Spalding’s Ruby Hill, Jordan Philpott and Stephen Harris represented England in international U26 competitions at the weekend.
Ffrith bowls club in Wales hosted the men’s U26 international series and West Denton IBC the ladies’ U26 series.
Both series were re-arranged from February 2022 due to COVID.
Spalding was well represented as Hill played for the girls and Philpott and Harris played for the boys.
Philpott also had the honour of captaining the team in his final year in this age group.
Starting with the girls, Hill played number three to Rachel Tremlett (St Neots), with Leah Bamford (Folkestone) and Jasmine Wilson (Huntingdon) at the front end.
The first game didn’t go to plan for England as they lost to Wales by six shots.
England led 21-16 and 34-32 at five and ten ends respectively before Wales took the lead 50-46 by 15 ends but England regained it 60-58 at 18 ends.
Wales finished the stronger of the two teams to win 71-65. Unfortunately, Hill’s rink lost 10-18.
England bounced back against Ireland to give them a glimmer of hope going into the last game of the series.
England started well and were always in front as they won by 50 shots (106-56). Hill’s rink won 25-8.
Scotland beat both Ireland and Wales which meant England had to beat Scotland in the final match to give them any chance of winning the series.
England took a narrow lead at five ends (23-22) but Scotland seemed to stamp their authority on the match to lead 42-32 by ten ends.
England were not willing to give up without a fight and had taken the lead by 15 ends, 56-53. This was extended by 18 ends before winning the match 79-72. Hill’s rink drew 17-17.
England lifted the trophy for the fourth consecutive season after winning on shot difference.
It was mixed emotions though as England boys lost out in their series against Scotland.
Philpott skipped his own rink with Harris leading. They had Isaac Jenner (Swale) at two and Adam Pitfield (Wellingborough) at three.
The England boys started well with a close win against Ireland (81-75) and finished strongly against Wales to win 76-61.
Harris and Philpott’s rink lost 18-20 against Ireland but won 19-16 against Wales.
With Scotland also beating the other two nations, it set up a winner-takes-all clash.
The match was highly competitive throughout, and at five ends, there was nothing to choose between the two teams (17-17).
Scotland were 42-35 by ten ends and 61-52 at 15 ends.
The match was probably won between 15 and 18 though as Scotland extended their lead to 81-59 before closing out the match, winning by 27 shots (95-68).
Harris and Philpott’s rink drew 21-21.
This meant that Scotland won the series for the first time since 2015.
Despite England missing out on the series win, Harris was awarded both the BIIBC and England Player of the Series trophies.
