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On Saturday, 28 June, eighteen members of Lilleshall Hall Bowls Club participated in the inaugural Lilleshall National Sports Centre Challenge Trophy, an Aussie Pairs competition. The event, held under warm sunshine, saw fierce but friendly competition for the newly presented glass trophy.
The eighteen players were randomly drawn into nine pairs, each allocated a unique team name. The teams were divided into three groups for the initial group stage:
Group A: Lions, Lightning, Legends
Group B: Rangers, Rollers, Rockets
Group C: Saints, Spartans, Swifts
Each team within a group played the other two pairs in a mini round-robin format, with each match consisting of five ends.
Following the group stage, a knockout phase commenced. The winners from each group, along with the best five runners-up, advanced to the quarter-finals. Lighting and Rockets were in danger of elimination, having lost both matches and both having a shot difference of -13. Lighting had scored four shots across both their games, while Rockets had scored three and were eliminated.
The four quarter-final matches, each played over five ends, saw intense competition. At their conclusion, the Lions, Legends, Spartans, and Swifts were eliminated from the competition.
The semi-finals, also played over five ends, showcased an elevated standard of play. The Lightning and Rangers teams emerged victorious, leading to the elimination of the Rollers and Saints.
Thus the final match was between the unbeaten Rangers and Lightning, who had survived the first elimination by the skin of their teeth. The game was played in high temperatures and provided an entertaining spectacle for the watching members. Lightning took a single on the first end, but a four on the second end put Rangers - Mike Caird and Chris Sherriff - in a good position and they proved to be the stronger pair, defeating Lightning - Quentin Smith and Sylvie Newbery - by 7 shots to 4.
Chairman Rod Payne presented the Lilleshall National Sports Centre Challenge Trophy to the victorious and well-deserved pair of Mike Caird and Chris Sherriff. (Report & photos, Alan Harvey)