WPA Welsh National Doubles 2018
The annual National Welsh Doubles 2018 were held at Monkstone Petanque Club on Sunday 15th July and once again the exceptional weather this year made it the ideal conditions for playing.
Players took to the pistes to start the first round which threw up a few surprises with a win for Westall and Tomczyk 13 – 0 and Howells and Pook 13 – 1
The second round saw Field and Clare record 
their second win of 13 – , a close call for Howells and Pook winning 13 – 12, local club players V Adshead and J Dunn bounced back from their first round loss with a 13 – 9 win
Although Westall and Tomczyk lost their second round match they returned to form with a 13 – 4 win in the third round and with Field and Clare losing their third round match leaving Howells and Pook in the lead with three wins at the half way stage.
Other Monkstone PC teams were not far behind with both B Adshead and Griffin, Barnes and Spencer winning two out of the first three games.
Lunch over, the players returned to the piste with one or two wilting in the unrelenting sunshine, something we are not totally accustomed to in Wales.
Round four saw Field and Clare versus Howells and Pook who were unbeaten at this stage with but a 13 – 8 win to Field and Clare put them back in contention and with Westall and Tomczyk winning their third game this meant 3 teams with three wins, so all to play for with 2 games to go. All three teams won their 5th round match 3 teams now on 4 wins with one to go
The last round saw Howells and Pook v Westall and Tomczyk – Field and Clare v B Adshead and Griffin this was a must win for all teams.
With Field and Clare losing their final game 7 -13 it left the match of Howells and Pook v Westall and Tomczyk to decide the National Doubles Champions 2018
The game started with Westall and Tomczyk taking a commanding lead through outstanding shooting from Tomczyk and accurate pointing by Westall and at 10 – 4 looked as if the match was pretty much over.
However how one end can change a match with the cosh at 9 metres accurate pointing and shooting from Howells and Pook saw them take a six, levelling the scores at 10 – 10 a disastrous end for Westall and Tomczyk, pressure on, game on.
The penultimate end gave Westall and Tomczyk 1 point 11 – 10
With the cosh again at 9 metres the situation was Howells and Pook’s boule was 15 cm behind the cosh with the a remaining boule count at 2 for Westall /1 for Tomczyk / 2 for Howells, Westall pointed his boule 10 cm in front of the cosh taking the point, as both boules were in line and the cosh in the middle Howells decided to shoot unfortunately a miss, boule count now 2 to 1, Howells decided to be bold and shoot again, hit the boule full and unfortunately also took out the cosh leaving Westall and Tomczyk with two boules in hand, game over and an unfortunate way to lose a match but “ that’s boules” as they say’.
Thanks to Monkstone PC for their hospitality and hosting the event and all participants for their support which made for a very exciting competition.