Gloucestershire Bowls Association

County Triples Semi Finals

GLOUCESTER CITY, title holders in 2014, will meet the 2015 winners Cheltenham in the final of the County Triples competitions after edging past Fairford in a breathtaking semi final which was won on the last wood of the extra end.

The match between City (Vince Wilks, Matt Curtis and Doug Lewis) and Fairford (Jim Luce, Tom Luce and Nigel Cansdale) was worthy of any final.

The first five ends at Cheltenham Spa BC belonged to City as they took a 7-1 lead. Fairford responded by winning six of the next seven ends to take a 11-9 lead after 12 ends.

City then bagged a three and although Fairford replied with a two, a crucial four by City on the next end put them in the driving seat, 16-13 up, with three ends to play.

Back came Fairford with two twos to lead by one and despite all their efforts on the last end to shift the City shot the match ended 17-17 to force an extra end.

The advantage was with Fairford throughout and it came down to the final wood bowled by Doug Lewis who was staring defeat in the face.

The crowd erupted as the wood squeezed past the head to take the jack back for the winning shot.

In the other semi, holders Cheltenham BC won 19-12 over Bristol St Andrews.

Both winning semi finalists will now meet in the County Finals at Cheltenham on September 4 and will also represent the county at the National Championships in Leamington during August.