Tim Gregory reports:
22/10/18: The Suffolk Championships were held at Ipswich on Saturday with the format this year a challenge match between the Over and Under 45s, with the senior team winning the final round to get their hands on the coveted \"Suffolk Dibber\"
OI Over 45s – Tim Gregory, Mark Graves, Steve Burnell, John Levick, Simon Woolfries, Peter Boughton and John Caudle
OI Under 45s and friends – Tom Fletcher, Alex Yusaf, Simon Cass, Isaac Weaver, Charlotta Cooley, Elana Osen and Tony Stubbs
Round 1
1st pair Burnell & Levick 1-1 Fletcher & Weaver (11-12 & 12-9)
2nd pair Gregory & Woolfries 2-0 Cooley & Yusaf (12-4 & 12-11)
3rd pair Caudle & Graves 2-0 Osen & Stubbs (12-3 &12-5)
The Over 45s took a 5-1 lead. Yusaf dropped 9 points that would cost him dear in the individual scoring. The 1st pair match lasted over an hour, Levick looked broken. Boughton had arrived.
Round 2
1st pair Boughton & Gregory 1-1 Weaver and Yusaf (9-12 & 12 -10)
2nd pair Graves & Woolfries 1-1 Fletcher & Stubbs (12-11 & 4-12)
3rd pair Burnell & Caudle 0-2 Cass & Cooley (4-12 & 7-12)
The match was now poised at 7-5. Caudle needed treatment during his game, he stated he could not feel or move his legs (a bit like his right arm).
Round 3
1st pair Graves & Gregory 2-0 Cooley & Fletcher (12-7 & 12-1)
2nd pair Boughton & Burnell 0-2 Cass & Yusaf (4-12 & 6-12)
3rd pair Levick & Woolfries 1-1 Osen & Weaver (12-11 & 5-12)
Eyebrows were raised at the strength of the 1st and 2nd pair of the under 45s. This gave Graves the chance to take maximum points. Woolfries had the good sense to get no more than 5 in his last game to take his tally to 57. He headed to the shower and prayed this would not be enough to make the final. No ground lost or gained, 10-8.
Round 4
1st pair Burnell & Graves 0-2 Stubbs & Yusaf (5-12 & 8-12)
2nd pair Boughton & Levick 0-2 Cass & Weaver (8-12 & 4-12)
3rd pair Caudle & Gregory 2-0 Fletcher & Osen (12-4 & 12-9)
The match was now 12 games all. Individual scores were worked out (3 match total, or if you played all 4 your 3 match average). Cass had the perfect 72. Weaver 67.5, not bad as he still looked fresh and was yet to break sweat. Yusaf missed out with 63.75. Gregory 69.75 and Caudle 59. Unfortunately after a medical Caudle was declared unfit for the final. Woolfries's prayers were answered when Graves sneaked in with 57.75.
Suffolk Championship Final for the Suffolk Dibber
Graves & Gregory 2-0 Cass & Weaver (12-5 & 12-5)
Over 45s win 14 -12. A rare Ipswich final where everyone stayed to watch. Some punishing rallies but ultimately the front step volleying and cut returning of Graves was the difference between the two pairs.