Scorpions hold nerve to qualify for play-offs

THE eagerly awaited Chancers v. Islanders clash saw a win for the defending champions. Chancers had opened up an 11-4 lead after six ends, but an Islanders' revival saw them rack up an impressive 15 shots without reply to lead the match 19-11 after 14 ends.

An extremely tactical game continued through the last four ends, but Islanders survived a five-shot tie on the 15th when Ali Merrien drew second shot and ran out 23-13 winners.

Lucy Beere skipped Peter Clayton, Alan Best and Ian Morley to a very impressive 31-7 over Rick Brehaut, Mavis Richards, Phil Schofield and Anna Brehaut. The Shy Talk side never really got going and Clayton, playing at lead for the first time, set the tone for end after end.

Alcopops bossed the first half of their encounter with Scorpions and were 13-5 up after 10 of the 18 ends.

However, Richard Hill's side were having none of it and they accrued 16 shots without reply to lead 21-13. Hill was in particularly impressive form and was well pleased with their eventual 21-16 win.

Celtic Warriors and Pistol Knights enjoyed a tight tussle over the first 13 ends and the scores were level at 11 each, but a 3, 1, 3, 2, 1 sequence saw Ryan Mountstephen's side emerge as 21-11 winners.

In the next session, Celtic Warriors and Shy Talk enjoyed an epic encounter, which resulted in the 18th end being played with the scores at 16-all.

Frank Richards, Wilma Le Feuvre, Mavis Richards and Ricky Brehaut took a four on the 17th end after a Brehaut drive made three and he drew the fourth.

On the final end, a good bowl from Mavis Richards was counteracted by Graham Laing. Brehaut played with weight to remove the Celtic Warrior shot leaving a yellow Mavis Richards bowl as shot, Mountstephen was short with his first delivery and Brehaut drew shot within a foot.

However, Mountstephen produced a master bowl as he calmly drew a shot within inches of the jack to claim the win.

Alcopops posted a fine 21-7 victory over Pistol Knights in a very good-humoured encounter which saw Steve Bichard promoted to skip for the Knights.

They put up a fighting display, but John Hagan, Peter Axon, Steve Edwards and Michael Merritt were too strong, limiting the Knights to seven singles.

Islanders overcame stiff resistance from an inspired Head Hunters side that had Sheila Bretel at lead, Dennis Chick at two, Todd Priaulx at third and Steve Crockett at skip.

Young Priaulx put in some excellent bowls and he complemented his teammates' efforts, but Islanders picked up 16 shots over the last seven ends to only one against and ran out comfortable 29-11 winners.

However, the surprise of the day was the Scorpions v. Chancers result, which saw an excellent performance from Richard Hill's side to post a superb 23-10 win.

The final games in the qualifying section of the tournament were completed yesterday and a nail-biting end to the Head Hunters v. Scorpions clash decided the last place in the big money group.

The Scorpions side of John Wallis, Dave Lock, Ralph Deakin and Richard Hill lead Head Hunters by one. Len Bretel led for Head Hunters with Steve Crockett at two, Todd Priaulx at three and Terry Dowinton at skip.

Crockett drew a superb bowl and Lucy's Lads from the Isle of Wight were delighted as any score to Head Hunters would put Scorpions out and them through on shot difference.

However, Lock was having none of it and he rested Crockett's bowl to take shot himself and Scorpions went on to win 20-18, taking the fifth place in the top group.

Chancers meanwhile slumped to a third defeat in somewhat unusual circumstances, with Nick Donaldson dropping to play second and Craig Dorey taking over the skip's role.

They led 14-9 after 13 ends, but lost two doubles, a three and a single before taking a single of their own on the last end to go down 15-17 to Shaun and Kris Bichard, Martyn Dorey and Keith de la Mare.

Alcopops led their clash with Shy Talk 15-14 with one end to go but the latter managed a three to win 17-15 against Merritt's side who had already qualified for the top group in fourth spot.

Lucy's Lads had faced the Celtic Warriors who held the upper hand from the early stages of the game and cemented their place as runners-up in the qualifying group with a 21-10 win.

That left Lucy's Lads requiring Head Hunters to take a point off Scorpions, but it was not to be.

Islanders finished first on 15 points, Celtic Warriors second with 12, Chancers third on nine, Alcopops fourth with eight and a plus-36 shot difference and Scorpions took fifth on eight with a minus-13 shot difference, compared to Lucy's Lads minus-16 difference.

Action continues today and tomorrow.