Club Singles Championship Final to Wilson Cheng

.. and 2 on the last end and the Club Singles Championship is yours Wilson!! Photograph:David Hagley David Hagley, Saturday, 17 March 2018

A beautiful, sunny, hot Autumn day, with the greens running true at medium pace set the scene for our Club Men's major event of the year, the Major Singles Championship.   The combatants, who had beaten all before them in the first 3 rounds and the semis, were Wilson Cheng, the 2017 Runner Up, and Jimmy Barclay, a first time finalist.  Judging by their unofficial roll up period before the match the game was going to be a cracker and we weren't disappointed.
Jimmy got away with an early lead and after 3 lead 5-1, after 7 8-4 and going into the 12th 11-6.   Wilson, in his usual manner, had difficulty finding his perfect draw game and his length was aray.   Jimmy on the other hand was on song, had undoubtedly brought his A game and the Marker, Peter Larcombe, was kept busy with the chalk as the jack was tickled here and then moved there.   However the game suddenly went through a complete change with Wilson dominating the next 8 ends.    Jimmy was at a loss to find his form as Wilson, bowling exceptionally,  reeled off 3, 4, 3, 3, 2 and 2 singles while dropping a lone shot.  17 shots to 1 shows the tale of the tape and suddenly Wilson had blown out to a commanding, winning 23-13 lead.   However, the tenacious "never say die" Jimmy was not going to let Wilson have it his own way and came back to 19-23 over the next 5 ends to only drop a couple of 2s and Wilson got away again to a 29-20 lead after the 29th.    All he had to do was close it off but this is easy said than done for a possible first time Championship winner.   A double, a 3 and a couple of singles meant than Jimmy was now back in race - trailing 27-29.   The numbers watching the last few ends as the pennant trials and social games finshed suddenly increased as the excitement and pressure on the Final pair grew.   Jimmy was on a roll with nothing to lose and Wilson was undoudtedly becoming nervous about the outcome.   But a two on the last from Wilson closed the game out. 
This encounter was truly a great final.  Two bowlers, neither of whom give an inch, battling it out for the Major Singles Championship and George Welch Trophy.   Congratulations to our new Club Champion Wilson Cheng and also to Runner Up Jimmy Barclay for a job well done.   If Wilson's experience is any guide ,,,,  maybe next year Jimmy?

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