BIIBC Mixed Under 18s Championship

Rugby Thornfield’s Oliver Fowler was named captain of the EIBA (English Indoors Bowling Association) squad for the BIIBC Under 18s Championships. Wales, Scotland and England all fielded two teams while Ireland had one team and the final team was made up of players from all British nations, playing under the banner of British Lions. Oliver was part of the second English team and was joined by Devon Cooper (Riverain), Ajay Morphett (Egerton Park), Imogen Jenner and Sam Walker (both Swale). The five players are split to play in two of the singles, pairs, triples or fours. Fowler skipped Imogen Jenner and Sam Walker in the Triples and Imogen Walker, Devon Cooper and Sam Walker in the Fours.

In the quarter finals of the Triples England 2 faced Scotland 1, the first set was very tight the scores level on 4-4 going into the last end, England took a double to clinch the set. The second set was very one sided, England racking up 10 shots in the first five ends, Scotland replied with a four but a single gave England the game 2-0 in sets. Their semi final opponents were the British Lion trio, all square after three ends England hit a brace of doubles to take control, the Lions hit a single but England took the set with a treble. The second set was a lot tighter but England stood firm to take it 6-4 and the game 2-0, booking their place in the gold medal game against Scotland 2.

Scotland started better, 4-0 up after three ends, England managed a single but with one end left Scotland had a 6-1 advantage. An English treble couldn’t stop Fowler and co losing their first set in the triples. Knowing they now needed to win the next set to force a tie break set England dug deep and took the set 9-3, first place would now be decided by a tie break end. It was the host nation that took the gold medal leaving Jenner, Walker and Fowler with well earned silver.

In the Fours the British Lions provided the quarter final opponents for Fowler’s rink, a first end four helped England take the first set 6-4, the Lions scoring a last end treble. The second set looked like it would be one sided, England 8-2 up with one end left, the Lions side took six to tie the set but England progressed to the semis thanks to their first set win. Wales 1 were waiting for Fowler and co in the semis, a tied first end showed this would be a tight encounter but England took the first set 6-4. The second set was a less tense affair, a fifth end five helping England win it 9-3. The final would be against Scotland 1.

England got off to an excellent start scoring four on the first end. England took the first set 7-3, leaving them in pole position. Despite dropping a single on the first end England took the next three ends with single to lead 3-1 with two ends left, Scotland scored a treble to take the lead leaving England knowing they needed to win the last end to take the gold. Scotland took the last end so, as with the trebles, first place would be decided by a tie break. Again the host nation took the tie break meaning Fowler and co had to settle for silver again.

​But the good results in the trebles and fours helped the English team retain the overall trophy.