Bridlington Alexandra edged out by Cranswick in thrilling Midweek League Cup final
Bridlington Alexandra Bowling Club’s week was dominated by two big cup games.
The semi-final of the Midweek League saw the Alex up against Nafferton B and Buckle/Wray/McCall were quickly off the mark, leading 6-0 after the first three ends.
Nafferton then took the following two ends to narrow the gap to three shots but there was no stopping the Bridlington triple who went on to win 12 of the remaining 15 ends and finish the match 23-11 winners.
On the second rink, Allen/Mitchell/Mitchell were 5-3 up after six ends but Nafferton hit back to lead 12-5 by end 9.
In a cup-tie to be decided on aggregate scores, it was vital that the Brid triple kept in touch with their opponents and by end 16 they had narrowed the gap to 14-11.
Although Nafferton picked up five shots on the remaining two ends to win the game 19-11, Bridlington advanced to the final with a 34-30 victory.
Thursday’s final against league leaders Hutton Cranswick A was a memorable encounter.
By the halfway mark Bridlington were ahead on both rinks at 10-5 and 13-3.
An upset looked on the cards but Cranswick had other ideas.
Although McCall/Wray/McCall had built up a healthy 16-6 lead by end 13, Cranswick won the remaining ends to close the gap to just one shot in Bridlington’s favour.
Buckle/Mitchell/Mitchell were still leading by end 14 with the score at 16-12, but disaster struck on the last four ends to give Cranswick a 20-16 win and with the aggregate at 35-32 in their favour Cranswick took the trophy.
The Bridlington team have much to be proud of by playing so well and being part of such an entertaining final.
In the Vets League Division 1 Bridlington struggled against a very strong Hornsea A team and came away empty-handed with Hornsea dominating the game.
The B team travelled to Cranswick 2.
Allen/Talbot/Dawson were always ahead on their rink, leading 10-4 at the halfway mark and 17-7 by end 14.
A fightback by Cranswick over the next four ends set up a nervy finish but Bridlington eventually ran out 17-14 winners.
Watson/Paylor/Booth were never in contention on their rink, winning only four of the 18 ends to hand Cranswick a 22-8 victory. Two points to Bridlington.
In the Friday Night Independent League Brid Alex entertained Beeford.
Scruton/Hutchinson/Philpott were involved in a very close opening 10 ends by which time the scores were tied at 8-8.
Eight shots to Bridlington over the next three ends gave them some breathing space and they went on to win three of the remaining five ends to win the game 20-11.
There was a similar story on the adjacent rink and by end 10 McCall/Paylor/McCall were just one shot behind at 11-10.
Three shots to Beeford on the following end extended their lead but in a remarkable turn-a-round the Bridlington triple won all of the remaining seven ends to win the game 25-14.
On the final rink Buckle/Mitchell/Mitchell were always up against it with Beeford eventually running out 25-5 winners.
With two rinks to Bridlington and one to Beeford and the aggregate score at 50-50 Bridlington took five of the eight points available.
The semi-final of the cup between these two teams should be one to look out for.