Drama off the green at Worthing for Brimfield bowler Richard Arrowsmith (From Ludlow Advertiser)

Drama off the green at Worthing for Brimfield bowler Richard Arrowsmith

12:00pm Wednesday 5th September 2012 in Sport

THERE was as much drama off the green as on it when Brimfield represented Herefordshire in the Bowls England national finals in Worthing.

Richard Arrowsmith got the news that his partner Donna had gone into labour as he prepared to bowl his first wood.

And, at the end of the game, he found out he was a proud father of little girl, weighing 6lb 4oz.

“Donna wasn’t due to have the baby until September so I thought I would be OK,” said Richard.

“There was no way I could have got back in time - it’s a four-hour drive.”

With the triples being played over three days Richard’s unexpected delivery would have left him with with a tough decision if he and and his Brimfield team-mates Ashley Edwards and Cyril Wait had won their first round match against Bedfordshire.

The team got off to a poor start and were 19-6 down at one stage - enough to give anyone a sleepless night.

But the team, skipped by Ashley, dug deep and hit back with a four and a five to bring the score back to 18-20 with one end left.

With Bedfordshire holding one Ashley had a chance to take the jack back for the win but it was not to be and Herefordshire bowed out.

“It’s been brilliant to say you’ve played at Worthing.

“I was standing next to Andy Thomson and he’s the world indoors champion,”

said Richard.