Goldridge keep it tight to seal win

GOLDRIDGE de Beauvoir deprived one of the visiting sides at this year's open fours bowls tournament the chance to cover the costs of their trip. Initial seedings turned out to be correct as the local side, skippered by world champion Alison Merrien, met Cardiff-based Celtic Warriors in what was effectively a winner-takes-all final on Saturday.

The Warriors trailed the local team by a point, having drawn with pre-tournament favourites Chancers the evening before.

The final bowl of the evening earned the draw after Chancers' Nick Donaldson had set up a three shot position which would have given his team a chance of overall victory.

Early ends of the final were tight. Nearly half the match had gone and just a point separated the two.

It was Merrien who showed true world class to ease her team in front.

The Warriors, on their first visit to the island for the tournament, held a shot but precise bowling from Merrien took the jack along with her wood to turn a deficit into a four-point advantage.

Goldridge de Beauvoir never looked back. Within four ends they had taken a three and two fours to open up a 19-10 lead.

Thereafter, the match was closed down by the local side, who ran out 24-13 winners against the Warriors, from Penhill Bowling Club in Cardiff, who featured Welsh internationals in their ranks.

'We were just keeping it tight,' said Merrien, who teamed up with husband Ian, his brother, Paul, and another couple, Paul and Carol Ingrouille, in the winning team. 'You don't mind dropping a shot or two, but if you keep it tight, they're not going to get three or four shots together.

'It was a good tournament. It's enjoyable when there are visiting teams and the Celtic Warriors were playing well, but rather than playing attacking shots, they had been drawing themselves out of trouble all week.'

The team tournament, which did not take place last year because of a lack of sponsorship, is a rare opportunity for Merrien to play top-level team bowls. Most of her international appearances have been in singles or pairs.

'It's nice to be in a team; it's a different game and it's nice to have a tournament here and not have to go away for it,' she said.

The Goldridge de Beauvoir side took the £1,500 first prize and the HSBC Bank trophy. The Celtic Warriors received a consolation cheque.

The event is unusual in the indoor bowls calendar for offering cash prizes to the winners.

Alongside the Cardiff team, the event attracted visitors from Isle of Wight, Bath and Belfast; 13 teams took part.

*The Guernsey Indoor Bowls Association announced at the weekend that next year's event would take place after sponsors HSBC, VisitGuernsey and Randall's Brewery confirmed for another year. Guernsey Annandale Tile Company was also a sponsor this year. Results page 42