MIDLANDS ALLIANCE RESERVE TEAM COMPETITION (cont)

 

THE THIRD MATCH WOULD BE AGAINST WARWICKS AND WORCS AND DESPITE OUR LOSS TO STAFFS THE WHOLE LEAGUE WAS IN THE BALANCE AS 2 WINS IN THE LAST TWO GAMES WOULD PUT US IN WITH A SHOUT. THE HOME LEG WOULD BE AT FAIRFIELD CONSERVATIVE CLUB ON THEIR EXCELLENT GREEN. WARWICK AND WORCS HAD SEEN A LARGE NUMBER OF PLAYERS MOVED TO THEIR SENIOR TEAM AND REAP THE REWARDS SO THE NEXT BATCH WAS JUST AS HUNGRY AND LIKE US IN WITH A SHOUT. THE AWAY LEG WOULD BE AT THE EARLY SEASON MAJOR HANDICAP GREEN AT WEST BROMWICH SUPPORTERS CLUB. AT FAIRFIELD WE DID NOT START WELL AS DAVE MYCOCK LOST 15-21 AND WITH CHRIS ADAMS LOSING 20-21 FOLLOWED BY A FIRST DEFEAT 19-21 FOR PAUL WALTON THINGS LOOKED BLEAK ,BUT PHIL CLAPHAM CONTINUED ON HIS REHABILITATION FROM BEING LEFT OUT OF THE SENIOR SQUAD WINNING 21-13 AND WE WERE ONLY ONE BEHIND. WARWICK AND WORCS CAME OUT STRONG AND HAD 4 WINS, TOM BROWN LOST 15-21,   DAVE CARTER JUST LOSING OUT IN A GOOD GAME 19-21, AS DID GARETH NASH 18-21, BUT LEN ROBINSON STRUGGLED TO GET 5. AT HOME THE BATTLE WAS IMPROVING, RICHARD BRIDDON HAD A NARROW 21-20 WIN, BUT STEVE BARBER LEARNING FROM HIS STAFFS MATCH  KILLED THE GAME OFF THIS TIME, IMPRESSIVELY 21-11. NIGEL ARMSTRONG JUST LOST 20-21, BUT THE BEST GAME WAS AT NO.8 WHEN CHRIS TALBOT BEAT SCOTT SAUNDERS 21-15 FOR A GOOD 158-143 WIN AT THE END. AWAY FROM HOME ANDY SHAW WON 21-17, BUT TEAM MANAGER PHIL MAY LOST 16-21 AS DID DEAN SHERWIN AND, DESPITE CRAIG SHORE COMING IN AT NO.8 WITH AN EXCELLENT 21-20 WE HAD LOST 163-131 AND OVERALL BY 17. THE FINAL MATCH OF THE SERIES WOULD BE AGAINST CHAMPIONS SOUTH YORKSHIRE AND THEY WOULD BE CHAMPIONS AGAIN IF WE COULD NOT BEAT THEM. THEY ARE USING THE COMPETITION TO ITS FULL POTENTIAL HAVING A MIX OF EX COUNTY PLAYERS AND YOUNGSTERS TO PROVIDE A FORMIDABLE TEAM. WE HAD CHOSEN THE TOP GREEN AT ASHBOURNE FOR OUR HOME GAME AND WE WOULD BE AT THE TRICKY DEARNE SPORTS IN GOLDTHORPE FOR THE AWAY LEG. AT HOME WE NEVER GOT TO GRIPS WITH THE DIFFICULT TOP GREEN AND COULD NOT GET A WIN IN THE FIRST FOUR, TOM BROWN  LOSING TO 10, DEAN SHERWIN A GOOD 18, CRAIG SHORE BATTLED TO A 20-21 LOSS, AND WITH LEN ROBINSON GETTING 12 IT WAS THE WORST POSSIBLE START. THE NORTHERN AREA TEAM WAS THIS TIME AWAY FOR THE FIRSTTIME THIS SEASON AND WERE FARING NO BETTER. PHIL CLAPHAM GOT 14, CHRIS TALBOT A REALLY GOOD FIGHTING 19, FRAN WALSH 15 AND WITH STEVE BARBER OUTGUNNED 12-21 THE MATCH WAS OVER. AT HOME, THE AVAILABLE AGAIN, ED FURNISS CONTINUED HIS PROGRESS AT THIS LEVEL WITH AN IMPRESSIVE WIN 21-17, ANDY SHAW BATTLED TO GET 18 AND THEN A PLAYER BROUGHT IN AT THE LAST MINUTE FROM THE NEARBY MAYFIELD CLUB WHO ARE STEADILY CLIMBING THE LEAGUES, ALAN BLOOD (DUE TO RICHARD GIBBS ILLNESS ON THE MORNING OF THE GAME) HAD A REMARKABLE 21-17 WIN. DAVE CARTER HAD AN OUT OF SORTS DAY LOSING 11-21 TO THE VERY GOOD MARK BARLOW OF MEERSBROOK AND WE LOST 131-160 AT HOME. AWAY FROM HOME THINGS WERE GOING FROM BAD TO WORSE. THE RECALLED WILLIE OWEN GOT 12, JOHN GOLPIN, ON HIS DEBUT DID WELL TO GET 12, RICHARD ARMSTRONG SCRAPPED FOR 15 AND THE ONLY WINNER WAS DAVE MYCOCK WITH AN EXCELLENT 21-13. THIS LEFT A 160-121 LOSS AWAY AND OVERALL OUR HEAVIEST DEFEAT IN THE COMPETITION BY 68 SHOTS. AFTER A PROMISING START WE FELL AWAY A LITTLE AT THE END BUT IT HAS BEEN A STEEP LEARNING CURVE FOR SOME, BUT WE WILL IMPROVE AGAIN NEXT YEAR AND SOME OF THE PLAYERS WILL MOVE ON TO THE SENIOR SQUADS. SOUTH YORKSHIRE WON THE LEAGUE, WARWICK AND WORCS WERE SECOND AND STAFFORDSHIRE THIRD.

