President's Cup

Tarrant Keyneston SMBC started the 2017/18 season by sending seven players to contest the Dorset League President's Cup, which was held at the Dorset Bowls Resort near Bere Regis.

The team consisted of experienced campaigners Steve Clayton, Cathy Gaffney, Stuart Clayton, Peter Hawkins and Sally Burton, together with newer members Anita Evans and Robin Evans, who were playing in their first competition.

Eight teams were divided into two groups of four, with each playing in a round robin format on two mats, one fours and one triples.

Keyneston started with a win over Gangsturs, before being beaten by a strong Carey team in the second round. The final group game was against Hazelbury Barons, who had also beaten Gangsturs and lost to Carey. This made the game a straightforward decider, with the winners proceeding to the semi-finals, and the losers going into a Plate cometition for the third and fourth placed teams.

Keyneston won the match, and went on to face Heatherlands in the Cup semi-final. Despite holding them to a draw on the fours mat, the very strong side from Heatherlands ran out as winners of the tie, and they went on to beat Hazelberries in the final to clinch the Cup.

In the Plate, Gangsturs beat Wool in the final. Perhaps the easiest route to silverware is not to win too many group games!