Saturday 24th November 2018

Week two of the Saturday League started with Old Bank (Dave Bentley, Kevin Morton, Dave Sharp and Duncan Terry) looking for a better result than week one as they met Drighlington (Mark Smith, Dave Billington, Ann Billington and Derek Goor) last year’s runners-up and fifteen points in the bank from last week. Smith started the ball rolling for Drig has he had the upper hand in his game with Bentley, winning 21-13. In the second game Morton fell behind 6-3 to Dave Billington but Billington stuck as Morton crafted a thirteen break to lead 16-6. Billington battled back but was still behind 19-17 from where he counted a pair and two singles to become an unlikely winner 21-19. Sharp beat Ann Billington 21-14 and it was good to see Sharp back to winning ways, unless your name is Billington, after his heavy defeat last week. In the final game Terry and Goor were level at sixes from where Terry was always in control, running out a 21-11 winner and a match score of 16-14.

Shipley Club (Chris Bedford, Mick Gadd, Dave Bland and Paul Wilczynski) had a 19-14 win over Sowerby West End (Pat Skene, Glenda Hartley, Phil Holroyd and Geoff Price). There were wins for Gadd, Bland and Wilczynski and Skene replied for West End.

Moldgreen (Andy Hoult, Pete Wike, Andy Bairstow and Trevor Atkinson) were looking to build on their maximum points from week one as they took on Mirfield (Graham Sheard, Trevor Varney, Walt Morgan and John Green). Sheard led Hoult 8-1 and 13-2 before running out a 21-10 winner. Varney beat Wike by a similar score and Morgan was behind 8-6 in his game with Bairstow but rallied and led 16-10 and 18-12 eventually winning 21-14. The only win for Moldgreen came in the final game which was nip and tuck all the way with Atkinson just scrapping home 21-20 against Green. Moldgreen 11 Mirfield 19.

The final Vase game we had marked down as the “Match of the Day”, Hanging Heaton (David Armitage, Ryan Mitchell, Ian Smith and Michael Armitage), defending Champions against new entrants Mytholmroyd (Steve Greaves, Mark Jeffries, Scott McHugh and Paul Fisher). David Armitage and Greaves exchanged points, neither able to hold their jack, to thirteen across. Armitage conjured up a break of seven which was enough to see him home 21-16. Mitchell added to his week one win, beating Jefferies 21-12.  Jefferies led 8-5 but a nine-break put Mitchell in control and he was not to be headed again. Smith and McHugh were locked together to nine where McHugh stuck as Smith moved on to sixteen. McHugh never recovered and finished with eleven. In the final game Fisher started with the jack and by the time he relinquished it the game was over, Armitage finishing with five.

In the Saturday Trophy Cleckheaton Sports (Tony Quinn, Dave Marshall, Jack Glazzard and Dave Griffiths) were looking to follow up last weeks maximum points with another win as they met All Stars (Marie Lockwood, Lynne Saxby, Lynda Drury and Carole Harpin). Quinn, Glazzard and Griffiths were winners for Sports with Saxby the only winner for All Stars.

Luddenden (Claire Broadbent, Kay Lund, Judy Cockroft and Mick Skwarek) were against Drighlington 2 (Diane Hoole, Trevor Worsman, Dave Scott and Josh Gamble), There were wins for Luddenden’s captain Broadbent and Lund, Scott and Gamble replying for Drig 2. Luddenden 13, Drig 2 14.

Hit & Miss (Lynn Hobson, Paul Lowery, Alan Standing and Michael Briggs) had two winners and Captain Briggs chipped in with nineteen against Coxenhope (Debbie Hosty, Gordon Cox, Lorraine Douglas and Alan Downing). A match result of 16-12.

The final game of the day was “new boys” King Cross (Terry Jackson, J Ashton, Graham Dewhirst and Richard MacDonald) against Shroggs Park (Mark McLoughlin, Joshua Craven, Chris Meade Jnr and Paul O’Callaghan). Shroggs took the spoils 18-9 with three winners to one. King Cross are still finding their feet and getting used to the greens.

Tuesday 20th November

Week two in the Shield commenced with Cleckheaton Sports (John Innes, Richard Bentley, Ian Poutney and Paul Fincher) matched up with Nomads (Phil Holroyd, Mark McGorlick, James Senior and John Armitage). There were wins for Poutney and Fincher of Sports and McGorlick and Holroyd replied for Nomads to give a 17-15 result.

Lindley Libs (Richard Dickinson, Mark Sykes, Richard Saunders and Daniel Bousfield) looking to improve on last week’s result met Crosshills (Barry Turnbull, Kevin Burnett, Rod Bastow and Barry McCourt) who had a respectable score of 14 last week against Clayton. Saunders and Bastow were level at five and eight from where Bastow crafted an eleven break to reach nineteen. Saunders did manage three more chalks before Bastow cashed out for a 21-11 victory.

Bousfield was always in control of his game with McCourt as he led 10-2 and 19-5 before McCourt pulled back five chalks for a 21-10 result.

