Blackball 2003

Cliff Starkey [Paul Kaye] is a rebellious young bowls player raised on the Lynx Estate, who drifts through life with his friend Trevor [Johnny Vegas] and his grandfather Mutley [Bernard Cribbins], a painter and decorator. He dreams of representing England, but his love of playing by his own rules puts him at odds with the local Torquay bowls club. When he learns of Australian brothers Carl and Mark Doohan’s forthcoming tour of England, he hatches a plan to break through and earn a spot on the national team. Cliff would go on to dominate the tournament, pushing toward an undefeated run and eventually defeating the veteran player (and thirteen-time champion) Ray Speight [James Cromwell], a figure who looms large as the head of the local lawn bowls association.

After Cliff clinches victory and becomes eligible to play for England, Speight imposes a fifteen-year ban on him for a petty offense—the act of writing an expletive on an opponent’s scorecard. Enraged by the ban, Cliff gatecrashes Speight’s victory party, hurling a wood across the dinner table in a moment of heated rebellion. The incident draws the attention of sports agent Rick Schwartz [Vince Vaughn], who recruits Cliff and rebrands him as the sport’s “bad boy,” transforming lawn bowls into a glitzy, in-your-face spectacle that captivates a broader audience.

As Cliff scales new heights, he enters into a romance with Kerry Speight [Alice Evans], Ray’s daughter, adding a personal dimension to the on-field rivalry. Schwartz suggests a scheme to lift the ban by leveraging this relationship, a move that the pair inadvertently exposes to the national press. The ensuing media frenzy forces Ray Speight to respond in a public way, inadvertently triggering the ban’s removal and a dramatic turnaround in Cliff’s career.

With the sport riding a wave of popularity, both Cliff Starkey and Ray Speight become household names. Schwartz arranges for a high-profile showdown between Cliff and Ray against Australia’s undefeated Doohan brothers in an event called “The Ashes,” staged in a custom-built bowls arena in Torquay. Yet the partnership between Cliff and Schwartz strains under pressure, as Kerry’s influence on Cliff’s form creates tension and Schwartz ends the relationship without Cliff’s consent, prompting Cliff to sever ties with the agent.

The rivalry between Cliff and Ray hardens into a mutual disdain, and the elaborate match requires them to use tailor-made bowls. Midway through the contest, Cliff’s nerves get the better of him, and he casts his own woods into a canal. With both players floundering at the halfway mark, Trevor and Kerry intervene, urging them to cooperate as a unit. Cliff dives into the canal to retrieve his bowls, only to be joined by Ray, who believes his partner is attempting to drown himself. In reality, Ray is rescuing the equipment, and the pair emerge soaking wet but determined.

Back in the ring, the duo orchestrates a remarkable comeback, blending Ray’s experience with Cliff’s flamboyant flair. The match stretches into extra time, humorously framed as the “golden bowl,” much to the disbelief of the Doohan brothers. In the final end, a one-bowl play-off unfolds, with Mark Doohan delivering a perfect front toucher. Ray hands Cliff the crucial bowl, but he stops him from attempting a bold, fire-shot. Instead, Cliff executes his signature large inswinging delivery, and the shot lands true. The duo celebrate their hard-won victory over the Australian team and reconcile with Trevor and Mutley, cementing a lasting bond born from competition, controversy, and unlikely teamwork.