BOWLS: Top Guns win floodlit event (From Swindon Advertiser)

BOWLS: Top Guns win floodlit event

6:00am Saturday 29th September 2012 in Sport

TOP Guns certainly lived up to their team name as they won the Annual Swindon Floodlight Tournament sponsored by Coors and played last week on their Shrivenham Road green.

The Rodbourne Cheney side, containing two ex-Swindon players, gunned down a Westlecot side in both the Friday night semi-finals and final to lift the trophy and collect the £200 first prize.

And on each occasion they had to do it the hard way coming from behind to snatch victory on the decisive last end.

Stuart Murray’s rink trailed a Westlecot team 7-5 at seven ends in the semis and 12-8 at 10 after dropping a five.

But they hit back with a three and then grabbed a last-gasp 13-12 victory with a count of two on the 12th and final end.

In the final, played over 13 ends, the rink of David Murray, Tony Griffin, Ryan Sawyer and Stuart Murray staged a tremendous fightback against a youthful Westlecot side skipped by Jamie Titcombe that included during the floodlit tournament four Wiltshire Middleton Cup players.

Top Guns trailed Little Jimmy’s 6-1 at five ends but Murray’s rink aided by three counts of three on the seventh, ninth and 10th ends moved into an 11-7 lead.

Titcombe’s Westlecot boys responded to go in front again at 12-11 after 12 ends. But on the final end Top Guns snatched a two to seal a 13-12 win.

Westlecot’s Little Jimmy’s had needed a three on the last end in their semi-final against Malmesbury, last season’s beaten finalists, to book their place in the final with an 11-10 success.

Twelve teams entered the Swindon Floodlight Tournament this year, drew their own starting positions and played four matches over 18 ends or two hours from Monday to Thursday.

Three points were awarded for a win and one for a draw with shot difference if necessary deciding the final league positions with the top four advancing to the semi-finals. Little Jimmy’s won three matches and drew another to collect 10 points and pip the more mature Westlecot side of players named Michael for top spot. Malmesbury with nine points edged out Top Guns from Rodbourne Cheney for third place.

Swindon club president Bob Hiles presented the winners with the top prize of £200, the runners-up £100 while the two losing semi-finalists received £50 each.

RESULTS Standings: 1 Little Jimmy’s (Westlecot) 10pts; 2 The Mikey’s (Westlecot) 10pts; 3 Malmesbury 9pts (+7shots); 4 Top Guns (Rodbourne Cheney) 9pts (+5shots); 5 Be Up (Swindon) 7pts; 6 X2+2 (West End) 7pts.

Semi-finals (12 ends): Little Jimmy’s (Gary Jackson, Craig Hatherall, Paul Stokes & Jamie Titcombe) beat Malmesbury (Bryan Reynolds, Mal Curtis, Tim Bailey & Pete Stinchcombe) 11-10; Top Guns (David Murray, Tony Griffin, Ryan Sawyer & Stuart Murray) beat The Mikey’s (Mike Titcombe Snr, Mike Bowden, Mike Titcombe Jnr & Mike Hall) 13-12.

Final (13 ends): Top Guns Rodbourne Cheney (David Murray, Tim Griffin, Ryan Sawyer & Stuart Murray beat Little Jimmy’s Westlecot (Kevin Carter (sub for Gary Jackson), Craig Hatherall, Paul Stokes & Jamie Titcombe) 13-12.