Matchplay Doubles Maldon

This is our 6th ranking event of the year and one that is close to home. After only getting back from Denmark a week ago  i had mixed feelings about playing this event. I felt like i was still mentally tired and needed a break from a bowl for at least week. However i couldn't let my team mate down. As this was a doubles event i played with another up and coming bowler Hayley White who had recently been selected to play in the world youths in florida in july. As we are playing in with the men we each received 5 pins a game bonus excellent. The format for this event is as followed. 8 games qualifying changing lanes after every game. top 24 teams qualify for the final with the top 4 seeds after qualifying gaining byes through the early rounds. 

In practice i felt very unsettled and uncomfortable. I only got my equipment back an hour before play from Denmark with some surfaces that i needed changing back. However i felt that i didn't have enough time to adjust the surfaces back to how i wanted them. In practice i found a look with my Brunswick Ultra Zone and started the 1st game with this. I shot 215 and my partner shooting 234 plus our 10 pin bonus. Hayley used her twisted fury for most of qualifying going to her Fury Pearl in the last game. 

Game 2 and i struggled i found that the ball was not rolling right in the mid part of the lane. I need to do something quick as i was going to struggle to make 150. I changed to  the Ebonite Big One and shot 180 and four in a row to finish the game. From then on in i didn't change ball and used this all through qualifying. I felt i didn't have to move much at all maybe 1 or two boards left with my feet and target. However i found the the right lane always played that little bit shorter than the left and  i was always two boards further left with my feet. 

After qualifying i finished up with 1669 for 8 games with a 208 average and Hayley finished with 1704 average of 213. We had a grand total with bonus of 3453 and made the top 24 finishing in 14th place.

After a re dress we went into the final round and first match we played Liam Dicks and Ash Iacona. We kept our line up the same Hayley lead off and then myself. We shot 436 and they had 409. Hayley had 216 and my self shooting 220 without bonus check us out!!!! We both used the balls we had been using Hayley and her twisted fury  and myself The Big One.

Our next match was against Sean Croke and Adam Scott. Now this was going to be an interesting match especially when bowling with Sean as he has quiet a good sense of humour!! We moved to the over the side of the bowl which is a lot cooler which was lovely. Although Hayley and myself made good shoots they just kept coming with them and they shot 469 to our 411. This ment that we were out and cashed a little bit of money 

The winners of the event were Matt Chamberlain and Jon Zadel from Power Play Pro Shop. We played with them all through qualifying and they played well so well done boys!!!!

After this ranking event i'm currently 3rd in the English Rankings. Next event up Euro 5's can't wait!!!!!

Take care 

Jem x