The 2020 Nations Cup, held on Saturday October 24, was one of the most hotly contested in recent memory, the maximum of 12 teams of three competing on six rinks for YC&AC’s biggest prize.
The weather was glorious from first to last, and the green was in immaculate, smooth, fast-rolling shape. A tournament befitting the idyllic conditions unfolded.
This year’s Nations Cup benefitted in character from the participation of several very new (and young) bowlers, as well as a few bowlers who had not played for some time. Thanks and very well played to you guys, you know who you are.
If there were a prize for the best-dressed team this year, it might have gone to the Panama Kids (right)…
… although no doubt the Witches (and Takako on the Orange Angels) would have contested any such decision.
As ever, the colorful, mildly boozy tournament that is the Nations Cup was decided by that mixture of skill, strategy, stamina and sorcery that makes lawn bowls the beautiful game it is.
The twelve teams were divided into two Pools of six. The two Pool winners would meet in the final. The two runners-up would meet in the Third-place play off. Each team would play all the others in its Pool, in matches of four ends. Overall winners would be decided on Win/Loss/Draw record. If teams finished tied on WLD points, their total score would be the deciding factor (and so on).
Here’s how the Pool stage finished.
In the match to decide Third-place, the United Kingdom (Alex Hendy, Terry Potticary and Russell Brown) …
… defeated the Orange Angels (Hans Pauli, Christina Fachtmann and Takako Elberse) in a wonderful, close contest, 6 points to 4.
The final was contested by the Bay Stars (Toshiaki Arai, Yuko Sasaki and Yukari Arai) …
… and Black Thunder, with Black Thunder winning the match, 8-5.
Congratulations to Shigemitsu Itoh, Makoto Honjo and Toshi Kurosawa for winning the 2020 Nations Cup!
Well played to everyone involved for a classic day’s bowling and some wicked camaraderie.
Special thanks on the record here also to our F&B team for the very nice buffet and to our Grounds team for maintaining the best lawn in Japan.
Lawn Bowls 