IT WAS a real family affair at the Flowfit Ludlow and District Bowls League’s triples competition as the final featured five members of the same clan.
Simon Lane claimed the family bragging rights as he, his cousin Richard Lane and Dave Wilding beat Simon’s sister Sarah Desborough and parents Graham and Sue Lane 21-7 in a one-sided final.
It had looked set to be a close-run affair when the parent-and-daughter trio led 6-4 after five ends of the final of the event, held at Craven Arms Bowling Club.
But defending champions Lane, Lane and Wilding conceded just one more shot and won 13 straight on the way to beating their Ludlow Castle Bowling Club teammates and retaining the trophy.
They had beaten another Ludlow Castle threesome to reach the final, having come from behind to defeat Carl Bowen, Steve Roberts and Graham Pritchard in the semis.
Having led 4-1, the Lanes and Wilding lost ten of the next 11 shots to trail 11-5 but then won the next 11 to lead 16-11.
Bowen, Roberts and Pritchard again rallied to trail by just a single shot at 16-15 but Lane, Lane and Wilding took five unanswered shots to win 21-15.
In the other semi-final, Desborough, Lane and Lane beat the Craven Arms home trio of Clive Leworthy, Tony Cowdale and Mark Gittins.
Home advantage counted for nought as the Craven contingent slipped 13-5 down after 11 ends and despite a slight rally from the hosts, it was the Lanes and Desborough who eased through 21-13.
Results
Quarter-finals
Carl Bowen, Steve Roberts and Graham Pritchard 21 Carl Davies, Pat Collier and Tommy McCourt 6
Richard Lane, Simon Lane and Dave Wilding 21 Terry Lucas, Bert Morris and Tony Pryce 13
Graham Lane, Sarah Desborough and Sue Lane 21 Nathan Baker, Tom Harrington and Lee Wilding 19
Clive Leworthy, Tony Cowdale and Mark Gittins 21 Steve Burmingham, Tony Partridge and Jack Bufton 15
Semi Finals
Lane, Lane and Wilding 21 Bowen, Roberts and Pritchard 15
Lane, Desborough and Lane 21 Leworthy, Cowdale and Gittins 13
Final
Lane, Lane and Wilding 21 Lane, Desborough and Lane 7
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