[4][5] In addition to the main character being modelled after Griff Sanders, the film also spoofs Bjørge Lillelien's infamous commentary from Norway's 2–1 defeat of England at football in 1981.

[citation needed] Cliff Starkey (Paul Kaye) is a rebellious young bowls player brought up on "the Lynx Estate" with his friend Trevor (Johnny Vegas) and grandfather Mutley (Bernard Cribbins), a painter and decorator.

Starkey would play through the tournament undefeated, defeating veteran player (and thirteen times champion) Ray Speight (James Cromwell).

After winning the competition, and becoming eligible to play for England, Speight, the head of the local lawn bowls association, bans Starkey for fifteen years for writing an expletive on an opponent's scorecard.

Having defeated many lower key players in unofficial matches, using his variety of trick shots Starkey develops a romance with Kerry Speight (Alice Evans), Ray's daughter.

Schwartz arranges for both Starkey and Speight to take on Australia's unbeaten Doohan brothers in "The Ashes", a one-off tournament in a custom made bowls arena in Torquay.

The two return to the arena wet and make a comeback thanks to Speight's experience and Starkey's extravagance, to force the game into extra time (humorously titled the "golden bowl"), much to the disbelief of Carl and Mark Doohan.