Elloise Collins had a one-shot lead over William Higham with two ends to play but took a four to secure passage to the semis.

The game of the quarters was between Millie Adkins and Ollie Sloan, after three ends Millie led 3-2 and the pair exchanged doubles to give Millie the advantage going into the final end. Ollie took a single in the final end to send the game into a one end tie break, another single saw Ollie complete the comeback and take the final semi spot.

In the semi-finals Alfie Knight booked his place in the final with a 9-1 win over Elloise Collins. The other semi went down to the wire, Kieran Chambers and Ollie Sloan were level on two all with two ends left. Kieran took a single, holding the advantage but Ollie replied with a double to take his place in the final.

Alfie Knight took the first end of the final with a single but Ollie Sloan replied with a double. Alfie then scored a three and four to hold the advantage 8-2 with two ends to play.

Ollie hit a double in the penultimate end to give himself a very slim chance of forcing the final into a tie break, needing to secure all four shots to see that happen. Unfortunately he could only manage another double, meaning Alfie Knight took the Under 13s Singles title by an 8-6 scoreline.

Final group standings:

Group 1 – Jacob Mills 30 points, Erin Boyd-Hope 20 points, Joshua Toon 10 points and Edward Higham 0 points.

Group 2 – Alfie Knight 30 points, Elloise Collins 20 points, Ellie-Marie Hamblett 10 points and Owen Aspinal 0 points.

Group 3 – Ollie Sloan 20 points +9 shot difference, Isabelle Pymm 20 points +3 shot difference, Seren Rowlands 10 points -3 shot difference and Rhianna Russell 10 points -9 shot difference.

Group 4 – Millie Adkins 20 points +9 shot difference, Kieran Chambers 20 points +2 shot difference, Molly Fowler 10 points +3 shot difference and Connor Povey 10 points -14 shot difference.

Group 5 – William Higham 20 points +16 shot difference, Thomas Manderson 20 points +14 shot difference, Rebecca Fey 20 points +10 shot difference and Reuben Bithell 0 points.

Jacob Mills and Alfie Knight had an excellent warm-up to the Under 13s Tournament. In a catch-up fixture the day before the youngsters with a combined age under 25 took on Keith Oakes and Ian Gibbs with a combined age a lot higher.

The youngsters won the game 18-7 but in the third end scored a full eight shots.