The circumstances could not have been tighter, the Smethwick
League leaders and reigning champions, Broomfield, were visiting
newly promoted, Hilly House for a top of the table clash.
Having suffered a overwhelming defeat on Broomfield’s green just
seven days before and despite home advantage, everyone knew that
this was going to be the most important and most difficult game
of the season.
It was Broomfield that got away to the best start on a fast
running green. The spectators already felt that their was
something special about the day and were more than impressed at
the quality of bowling on display from both sides.
Though never in front throughout the game, the Hilly House team
were never under-estimated by their distinguished opponents and
kept the match scores close.
Clare Wright played superbly to edge the home side into the lead
for the first time and with just one block still on the green,
the scene was set for a grandstand finish.
The final match-up was a tensely fought affair, neither the
Hilly House’s, Mark Brownhill, or Broomfield’s, Nigel Freeman
pulling away into a convincing lead.
Mark’s task was to reach 20 to secure the victory for the plucky
Hilly House side. After winning the previous end to reach 19, he
had the lead bowl and the Hilly Billys had a famous victory in
their grasp.
The jack was cast into the fastest part of the Hilly House
green, towards the shed corner, and finally came to rest just a
yard short of the edge.
|
Mark needed a good lead to put pressure onto his
opponent. The delivery was perfectly on line but was pulling up
just short of the dip, this left the wood a yard & a half short
of the jack, though many considered this to be a good lead
considering the speed of the green and placement of the jack.
Broomfield supporters offered encouragement to their bowler and
watched in awe as the delivery was near perfection, the wood
trickled past Mark’s short wood and Broomfield supporters yelled
with delight as the bowl came to rest just 5 inches short of the
block.
Mark had a difficult decision to make, with just one wood left
in his armoury, should he fire or draw. Mark summoned up all his
experience of the Hilly House green and bravely decided to bowl
for the block, and what a bowl.
The green was surrounded by supporters, everyone was standing
and watching transfixed as the wood made it’s way towards the
end. Gasps were heard as the bowl edged past the short wood and
trickled down the slope towards the jack.
There was a deathly silence as the wood edged closer to the end
and an out pouring of emotion as it slowly came to a halt,
resting on the bright yellow jack. Scenes likened to those of
the Ryder Cup at Valderama followed, though Broomfield still had
a wood to play but with one short wood blocking the line and a
wood 5 inches short, it was impossible for the Broomfield star
to find a winner to beat “the best bowl ever seen” on the Hilly
House green.
With the match in the bag, an elated Mark Brownhill, went on to
take the victory on the next end and secure his place in the
Hilly House Hall Of Fame.
Broomfield, gracious in defeat, will remember the day at the
Hilly House, even if they go on to snatch the title again but
if, come presentation day, it is the Hilly House’s finest hour,
that one delivery is almost certain to be the defining moment in
the clubs illustrious history. |
