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2022 MIDDLETON CUP QUALIFICATION
Reports on qualification games
by Team Manager Graham Phillips
Following an extensive trials process involving 38 of the best bowlers in the County, a 28 man squad was Selected to represent Gloucestershire in the Middleton Cup.
18th of June saw the first match v Herefordshire, 3 Glos players were making their first appearance in the M/Cup, Redlands Green’s Andy GADD, Glos City’s Steve ALLSOPP, & Matt ARKLE from Cam. 2 bowlers were also called back into the team after several years out, Nick HOLLIDAY from Suffolk Square & Chris ROACH of Barnwood.
After 5 ends Gloucestershire trailed by 11 shots, at 10 ends Glos had a 22 shot lead, brought about by a run of 20 shots over 7 ends by the rink of Andy GADD, Josh PHILLIPS, Pete STINCHCOMBE & skip Ian GAULD.
Gloucestershire went on to win the match by 28 shots 134 -
9th of July saw the team travel to Weston-
Gloucestershire won 124 -
23rd of July, saw a confident Gloucestershire step onto the Green at North Petherton to face Cornwall, winners of the M/Cup in 2009 & 10. A strong Gloucestershire squad meant that Several changes could be made to the team.
A close fought match saw the lead change several times over the first 10 ends with Glos down by 6. The team needed a catalyst, up stepped the rink of Finley WILLIAMSON Jack GROVER James ‘Jimmy’ FITZGERALD & skip Stu HODGES, playing on rink 1, the show rink, in front of the club house they picked up a staggering 24 shots over the next 10 ends, the sight of Stu bounding down the Green, punching the air & ‘high fiving’ everyone within the post code (including several Cornwall supporters ) was the boost the team needed. At 18 ends we now led by 13 shots.
A strong Cornwall finish left the match tied with just 3 ends to play across 2 rinks. On their 21st end Lee WILLIAMSON’S rink picked up 5 shots. The rink of Anthony COTTON Adam SMITH Chris DAVIES & skip Nigel CANSDALE dropped a 1 on their 20th end, going into the last end we lead by 4. With both sets of players stood around rink 3 the pressure was on. 4 fantastic bowls by Ant & Adam forced the Cornwall back end to try to kill the end, MISS, MISS, BANG ! deadend. Back we go to play in the same direction.
Manager Graham PHILLIPS was pacing around the Green like an expectant father at the maternity ward. Good opening bowls from Ant Adam & Chris again forced Cornwall to drive, MISS, MISS. 2 shots to Glos & a win by 6 shots, 118 -
BABY DELIVERED !
Gloucestershire head for LEAMINGTON on 10th September for the Middleton Cup semi final, where they face Hertfordshire . Their last appearance was in 2007.
TREMENDOUS SUCCESS FOR GLOUCESTERSHIRE’S MEN IN THE 2022 MIDDLETON CUP AND BALCOMBE TROPHY AT THE NATIONAL FINALS, LEAMINGTON SPA
Report by Team Manager Graham Phillips
In the inimitable words of Graham Phillips himself :
“ Saturday 10th September at a sunny Leamington Spa, saw Gloucestershire compete in their first Middleton Cup semi final for 15years, 6 players survived from that 2007 team. Gloucestershire have only won once, in 1936, also appearing in the final in 1948.
The success of Peter Stinchcombe in the Men’s 4-
Gloucestershire got off to a strong start against Hertfordshire and at 10 ends the lead was 17 shots, but Herts fought back during ends 11-
At 18 ends we trailed by 6 shots, momentum was now with Herts. Gloucestershire lost 114 -
Sunday 11th September gave Gloucestershire a second opportunity for inter-
Our opponents, Essex, built up a strong lead and were ahead by 15 shots on 5 ends, and they maintained a double-
The rink of HARDWICK-
Gloucestershire lost 39 -
A valiant effort across the board by the Gloucestershire team, over the weekend, just coming up short in both competitions, BUT the team spirit is there, and I’m sure as a County we will again appear at Leamington Spa in the not too distant future.
I was extremely proud of the entire squad for their efforts during the season, it was a great achievement to qualify for Leamington Spa in both team events, I’m sure a Trophy will soon come back to Gloucestershire.
Throughout the 2022 campaign, the support from other Gloucestershire bowlers and their families was fantastic, they travelled at their own expense to ‘support their team’. They went to Weston-
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GLOUCESTERSHIRE MEN’S SUCCESSFUL YEAR !
DAZZLING NATIONAL WIN BY
CHELTENHAM BOWLING CLUB’S BEST
Report on National Men’s Top Club Finals at Leamington Spa
17th/18th September 2022
In the dramatic words of Lee Williamson
Nothing could be better than the simply-
“ The team
2-
4-
Pairs: Nick Holliday, Nathan Kitchen
Triples: Adam Smith, Jack Williams, Matt Cuthbert.
Fours: Nick Charlwood, Alex White, James Fitzgerald, Stuart Hodges.
Quarter Final -
Lost both singles so were 2-
Semi Final v Boscombe Cliff (4-
2-
4-
Triples won 18-
Fours won 21-
Pairs lost 23-
Final v Culm Vale (3-
Went 2-
Pairs lost 16-
Triples lost 17-
Fours again fought back from 8-
Please also see the Bowls England report on the Top Club Finals, at their Website (click) :