Holdsworth sinks Wale in thrilling Whitby O60s Singles Merit final

The very first preliminary round game was between Barrie and Caroline Watson (both Borough) with Barrie winning 21-11 to face Chris Dobson (Dukes Park) who had one of the late byes. The second went to Brian Dalby (Borough) who went through for a game against clubmate Gary Thornton who had an easy 21-10 win against Mally Kay (North Cliff).

Ian Richardson (North Cliff) came back to win 21-15 against Tony Bland (Borough) while Ronnie Noble (Borough) won 21-16 against home bowler Emmo Emmerson.

Rita Bland just made it through against another home bowler, Eric Summerson, 21-19 but Kenny Wale (Whitby) had a massive 21-4 win against O60s Championship leader Alan Landers (North Cliff).

Ed McCormack bowled very well for an almost as big a win against Cliff clubmate David Hill 21-6 and Joyce Harland (Whitby) beat Pauline Allison (Borough) 21-16.

The 1st round started with Geoff Oldham (Hunmanby) winning 21-7 against Pam Moment (North Cliff) and Billy Holdsworth had a 21-4 win against his wife and Hunmanby clubmate Sue Holdsworth.

Dave Moment had a fine 21-13 win in an all-Cliff game against Robert Child to face Steve Dover (Whitby) who beat Judith Andrews (N Cliff).

Larry Dixon (Westgate) won 21-17 against Tommy Roberts (Whitby) while Geoff Watson won an all-Whitby game against Kenny Rodgers 21-8. Ray and Jo Leeman (both Whitby) set up the third married couple game by beating two Eastfield bowlers, respectively Ashley Brunton-Douglas 21-14 and David Muir 21-8.

Phil Todd (Hunmanby) cruised through 21-11 against Mary Smith (Whitby) but Eddie Maxwell just made it through against Whitby clubmate Peter McRory by 21-20.

Harry Old (Hunmanby) won 21-17 against home bowler Geoff Coleman while Barrie Watson was pressed by Chris Dobson but won 21-18.

Thornton had a big 21-5 win against Dalby and Noble won 21-13 against Richardson. Wale beat Rita Bland 21-10 and McComack eliminated Harland 21-14.

In the second round Billy Holdsworth beat clubmate Oldham 21-15 and Dover won 21-11 against Dave Moment.

Geoff Watson beat Dixon 21-17 while Jo Leeman won 21-8 against Ray Leeman. Todd was pressed by Maxwell but won 21-17 while Barrie Watson also just made it through 21-19 against Old. Thornton crushed Noble 21-8, Wale was even more ruthless winning 21-6 against McCormack.

Holdsworth won the first quarter-final 21-12 against Dover for a semi against Jo Leeman who beat Geoff Watson 21-15.

Barrie Watson had a big 21-8 win against Todd but Thornton pushed Wale before going down 21-18. Holdsworth ended Jo Leeman’s run with a 21-12 win but Barrie Watson took Wale to 21-20.

In a tight final Wale won the first end, Holdsworth took the next 5 to lead 10-4 only for Wale to score 5 in the next 5 ends to trail 10-9.

Wale then took 2 of the next 3 ends to level at 11-11 after 14 ends and won 2 of the next 3 ends to lead 13-12. Holdsworth then won 4 ends to establish a 17-13 lead after 21 ends.

Wale was not finished though and pulled back to level the scores at 18-18 after 25 ends. Holdsworth then scored the 3 to win in the 27th end.