Bob does it again - 32 years on
Shrewsbury's Bob Chandler was an emerging 21-year-old when he last got his hands on the County Doubles trophy. Now, 32 years later, Chandler has lifted the super piece of silverware again after triumphing in the 2006 finals with Greenfields clubmate Keith Wall.
He produced a fine display of corner bowling on a heavy big green at Bridgewater in Whitchurch on Sunday to lift the cup and pocket the £200 first prize.
Chandler (pictured) and his then Prince of Wales Hotel team-mate Don Howard swept though the field as rank outsiders to be champions at GKN Sankey in 1974.
And it was much the same story this time around as Chandler and former county teamster and Premier League man Wall faced a last eight that included reigning champions Andy Moss and Ian Booth of Chester Road and recent winners Chris Ball and Dave King (St Georges).
But it was another St Georges pairing, Candlin Doubles winners Keith Pessall and Mark Burroughs, who suffered against the eventual winners in the semi-finals.
Chandler and Wall raced 20-12 up and kept their nerve in the face of a late rally to win 21-17, leaving Pessall complaining of an aching arm and Burroughs of a hurting knee after a full length corners battle.
The same tactics saw Chandler and Wall go 15-1 up against All England finalist Dale Downes and his Wrockwardine Wood captain Rob Jones in the final.
And no matter what the Wrockites did to try to match the 2003 title of clubmates Martin Williams and John Clarke, Chandler and Wall could not be denied as they ended up winning 21-7 to grab doubles delight.
Full scores:
First round - Keith Wall & Bob Chandler (Greenfields) 21, Nigel Bound & Anthony Gray (Ford) 16; Keith Pessall & Mark Burroughs (St Georges) 21, Dave Hoffman & Chris Kelly (Ford) 15.
Chris Ball & Dave King (St Georges) 21, Dave Wall (SJ Bayley) & Adam Jones (Castlefields) 13; Dale Downes & Rob Jones (Wrockwardine Wood) 21, Andy Moss & Ian Booth (Chester Road) 15.
Semi-finals - Chandler & Wall 21, Pessall & Burroughs 17; Downes & Jones 21, Ball & King 15. Final - Chandler & Wall 21, Downes & Jones 7.
