The Finals for the 2018/19 Rocks Jewellers Singles kicked off bright and early on Sunday May 19th with an 8:00am check-in for bowlers, organisers and Leisureplex staff.
Based on the end of season feedback from the members last year we returned to the “Double Elimination” finals format in both Scratch and Handicap sections which went down very well on the day with bowlers and spectators alike as many of the head to head matches were decided in the 10th frame.
Congratulations to all the 2019 finalists and to Paddy Gibbons (Winner – Handicap) and Karl Dryer (Winner Scratch) who went on to take the titles for the 2018/19 season. Both Paddy and Karl were beaten in the 3rd round winners’ section and as a result had to battle the long way through the Losers section to get to the Double Elimination Final.
Paddy faced off against Eoghain Lebioda who remained unbeaten in the ‘Winners’ section of the Handicap section and was the bowler who beat Paddy early on to put him in the Losers Section. This rematch had it all, Eoghain started slowly with a couple of open frames as Paddy was steady throughout to take a 34 pin lead into the second game. Eoghain was out of the blocks early and with 3 frames to go the match was level, Paddy closed out with an important double to force Eoghain to double in the 10th , he got the first but didn’t convert the second allowing Paddy to take match by 425 to Eoghain’s 419 and force a decider as the bowlers had now only lost 1 match each. With only 9 pins separating them after the 1st deciding game, it was back level after 5 frames of the next game, when Paddy once again found the pocket and struck out to take match by 466 to 412 and with it the 2019 Handicap title.
In the Scratch section Final Grant Dugan struggled early in the match and was 88 pins down in game one to Karl’s 243 who forced the double Elimination decider with a 453 to Grant’s 303. Karl continued to exert the pressure in the decider and took a 26 pin lead into the final game but despite a closing 234 from Grant was never really in any danger as he struck 10 times to post a 268 game and take the match and the Scratch title by 486 to Grant’s 426.
You can see how all the finalists fared throughout the day as all the results (Scratch & Handicap – Winners & Losers sections) and Prize-winners details by going to the www.bowlingforall.ie web. Photos from the day will be posted in the Photo Gallery.
Congratulations also go to Arunis Bulnis who rolled a personal best high score game of 267 during the finals.
Our thanks go to the management and staff in Leisureplex Stillorgan for their support during the season and throughout the long Finals day, to John Dunne and Tim Dawson for the web support, posting our results and updates, to Emer, Jason and Colm for their continued support and involvement throughout the season.
Special thanks and appreciation go to Victor Rock & all at Rocks Jewellers for their sponsorship and support of the Rocks Jewellers Singles event over the last 9 years.