Jude pipped in exciting finale to great event

Editorial Department • Published 22 Dec 2011 13:00 0 Comments

Paddy Cox Memorial Open Singles Tournament

155 bowlers took to the mat for the fifth staging of the Paddy Cox Memorial Open Singles Tournament at Mullaghdun Community Centre. The tournament was once again a great success with P.J. McCrossan proving the best as he sealed an exciting win on finals night, defeating local bowler Jude Morris following a well contested final that went all the way.

In all, 12 competitors qualified for the final night.

Preliminary round results were: David Ferguson beat Peter Boyle, Jude Morris beat Derek Gilliland, Willie Coulter beat Colin Shortt and John Carson lost to Eamon McPartland.

First round games went as follows, David Ferguson was beaten 9-5 by Jude Morris, Tommy Cathcart beat Michael McGrade 9-7, Willie Coulter beat Eamon McPartland 8-5 and PJ McCrossan edged out Ally Graham 8-4.

In the first semi-final Willie Coulter went down 9-4 to Jude Morris. The second was a very hard fought game between Tommy Cathcart and PJ McCrossan who were tied three times, 2-2, 4-4 and 5-5 going into the last end where PJ clinched the game with his final bowl.

The final produced a fitting and nail-biting climax to the competition. Jude Morris got into his stride early and by the seventh end, held what seemed like a commanding lead of 7-3. In the eighth end, PJ scored three shots to pull back the lead to a single shot, only for Jude to stretch his lead once again to 8-6 in the next end. The tenth and final end saw PJ lying 2 shots early on, Jude seemed to play the perfect third to cut PJ's advantage to one shot but with bowl number three, PJ moved the jack perfectly to regain his three shot lie. This forced Jude into into a drive on his forehand which he narrowly missed leaving the winner not having to play his last bowl.

After the final, Niall Cox, Club Chairman, congratulated the winner and commiserated with the losers, he thanked all who had helped and attended. Aileen Cox then presented all finalists with their prizes and PJ McCrossan with the Paddy Cox Memorial Cup.

The committee and members of Mullaghdun Bowling Club would like to sincerely thank all who helped make the fifth annual Paddy Cox Memorial Open Singles Tournament a wonderful success, especially the Mullaghdun Community Association for the use of the Community Centre for the the five nights of the competition, our sponsors, Acheson & Glover, Frankie Leonard and First Trust Bank, Eugene & Brenda McCann for raffle prizes, to those who provided sandwiches and catered each night and lastly, but by no means least, all 155 competing bowlers who came from near and far.

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This article appeared in Impartial Reporter 22 Dec 11

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