http://www.bowlsinternational.com November 2017 BOWLS INTERNATIONAL 53T
he final of the prestigious
crown green tournament saw
Wayne pitted against good
friend and North Lancs and
Fylde team mate Simon 'Golden' Coupe.
Described by commentators as 'two true
gladiators, competitors and gentlemen,' it
was Coupe who started the week as the
favourite, having won the event in two
previous seasons.
And what a battle it was. Coupe won
the toss and took the jack to his favourite
pub corner but Ditchfield, who was hotly
tipped as the man playing the best bowls
of the week, counted a one.
Things were fairly even and the score
was level at seven each, then eight all and
finally nine all.
It was at this point that 'The Beast', or
as he now calls himself, 'Fat boy slim',
having lost seven and a half stone, took
the game by the throat and with several
outstanding bowls and possible chances
that Coupe didn’t take, led 15-9.
But there was more to come as Coupe
rallied and picked up a one with his last
bowl, then scored another single to bring
the gap to three.
Ditchfield found the next five shots to
lead 20-12. Coupe scored two before 'The
Beast was able to finish in style.
He said afterwards: “I can’t thank the
sponsors and everyone involved and
that’s supported me enough. I just knew I
had to stay calm.
"Stan Frith spoke to me before my
semi final and said to me 20 never won
a game.
"That made me think and really told
me to try not to see the winning post till I
was over it.
"It hurt when I lost in the final in 2013
and I didn’t want to lose again."
Ditchfield adds the title to his Junior
Waterloo treble he won on the same green
and adds another senior title to an already
impressive list of achievements both at
the Indoor game and Crown Green.
Coupe had taken his semi final tie right
to the wire and with his last bowl won
with a 21-20 scoreline. A great game for
the crowds but the favourite Coupe won
through to the final.
Ditchfield as well came through a tough
semi final against Superbowl team mate
Chris Brown, overcoming heavy rain to
keep his nerve and win 21-15.
'The Beast' improved as the tournament
progressed, catching the eye at the last
16 stage after struggling initially againstCROWN GREEN|Waterloo
Winning streak continues
for Wayne
Mike Beer.
He needed three impressive runners to
get him into his stride to level the game
at 15 all then take the jack off the green
when two adrift.
Ditchfield then went to 19-16 and lay
game to see Beer play a brilliant under
pressure bowl.
It looked like it was not meant to be for
Ditchfield when his last delivery gave a
two away to take Beer to 20-19.
But the final end saw Ditchfield come
up with the goods and count the two he
needed.ABOUT THE
WATERLOO
Waterloo autumn
handicap started in
1907.
It is a men-only
event and there
used to be 2,000
entires. Now, after
fallen to a very low
number, entries
have risen to 512.
Prize money
is £1,100 for the
winner, runner up
£700, semi finallist
£350, quarter
finallist £250, last
16 £160, last 32 £89
and last 64 £40.
All games are
handicapped 21 up
off five.
Stadium
spectators are
around 900 on finals
day and it is also
televised on ITV4.
There is a junior
singles, which was
won this year by
Louie Furness from
Derby, ten. He beat
eighteen-year-old
Jack Bushell from
Altrincham 21-15 in
the final.It was a game many in the crowd said
was one of the best ever games on the
green. “I’m delighted to get through,”
said Ditchfield afterwards, “That was
some game.”Quarter Finals: Phil Lee (Liverpool) 21 v 16 Andy Thornton (Cumbria) Ritchie
Goddard (Shrewsbury) 19 v 21 Simon Coupe (Preston), Chris Ward (Victoria Park)
13 v 21 Wayne Ditchfi eld (Eccleston), Chris Brown (Sheffi eld) 21 v 15 Michael
Leach (Blackpool).
Semi Finals: Phil Lee (Liverpool) 20 v 21 Simon Coupe (Preston) & Wayne
Ditchfi eld (Eccleston) 21 v 15 Chris Brown (Sheffi eld).
Final: Simon Coupe (Preston) 15 v 21 Wayne Ditchfi eld (Eccleston)Co-op Funeralcare Regional
Operations Manager Steve Jelly
and the winner Wayne Ditchfield52-53_BI_WATERLOO_Nov2017_cc.indd 53 12/10/2017 14:46