The South Wales Bowls and Recreation Centre Petanque Section (SWBRC PS) held its first annual Women’s Open Doubles.

On a beautifully warm and sunny morning, eighteen players gathered at the Sully pistes to enjoy a day of competitive games in a good sporting environment.

After the usual three ranking pool games in the morning, team Julie Bailey (SWBRC PS) and Jayne Dunn (Monkstone PC), finished in first place, team Jenny Spooner and Simone Ballett (SWBRC PS), were in second place, team Gail Brookbank and Linda Hutchinson (Wheatsheaf PC Gwent) took third place.

After a break, lunching in the sunshine with Sully Island, Flat Holm and Steep Holm as the backdrop, the competition got on its way again, with competitive spirits rising.

After the quarterfinal stages, the semi finalists to emerge were Julie and Jane drawn against team Sonia Ford and Linda Thomas (SWBRC PS). The other semi finalists were Jenny and Simone.

Julie and Jane had a fight on their hands, with Sonia and Linda holding their own against them, but eventually with accurate pointing won 13-7.

The other semi finalists, Gail and Linda against Jenny and Simone, were neck and neck until they got to 9-8 when Jenny and Simone were holding two points and going for a third, when an unlucky shot moved the jack to the opposition’s cluster of four boules, to give them the victory at 13-8.

The final saw Julie and Jayne and Gail and Linda fighting for the trophy. But for a long while, there didn’t seem any fight coming from Julie and Jane, with Gail and Linda streaking ahead, with 7 points on the board and none for the other team.

To the spectators it looked like suddenly the pair woke up from their stupor and started playing in earnest, showing their skilful play and winning every point. Gail and Linda were given no chance for a comeback, with the final being won by Julie and Jayne 13-7. A real wake-up call to clinch the trophy.