Super bowls pair hit jackpot at nationals
A CLEETHORPES bowls duo enjoyed a dream debut as they were crowned national champions.
Paul Cook and Jonathan Darley rolled to glory in the English Bowling Federation National Pairs competition, at Skegness.
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TROPHY JOY: Cleethorpes Bowling Club members Jonathan Darley, left, and Paul Cook, who have brought home the English Bowling Federation's National Gratton Trophy after winning the national finals in Skegness. Picture: Rick Byrne
They were making their debut in the national showdown having won the Lincolnshire title at Grantham in July.
Every competitor in the showpiece was a county champion, but the Cleethorpes Bowling Club pair emerged triumphant after beating a Cleveland duo in the final.
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Cook said: "We have been playing together in the pairs competition for five seasons and our target this year was to win the county title and qualify for the nationals.
"To actually win the nationals on our first appearance was a dream come true.
"To win a national title is the ultimate achievement."
The Elm Road club pair held their nerve to win their first two matches of the competition by just one point.
They opened against the Nottinghamshire champions and trailed 18-13 with three of the 21 ends remaining.
But Cook and Darley staged an impressive fight-back to tie and force an extra end, which they won by one shot.
In the quarter-finals, the Cleethorpes duo beat the Humberside champions, from Cemex, 17-16, despite losing two shots on the final end.
The Durham champions were dispatched comfortably in the semi-finals, 21-13, as Cook and Darley romped to a seven-shot lead before sealing victory with an end to spare.
And in the final, against Cleveland's qualifiers, one of whom had won a national title a day earlier, the Cleethorpes pair rolled into gear quickly again, establishing a seven shot lead after three ends.
Cook and Darley went on to wrap up the match in style, winning 19-9 with two ends to spare.
"We were very pleased with the way we played over the four games," added Cook
"To be able to maintain our form – despite the pressure and the fact that most of the support was for the opposition – was very satisfying."
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