Sykes and Turnbull were level at 5 across but Turnbull was only to score three more as Sykes mastered the conditions the better, 21-8.

The final game was the best of the match as Dickinson and Burnett couldn’t be separated. They paired at four, six, eleven, eighteen and twenty before Burnett counted the final chalk for a 21-20 win and an overall score of 16-13.

Clayton (Alan Peel, Hedley Kettlewell, Tony Riley and Paul Gill) with 18 points from last week were matched with Greetland (George Simpson, Pete Lea, Mick Shaw and Gordon Bradford) who had the maximum 20 points in the first round. Gill, after taking two at the first end, fell behind to Shaw who claimed four singles and kicked on to lead 11-5 and 15-8 before Gill mounted a fight back in the changing conditions, counting eight without reply. Shaw moved on to eighteen but Gill, more suited by the conditions, ran out 21-18 for a Clayton win.

The second game saw Peel and Bradford exchange points early on before Peel moved in front 11-5. Bradford came back and was within striking distance at 16-15 but it was Peel who finished the stronger finishing a 21-16 victor.

Riley was always behind against Simpson as Simpson bowled the longer mark on a very wet green well. However, Riley was in touching distance at eleven across but only finished with twelve as Simpson finished the stronger on that long mark.

Kettlewell against Lea was the opposite of the previous game as Kettlewell ran out a 21-12 winner for a team victory of 17-13.

Hanging Heaton (Alan Thompson, Dean Scarth, Ian Smith and Graham Hirst) were up for their first match, having had a bye last week, as they met Mirfield Old Bank (Walt Morgan, John Green, Brian Scarth and Dave Sharp). There were wins for Smith, Hirst and Scarth snr and Scarth jnr replied for Mirfield. A 18-10 score line.

 In the Plate, Rastrick (Graham Hall, Donald Booth, Keith Richards and Alan Standing) were paired with Pellon (David Agnew, Robert Walker, Peter Steele and Paul Firth) having their first game following a bye last week. Booth led Steele 6-4 only to fall behind 11-6. The game was level at thirteen from where Booth moved on to nineteen. Steele struck back and reached eighteen before Booth finished with two singles.

Standing was looking to get back on the horse after a big defeat last week and he certainly managed that with a 21-09 win over Firth.

Two wins in the bank and captain Hall next up against Walker. They were level at eight, twelve and sixteen from where Walker counted three singles to reach nineteen, Hall pulled a single back, another one to Walker and another one to Hall before Walker clinched the game, 21-18.

In the final game Richards was level at ten but Agnew finished the stronger to record a 21-15 win and record a 16-14 team result.

Asa Briggs (Don Harrison, Graham Pearson, Trevor Kendal and Steve McGrevy) looking to follow up their maximum points haul from last week as they took on Sowerby West End (Pat Skene, Baz Morgan, Loraine Hirst and John Sharp), themselves scoring 18 points last week. With two winners each a result of 14-15 would keep both teams ahead of the pack.

Silsden (Derek Metcalfe, Alan Hughes, Andy Welch and David Beardsworth) were looking for a big score against Lindley B.C. (Simon Anderson, Mick Thornton, Tony Lockwood and Linda Gledhill) but it was Lindley that had the big score as they recorded all winners for the maximum 20 points and Silsden finishing with nine.

Slow starters Bronte’s (Fred Rothwell, Derek Pollard, Dave Hemsley and Martyn Benson) and Spen Victoria (Les Mitchell, Barry Firth, Kevin Wood and Brian Thompson) fought out a close battle with only a point separating the teams at the end – two winners each and 16-17 the final score.

Saturday 17th November 2018

Hove Edge Vase and Trophy Winter Competitions began this week and saw new entrants Mytholmroyd (Shaun Frewin, Scott McHugh, Mark Jefferies and Steve Greaves) matched with newly promoted Old Bank (Duncan Terry, Dave Sharp, Kevin Morton and David Bentley) in the Vase.

It was difficult to tell if Mytholmroyd will be title contenders with all four winners or if Old Bank are going to find the standard of the Vase just a bit beyond them this winter. It will become clearer next week as Mytholmroyd take on defending champions Hanging Heaton.

Last years runners- up Drighlington (Ann Billington, David Billington, Josh Gamble and Derek Goor) were drawn against the second promoted team, Shipley B. C. (Sharan Gadd, Mike Gadd, Will Bedford and Chris Bedford). This match a much closer affair as the two Gadd’s beat the two Billington’s but Gamble and Goor won the next two games for Drig to give a final result of 15-14, again showing how it is so important to add to your points when losing.

Mirfield (Terry Varney, Brian Scarth, Mel Stradling and Graham Sheard) opened up their season playing defending champions Hanging Heaton (Ryan Mitchell, David Armitage, Michael Armitage and Ian Smith). With two winners each it was the Batley side who came out on top 15-17.

