Barry Romilly Bowling Club was well represented in the Home International Indoor Bowls Championships, held in Belfast last week with three members of the club chosen to play in the Welsh Seniors quartet. The rink was skipped by Brian Griffiths with Paul Gray and Graham Cogbill playing lead and number two respectively with the rink completed by Chris Ackland playing third. The boys were accompanied by several members from The Rom who travelled to Belfast to offer as much moral and vocal support as they could muster.
Unfortunately, the Wales four came up short against a Northern Ireland team playing on their home rink. Wales made a good start taking the first end 1-0 before Northern Ireland took the next five ends to run up an early lead 9-1 by the sixth end. The next few ends were nip and tuck, and by the tenth end with both teams sharing ten points, the home team led 14-6.
It looked like Wales were about to turn the game around when they picked up a five on the eleventh end to take the score to 14-11. However Northern Ireland regained control of the mat and slowed the game down before rallying to take to the next three ends, including a five of their own on the fourteenth end to go into a 21-11 lead. With a ten-point deficit it was crucial that Wales scored well in the remaining ends, but the one shot they managed on the fifteenth end wasn’t enough, and with time running out Wales were forced to concede defeat to their opponents who went on to beat The Channel Islands in the final.
The supporters thoroughly enjoyed their trip to Belfast even though it wasn’t the result they’d travelled to witness. Nevertheless, congratulations to Griffo, Paul, Coggers and Chris for representing Wales and making it to the Finals. Better luck next year boys
The Welsh Seniors at Home Internationals held in the Belfast Indoor Bowls Arena
Coggers receiving some sage advice from Fossy
