Purbeck League Final

DORCHESTER 38 BOURNEMOUTH 22

FOR the first time in 10 years, Dorchester have again got their name on the Purbeck League Cup.

The competition designed specifically for the more mature bowler began in 2001 when Dorchester became the inaugural winners which was repeated the next season.

For the first six years, the competition was won three times each by Dorchester and Moonfleet, who then got a taste for success by taking the title for a further five years.

The only other club to have lifted the cup is Bournemouth who triumphed in 2013 and were the winners last season.

Bournemouth’s hopes of retaining the cup were raised when Rob Huggett, Bob Kelly and skip Pat Hayes took an early 7-1 lead against the Dorchester trio of John Lawlor, Frank Gwatkin and Eddy Young.

However, the Bournemouth companion rink of Paul Maher, Dave McKenna, and skip Ian Davies were not faring as well against Brian Paulson, Bob Tranter and Dorchester skip Phil Hallett, who has established a compensating 10-3 lead.

Hallett and co continued to hold the upper hand and scored consistently, including a haul of six shots on the 10th end to dominate proceedings with a 24-6 advantage.

The cushion was needed as Young and co had a game of attrition against the Hayes triple. Scores were level at 10 shots apiece after 13 ends.

With ends running out fast it was apparent to the Bournemouth team that it was not going to be their day, and they threw the towel in with three ends still to play.

Hallett finished 27-10 to the good and Young was narrowly eased out at 11-12.