The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
Spalding Indoor Bowls Club talents Chelsea Tomlin and Ruby Hill had a weekend to remember with England ladies’ under-25 at the international series.
The pair played a crucial role in securing the title for England at the Belfast IBC-hosted event, with captain Tomlin also named player of the series in her last year at under-25 level.
Hill and Tomlin played as a back end in a rink with Kirsty Richards (Bromsgrove) and current national under-25 singles champion, Devon Cooper (Riverain).
Tomlin, in her swansong season at the level, was acting as captain for the third successive year.
The first game of the series saw England, who were defending champions, face Wales. In a game which England were expected to win, Wales provided some resistance and were in fact, leading at ten ends, albeit only by a single shot, 37-36.
However, England finished the stronger and showed their class in the second half to secure in the end, a comfortable 84-61 win.
Tomlin’s rink were in front throughout and won 27-11.
The second game of the series saw England face hosts Ireland, who in the first game, had suffered an astonishing 89 shot defeat at the hands of Scotland (128-39).
GOLDEN GIRLS: Chelsea Tomlin (left) and Ruby Hill.
As was the case with Wales, the Irish team did cause England problems up to ten ends.
However, England finished strongly to win overall by 29 shots (93-64).
There was also another good win for Hill and Tomlin on their rink as they beat Ireland’s highly rated captain, Chloe Watson, 29-14.
Alongside England’s win against Ireland, Scotland comfortably dispatched Wales to set up a winner-takes-all match on the Sunday morning with both teams already securing two wins.
Both countries were set for battle, but it was England who stamped their authority from the off as they raced into a ten-shot (25-15) lead at five ends.
This was extended to 46-34 at ten ends, 73-50 at 15 ends and 88-56 at 18 ends before the England girls won by 30 shots (96-66).
For the Spalding girls, their rink went exceptionally well again as they won 27-14 to secure three wins from three as a rink and help the team to the same achievement.
As captain, Tomlin enjoyed lifting the Acle Trophy to ensure that she retired at under-25 international level on a high.
