Smith returns to nationals

8:49am Wednesday 23rd July 2008

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DAVE Smith erased the memory of his Dorset semi-final heartbreak last year by reaching the national stages of this season's Bowls England men's singles championship.

Playing at his home club the Greenhill member sealed his ticket to Worthing next month by getting to the county final having already qualified in the pairs with Neil Burroughs the previous weekend.

Smith always bossed his quarter-final against Gillingham's Ron Wing. A full house on the ninth followed by a three on the 11th sent him 17-3 ahead in a 21-7 victory.

At 11-11 in the afternoon semi-final Smith had a tougher battle but he eased in front with a three and did not drop another shot when overcoming Paul Pomeroy (Lyme Regis) 21-11.

Smith's smiles were in contrast to 12 months ago when he lost 21-20 to clubmate Steve Gait in a semi-final decided on the slenderest of measures at Poole Park.

Gait's hopes of retaining his county crown were shattered by a rampant Chris Weekes who gained revenge for a quarter-final defeat by Gait last summer.

The Wimborne left-hander immediately found his length and line to go 10-3 up by 10 ends and though pegged back to 11-9 he triumphed 21-13.

In the semi-final Weekes met more Greenhill opposition in Worthing regular John Crabb. However, Weekes was in no mood to be denied. The Wimborne man set the standard with a first-end full house and led 12-5 at ten ends in his 21-11 success.

In the last eight Pomeroy swept past Richard Cake (Alexandra Park) 22-4 while Crabb ousted another Alex player in former Greenhill member Pat Rod 21-13.

Weekes is also chasing the Dorset Champion of Champions crown. In the quarter-finals he meets Greenhill's Barry Patterson who progressed 21-9 against David Wise (Wellworthy).

Other ties: (by August 11) Peter Rhodes (West Moors) v Harry Hinton (Wessex), Stuart Stephens (Poole Park) v Mike Preston (Lyme Regis), Gerald Cornick (The Gardens) v Ken Hann (Blandford).

The major county finals are this year being held on a weekend for the first time. The fours and pairs start at 10am followed by the singles and triples at 2pm on Sunday, August 31, at Dorchester.

The second phase of finals will be hosted by county president John Davies at Shaftesbury on Sunday, September 7. The Dorset Cup final between Poole Park and Wimborne will also be played at the president's club on September 14 (10am).