On the brink

With the under-25 double-rink trophy already on the sideboard they will become the first county to win all three major indoor trophies in the same season if they beat Norfolk in the Atherley Trophy final on Saturday and the Liberty Trophy showdown on Sunday.

Bigger counties have tried and failed to land the Terrific Treble – and for Dorset to reach the three finals with just seven men’s and eight ladies’ clubs is a monumental achievement in a monumental campaign.

Whether they win or lose at Nottingham the Dorset players can be proud of their efforts as they have made the rest of the bowls world sit up and take notice. They will not be taken for granted again.

Skilful bowling, compatible rinks, shrewd management and commitment throughout the men’s and ladies’ squads – allied with the dedication of county officials, marvellous team spirit and support – have combined to mould this unsung county into a formidable force.

Dorset have not fluked their way into these national finals, they are there strictly on merit and even though they will be underdogs in both matches they are determined to carry off the winners’ trophies.

Norfolk were Liberty holders in 2005 and 2006 and were exuding confidence for an unprecedented third title on the bounce in 2007 until Hampshire brought them down to earth.

Dorset have already upstaged Hampshire this season which should make the East Anglians respect them – and they should also remember February’s under-25 final when not even senior international Jamie Chestney could deny Dorset victory.

Player-manager Steve Gait has built a highly effective six-rink side and his Liberty Lions – sponsored by Ranger Fixings of Bournemouth – are no push-over as they proved when demolishing 2008 finalists and 2007 champions Hampshire in the quarter-final and winning a nerve-shredding semi-final against Berk-shire.

The intense derby with Hampshire confirmed Dorset have flair for the big occasion while the Berkshire game demonstrated their resolution to fight back from adversity just when the royal county threatened to take control.

Similarly the ladies began the winter determined to improve on last season when they were quarter-finalists and they have certainly done that. In the words of team manager Frank Gwatkin “they are simply getting better and better”.

As with the men, the Norfolk ladies have greater experience of national finals having taken the Atherley honours in 2004 and 2000 as well as being runners-up in 1995 and 1996.

In Carole Baker and Jayne Roylance they have skips with plenty of international appearances but Dorset have their own England duo in Elizabeth Messer – outstanding in last month’s British Isles International Series – and Vivienne Mansell though sadly Julie Saunders is absent from Joan Halliwell’s rink because of a holiday booked long ago. Isabelle Addison (Dorchester) deputises.

I leave the battlecry to Gwatkin: “We have one national title in the bag – raise the bar Dorset, go for three trophies and have done with it.”