Ford’s Butcher wins battle of the subs in the Loughton rain

Bowls one (Image: Archant)

Bill Nelson of Ford Sports made up for his disappointment in the county singles on Monday, by easing to victory in the county pairs last 16 at Loughton the following evening.

It was a tale of pouring rain and substitutes over at Eleven Acre Rise as Charlie Butcher came in for the unavailable Glyn Walls, while Loughton’s Richard Haley was replaced by Jim Tebbutt, who partnered Pat Butler.

It proved a close game initially and at 10-8 it could have gone either way when the heavens opened and the players went for their waterproofs.

The short break seemed to inspire Nelson and Butcher as they grabbed an all-important five-count to pull clear.

That lead stretched to 20-8 as Butcher cleverly added to Nelson’s excellent leading and despite some fine battling woods, from the Loughton duo, they finally shook hands after 19 ends with the score 23-11.

“It sort of makes up for my singles defeat, but it sort of doesn’t,” smiled Nelson after the win. “Glyn was missing, but Charlie had a very good game and despite the rain, we played well in places.”

Nelson and Walls will now take on Ray Everitt and Graham Easterbrook of Silver End in the quarter-finals which take place at Writtle Bowls Club on Tuesday July 1.

Our other two participants in the county pairs unfortunately bowed out of the competition on Tuesday evening.

Great things were expected of Wanstead Central pair Kevin Fitzgerald and Paul Whellams, but they were surprisingly pipped in a close encounter against Brian Sims and his partner from Stock & Buttsbury Bowls Club.

They went down 17-14 at Nutter Lane, while the Ilford pair of Ian McConachie and Bill Beney also lost in a close game.

They went down 21-17 over at Westcliff against Tony Seddon and Steve Gunnell of Essex County.