UNDER 18s NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
18/04/26
With no players in the Over 55s Fours, North Yorkshire’s last throw of the dice in the National Championships was in the Under 18s Championship with two of our young Tornados, Lilly Duffin and Rafferty Patrick representing the county.
Having finished 3rd & 4th respectively in their group stages, both winning one game and losing two, Raff and Lilly unfortunately didn’t make it into the Cup Final but instead were entered into the Woodbridge Trophy where they did us proud.
In the Last 16 round, Raff demolished Cheshire’s Megan Hulme 25 – 1, while Lilly had a closer game, beating Suffolk’s Alfie Jackson 10 – 8.
Onto the quarter-finals, this time it was Lilly who had a comfortable win over Avon’s Lexi Bush, winning her game 15 – 5, while Raff beat Lexi’s brother, Buddy Bush, 11 – 9.
Into the semi’s with parents asking if it was going to be an all NY final. In this round with Lilly beating Oxfordshire’s Dyllan England 9 – 8, Raff did another demolition job, this time on the ESMBA’s youngest umpire, GMs Annabelle Almond, 15 – 3, and the question was answered, it was to be an all NY final.
Finally at the end of a long day, and probably what felt like an eternity for the parents, we had a result with Lilly winning the match 10 – 7 and taking the Woodbridge Trophy, Rafferty taking the runners-up trophy.
I’m sure everyone will join me in congratulating these two talented young people who look to have a great bowling career ahead of them.
Pete Arthur
