The first day of the SMPT English Masters came to an end at Chelmsford with mixed fortunes for Norfolk’s four entries. With one game left to play for each bowler in the group stages Harling’s George Hume is third in Group 19 with two wins and two defeats. He is four points behind both Nigel Charles and Glenn Harvey so he cannot now finish in the top two qualifying spots in the main competition but will be hopeful of finishing either third or fourth to qualify for the Plate knockouts. Hume’s wins were by 14-8 against Edward Gittoes and 12-5 against Ronald Smith after he lost his opening game by 12-5 against Nigel Charles. A narrow 10-9 defeat against Eoghain Browne in his last game on Saturday put paid to his chances of a English Masters knock-out round spot. A tough match against Glenn Harvey awaits him on Sunday morning.
Jason Martin of Thetford is currently in fourth spot in Group 32 after an 18-6 win against Greg Webb and 10-10 draws against both Tom Morris and Stephen Williams but a 17-8 defeat in his last game at the hands of Elise Daniell cost him the chance to move into second place. Jason Martin’s last group game on Sunday morning is against Martin Nash.
Wymondham’s John Jeffery started the day well with a 12-4 win against Alan Braniff in Group 11 but defeats by 11-6 against Mark Spalding, 24-3 against Gary McNabb and 18-5 against Mitchell Young left him in fifth spot in a tough group. He faces Billy Chapman in his last group game.
Craig Quantock of Horsford BC made his SMPT debut in Group 26 and the draw looked to be kind to him but it was not to be. He lost his opening game 13-10 against Melvin Simpson and then lost 15-4 to Roger Stevens. In his third game he went down by 14-11 against Freddy Forland and then lost his final game by 18-4 against Richard Glass. His last group game on Sunday morning will be against second placed Andy Howard and whatever the result Craig will finish in the bottom two and therefore go forward into the Shield knock-outs.
Looking at results and the likely contenders in other groups Alex Kley as always looks a real threat after wins of 18-3, 15-6, 14-5 & 17-4 in Group 4. Ex England bowler Joe Peters of Cambridgeshire tops Group 8 and Ben Pay has reeled off four straight wins in Group 9. Gary McNabb and Mitchell Young, both contenders, have won all their games in Group 11 and will both qualify for the main knock-out stages whatever the result of their match against each other on Sunday morning. Matty Worden heads Group 12 but Cecil Dillon needs to win his last game against Rob Wade in Group 15 if he is to qualify for the main event as expected. Simon Pridham is safely through already in Group 16. Craig Burgess of Essex looks to be the player everyone will want to avoid in the knock-out rounds judging by his results on Saturday in Group 29. The SMPT man won all his four games returning scores of 19-4, 16-5, 18-4 & 26-2.
Alex Kley - one of the world's finest singles bowlers