Swanley Catenians - Circle Number 306

MULLAN CUP BOWLS - A PROVINCE 7 GREATER CIRCLE EVENT

On Thursday 13th June the Mullan Cup took place with teams from, Blackheath, Beckenham, Meopham, Chislehurst & Orpington, Swanley, and a lone team from province 2 - Upminster.

For the second year a bowls competition decided the winners.  Pat Mullan - was a member of Blackheath circle, and then joint member of Swanley, along with Tony Rogan. The Mullan cup originally known as the 'Blackheath Challenge Trophy', was a quiz between Swanley and Blackheath circles. After an early winning spree, Swanley became by default responsible for the trophy. A hiatus of several years, and with the agreement of Pat Mullan, the cup was re-named.

The evening started with teams playing practice 'ends' and choosing their best players to make up the four man/woman teams.

A first round draw matched teams, who played 3 'ends'. Three winning teams emerged, with the final played between the two highest scoring teams.

Meopham and Swanley fought a close final, after two 'ends' the score 3-1 in Swanley's favour.  The last 'end', and with just a couple of bowls to play Swanley were

in a good, and possibly 'winning' position. Meopham bowled and knocked a Swanley bowl away leaving the outer bowls in play. A tape measure and deep scrutiny revealed Meopham scored two - with just an INCH in the difference between a bowl from each team, deciding the winner of that 'end', 2 points to Meopham!

So the FINAL SCORE, a draw at 3-3, and one both teams agreed was the fairest result after such a closely fought match.  In the truest sense of brotherhood, the Mullan cup will spend six months with Meopham, and six months with Swanley.  Meopham VP and son of Pat (PJ) Mullan, Barry Mullan, triumphantly took the cup back to his mum Mary, a true homecoming for the 'Mullan Cup'.