ITBA News

A clash of dates with the Senior Triple Crown in Lisburn contributed to the low turnout of 28 bowlers for the final qualifying event of the Rocks Jewellers 2018/19 season. The Kegel Wall Street 40ft oil pattern provided good scoring on the morning where 10 bowlers were ahead of par (200 Avg.) and Gareth Williams provided great excitement in the 4^th game when he put 12 strikes together for a 300 game.

Paul Chandler topped the Scratch qualifying with an 1151 series (230 avg) and was drawn against Karl Dryer (who qualified 4^th) in the first semi-final match. Paul got off to a fast start with a spare and a treble to lead by 20 pins after 5 frames as Karl was unable to carry. With Karl hitting a double thru 7 frames and Paul having an open frame in the 7^th the match was level. Paul put 3 strikes together to close out but it wasn’t enough to hold off Karl who finished with 4 strikes to move into the final with a 226 to Paul’s 222.

The 2^nd semi-final between Gareth Williams and Grant Dugan was tight with only 1 pin separating them in a low scoring match where both players opened twice in the first 8 frames. Grant who had only one strike up to this found form and struck out with 4 more to take the match and his place in the final by 187 to Gareth’s 177.

Despite a late rally, Karl, who had opened 4 of the first 6 frames, couldn’t overcome the 70 pin deficit in the final to lose with a 157 to 198 for Grant’s first win of the season.

For the second event in a row a Junior bowler has led Handicap qualifying. Taylor Williams using the “2 handed style” qualified with 1202 and played P J Shine in the first semi-final. Taylor had a couple of openers early on but used a double and treble to move into the final by 225 to P J’s 212.

A fast start with a double for Ken Foley was unfortunately followed by 4 open frames in the next 6 to give Anthony Byrne a 30 pin cushion in semi-final 2. Anthony closed out with a double to progress to the final by 228 to Ken’s 179.

The Handicap Final was hotly contested with both players hitting 8 strikes in a high scoring match.Taylor had the edge bowling a clean game for 274 incl. hcp to outscore Anthony who had a couple of open frames in his 235 game.  

Congratulations to the winners Grant Dugan (Scratch Division) & Taylor Williams (Handicap Division) and all the finalists. 

Full details from Event 9 are available on the Rocks Jewellers Tab/Results.

The 2019 End of Season Finals will be held on 19th May and will, as advised previously, revert to the Double Elimination Matchplay format.

The provisional list of Scratch & Handicap Qualifiers for the Finals are included on the Standings sheets posted.

All qualifiers must confirm their availability for the Finals by return email, WhatsApp or Text to Tom Byrne.

More details including Oil Pattern will follow closer to the date, please make sure you check the web for up-to-date information on the Finals.

38 Bowlers contested the 2^nd last qualifying event of the season on the Kegel Stone Street 42ft oil pattern. The scoring continues to improve with 15 bowlers shooting above a 200 average.

Karl Dryer led the Scratch qualifying with an 1199 series (239 avg) and faced off against Gareth Williams in the first semi-final match. Gareth couldn’t maintain his qualifying form where he shot a 297 game and lost out to Karl by 211 to his 164 game. The 2^nd semi-final was a much closer match between Alan Bride and Joe Clancy who matched each other through to the 8^th frame where an open frame from Alan gave Joe the lead and he struck out to take his place in the final by 211 to Alan’s 198. In the Final Joe started off strongly, was never really put under pressure by Karl and went on to take his first win of the season by 226 to Karl’s 183.

4 bowlers making their first finals of the season would do battle to take their first win in the Handicap section. Sean Farren who led the Handicap qualifying with 1229 played against Sean Staines in a very tight 1^st semi-final for the 2 junior bowlers with Farren edging ahead in the last couple of frames to take the match by 198 to 188 for Staines. Another close match between Brian Dagger and Arturas Baltonis saw Brian come out on top in the 2^nd semi-final by 230 to 210 to move on to the final.

The semi-final win for Sean Farren looked as if it gave him a lot more confidence and he came out in the final making better shots and took the initiative in the match which he went on to win by 230 to Brian’s 212 to give him his first win of the season.

Congratulations to the winners Joe Clancy (Scratch Division) & Sean Farren (Handicap Division) and all the finalists.

Full details from Event 8 are available on the Rocks Jewellers Tab/Results.

Next Event 28th April 2019