In the weeks final Vase game Sowerby West End (Shirley Dillingham, G Hartley, Martin Holt and Pat Skene) were without a winner in their game with Moldgreen (Andy Holt, Phil Wike, Andy Bairstow and Trevor Atkinson). A maximum 20 points gets the Huddersfield team off to a great start and SWE’s 10 points keep them off the foot of the table after week one.

In the Trophy Competition newly relegated Cleckheaton Sports (David Griffiths, Tony Quinn, Jack Glazzard and Dave Marshall) came out with a point to prove, which they did, as they crushed Coxenhope (Alan Downing, Debbie Hosty, Derek Pollard and Lorraine Douglas) 20-5 providing all the four winners.

The second of the relegated teams Luddenden (Mick Skwarek, Judy Cockroft, Claire Broadbent and Kaye Lund) were not to be out done as they turned over Shroggs Park (E Craven, Joshua Craven, Peter O’Callaghan and Mike Murray) 20-6 and again Luddenden provided all four winners.

Drighlington 2 (Dianne Hoole, Mark Smith, David Scott and Charlie Wood) took on last years Marauders who, with a new captain had become Hit & Miss (Mick Briggs, Alan Standing, Lyn Hobson and Paul Lowery). In a close run first game Hoole just got the better of Lowery 21-18, Hobson pulled it back for Hit & Miss in the second game, claiming victory by the minimum margin, 21-20 over Smith. Scott just pulled away from Standing at the end to record a 21-17 win, at the final end Standing had two six-inch bowls and still found himself one down such was the quality of the bowling. In the final game Wood overcame Briggs and secured the team win 19-12.

In the final game of the day All Stars (Fern Beaumont, Marie Lockwood, Linda Gledhill and Carol Harpin) proved too strong for another new entrant King Cross (Richard MacFarlane, P Mack, Terry Jackson and Graham Dewhirst). There were good wins for Beaumont, Gledhill and Harpin with Mack beating Lockwood to stop the dry rub. 17-8 the final score.

It is early days yet but the standard of bowling appears to have moved up a notch this year if this, the first week, is anything to go by.

Tuesday 13th November 2018

Hove Edge Bowling Club rolled out their 2018/2019 Winter League this week after intensive remedial work on their greens following the extremes of weather experienced this summer.

Defending champions Nomads, this year led by Phil Holroyd with James Senior, John Armitage and new signing Mark McGorlick making up the team, met Lindley Libs (Daniel Bousfield, Richard Saunders, R L Senior and Pete Hopkinson). Nomads laid down a marker for the rest as they achieved all winners for a maximum 20 points, Hopkinson being the best for the Libs with nineteen as his team scored ten points.

Greetland (George Simpson, Pete Lea, Barry Sugden and Ken Fleming) looking for a better start to the season this year after being at the wrong end of the table last time took on Cleckheaton Sports (Paul Fincher, Richard Bentley, John Ineson and Ian Pountney) who finished in a similar position. If todays bowling was anything to go by Greetland are going to push Nomads all the way this time as they also recorded all winners as Fincher, Ineson and Pountney all scored seventeen for a team score of eleven.

Crosshills (Kevin Burnett, Rod Bastow, Barry Turnbull and Dave Rankin) had two winners in their match with Clayton (Alan Peel, Hedley Kettlewell, Tony Riley and Paul Gill) but lost the game 14-18 as Riley carded 19 and Gill 20 in defeat.

Mirfield Old Bank (Dave Sharp, Brian Scarth, Kevin Morton and John Green) concluded the first round as they went down 12-18 in their game with Mixtures (Viv Smith, Andy Balmforth, Roger Stopford and Derek Hewitt) as Mixtures provided three of the winners.

In the Plate Asa Briggs (Steve McGrevy, Trevor Kendall, Graham Pearson and Malcolm Isles) came out all guns blazing and provided all four winners in their game with Lindley B C (Mick Thornton, A Booth, Tony Lockwood and Simon Anderson).  McGrevy, Kendall and Isles all winning to eleven, only Lockwood breaking the pattern as he scored fourteen against Pearson.

Silsden (Paul Outhwaite, Alan Hughes, Andy Welch and David Beardsworth) just got the better of Spen Victoria (Brian Thompson, Les Mitchell, Barry Firth and Kevin Wood) 15-14 in a closely fought battle. Again, it was a case of two winners each but the two Silsden losers scoring better than the Spen losers.

Rastrick (Graham Hall, Donald Booth, Keith Richards and Alan Standing) just came through 16-14 in their match with Cleckheaton Sports (Anne Watkinson, Jayne Bradley, Joyce Ellis and Elaine Binns) although they provided three of the four winners. Ellis beating Standing in Sports only success.

Last times two relegated teams were drawn together in the first game as they both looked to regain their place in the Shield, Sowerby West End (Lorraine Hirst, Shirley Dillingham, Baz Morgan and Pat Skene) took the honours 18-12 as they had three winners to one as they beat their rivals Bronte’s (Fred Rothwell, Derek Pollard, Dave Hemsley and Martyn Benson).