26 Aug FINALISTS

On Friday 25 August the finalists of the Julie Fuller Trophy were confirmed as Netherton Con and Thongsbridge who both overcame Division 2 opponents Slaithwaite and Holmfirth respectively, each having a 4 advantage from the handicap.

Netherton Con overcame Slaithwaite quite comfortably but Thongsbridge had a much sterner test against local rivals Holmfirth. The writer was a more than interested spectator at the Thongsbridge Holmfirth match and saw the match evenly split after the first two pairs went 1-1 with Thongsbridge just reducing the handicap advantage by 1 before the final pair went on the green. Thongsbridge had to win by 3 or more to progress and that’s just what they did but the outcome was looking very bleak with the pairs swapping points up to 10 across when Holmfirth took a 6 point lead, just needing 3 chalks to progress. The Thongsbridge pair gradually clawed their way back into the contest but Holmfirth edged their way to 18 and Thongsbridge to 20 before the final end which was sudden death, 1 to Holmfirth would see them win on points and 1 to Thongsbridge see them win on 2 wins to 1 with the aggregate tied and that’s just how it it finished, 60-60.

The final will be on 8 September at Golcar Libs, sandwiched between the semi-finals and final of the over 80’s comp. Frank Greenwood has sponsored the trophy this year after many years of the Fuller family sponsorship. We’ll be looking for a substitute referee for this match with our resident ref Ray Tunnacliffe taking to the green with a Netherton shirt.