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16th Annual January Junior Tournament On Sunday 8th January we held our 16th annual January Junior Tournament.
Mike Preston writes: "We had 10 teams from Yorkshire & Durham taking part.
The format is a two wood triples, each match is 9 ends or 50 mins in a round robin, two points for a win & one point for a draw. If an end is "killed" then two shots are given to the opposite team. The top 4 teams go into the main competition & the remaining 6 teams go into the plate competition. We have won the main competition for the last three years!! The first time this has been done and we did not want to let it go this year.
We entered 3 teams, our "A" team was Joseph Mann, John Hall & Jack Bird. Their first match was against South Shields "B". After the 9 ends we won convincingly 15-1.
Our "B" team was David Sessions, Benjamin Grahamslaw & James Brown. They were playing against Darlington "B" after 5 ends we led 4-3 then we pulled away to win 13-5.
Our "C" team was Matthew Bell, Joe Usher, Steven Broadbent & Lauren Pacey.
Their first game was Matthew, Steven & Lauren against Hornsea. Hornsea started well leading 7-0 after 5 ends. Credit to our team as they never gave up & scored 4 shots to 13 for Hornsea.
 In the second round this time we had our "C" team of Matthew, Steven & Joe against a strong South Shields "A" team, after 4 ends we were behind 5-2 unfortunately South Shields played some brilliant bowls to win 11-2.
Our "B" team were agianst Hartlepool and as our "C" team were trailing 5-2 after 4 ends. Hartlepool played very well to win 19-4.
Our "A" team were up against Hornsea we led 7-0 after 3 ends and ran out easy winners 12-3.
In game three both our "B" & "C" teams were drawn to play each other, after 5 ends it was really close at 3 all. The "B" team pulled away to win 9-3.
Our "A" team were against Darlington "B" and after 6 ends we led 4-3. Darlington played a fantastic 7th end to score 3 shots to lead 6-4. We came back with a single which meant they went into the last end behind by one shot. Scarborough asked for 2 shots but after a measure the second bowl was the same distance away from the jack as Darlington's nearest bowl, therefore we only scored a single to tie the match and both teams scored one point.
 After the finish of the round robin two teams were unbeaten on 6 points Hartlepool & South Shields "A" our "A" team were unbeaten but on 5 points. The fourth place in the main competition went to shot difference as both Hornsea & Scarborough "B" were on 4 points each. Hornsea went into the main competition as they had a better shot difference.
The other 5 teams went into the plate competition with Scarborough "B". As there were three matches being played in the plate, the top three places were determined by the teams scoring the highest number of shots. In one match Darlington "A" were against Darlington "B" with Darlington "B" winning 9-6 and as they scored the lowest of the three winning rinks ended 3rd in the plate competition. Darlington "C" were against South Shields "B". Darlington won well 13-2. Our "B" team were against our "C" team and it looked like the "B" team were going to get 2nd place as they were leading 10-4 with only one end to play. Fortunately the "B" team scored 4 shots on the last end to win 14-4 to pip Darlington "C" by one shot!!
 In the main competition the first semi final was between Hornsea & Hartlepool. This was a really close match with both teams playing fantastic bowls with both teams taking the lead several times. After 5 ends it was all square at 8 all. Then Hornsea won two ends with a single shot on both ends to lead 10-8. Back came Hartlepool with 2 shots to again level it going into the last end. Hartlepool held on to win the last end with a single shot to win 11-10.
In the other semi final our "A" team were against South Shields "A" our lads started off very well going into a commanding lead and never looked in any trouble winning 14-4.
So the 3rd/4th play off was between South Shields "A" and Hornsea. After 6 ends it looked all over for Hornsea as they were behind 9-2 after 6 ends. Hornsea won the 7th end with a single shot and followed it up with 2 shots still trailing 9-5 going going into the last end. Hornsea were holding 5 shots and looked to win but South Shields last bowl just reached to save one shot. This meant Hornsea scored 4 to level the match 9-9 all. This made the match go into an extra end. South Shields managed to win with a single 10-9.
 In the final, Hartlepool started well against our "A" team leading 5-1 after 5 ends and were holding 5 shots on the 6th end until John Hall played one of the best shots under pressure to trail the jack an dscored 2 shots, we now were behind 5-3 instead of what was looking like us going behind 10-1!!
This changed the game completely round and we scored another single to trail by one shot. We then followed it up with another 2 shots on the 8th end to lead for the first time 6-5 going into the last end. This was really nerve racking but our lads held theirs and won the last end with a single to win a great match 7-5.
This meant we had held onto the cup for a record 4th time in a row. It also meant that Jack Bird had also won it for the last 4 years. John Hall had also won it the last three years!!
So the 3rd place in the plate and winning £15 was Darlington "B" runner up winning £15 and trophies was Darlington "C" winners of the plate was Scarborough "B" winning £30 & trophies. This is the 4th time we have won the plate. 1998,1999 & 2006. In the 2006 team was a young Jack Bird!
The main 3rd place went to South Shields winning £30.
Runner up was Hartlepool winning £45 & trophies with Scarborough "A" team winning £90 & trophies.
Presenting te prizes, the manager of the tournament's sponsor Eastfield House Day Care Centre. Melanie Padgham said: "We are delighted to sponsor this Under -18 tournament and to be involved with the wonderful Scarborough Indoor Bowls Club. We believe there is a very real link between remaining physically & mentally active and are keen to promote this, particularly among young people. It is a pleasure to see so many involved in competitive sport in a warm & friendly atmosphere here today."
I thanked all the players for a brilliant display over several hours, the catering dept, all the family, friends & supporters."
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