 

INDIVIDUAL COUNTY MERIT FINAL

 

THE ENTRY FOR THIS YEAR WAS 256 AND THE FINALS DAY WOULD TAKE PLACE AT THE SUPERB RYKNELD B.C. IN DERBY. THE WEATHER IN THE WEEKS RUNNING UP TO THE FINALS DAY HAD BEEN AWFUL WITH THE FLOODS IN THE COUNTY AND SOUTH YORKSHIRE HAVING SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES EVERYWHERE. IN THE WEEK BEFORE THE FINAL THE RAINS STOPPED AND SUMMER LOOKED AS THOUGH IT HAD ARRIVED. THE FORECAST WAS NOT GOOD WITH A HEAVY BAND OF RAIN EXPECTED AT SOME TIME DURING THE DAY BUT MIRACULOUSLY WE ONLY HAD ONE BRIEF SHOWER AS THE RAIN SWIRLED ALL AROUND DERBY BUT NEVER HIT. EVENTS IN THE SOUTH MIDLANDS AND THE NORTH OF THE COUNTY HAD BEEN ABANDONED AS GREENS WERE UNDER WATER, NOT SO IN DERBY, JUST GREY. THE FIELD LOOKED TO BE A VERY GOOD ONE, ANDY SPRAGG ATTEMPTING TO GET THROUGH THE COUNTY FINALS DAY TO TRY TO DEFEND HIS ALL BRITAIN TITLE. WITH TWO OTHER PAST NATIONAL CHAMPIONS IN THE FIELD IT LOOKED SET FOR A QUALITY DAY. BURTON CHAMPION, NEIL WORTHINGTON SAW OFF JOHN HALL 21-12 IN THE FIRST ROUND AND KEITH WIDDOWSON, SHOWING SOME OF HIS OLD FORM, TOOK OUT PHIL CLAMP 21-17. WILLIE OWEN WAS A COMFORTABLE 21-14 OVER CHRIS HARDACRE AND DARREN SMITH BEAT NEIL HINES 21-8 IN A GAME NOT AS COMFORTABLE AS THE SCORE SUGGESTS. MATT FORD HAD LOOKED THE PLAYER MOST AT EASE ON THE GREEN AS HE BEAT NEIL DESMOND 21-8 AND NIGEL ARMSTRONG PUT DOWN A STRONG MARKER WHEN HE BEAT DAVE ALLSOP TO 8. MICK BACON COMPLETELY DOMINATED MIKE CORAM OF HIGH LANE AND STUART SMITH HAD A QUALITY BATTLE WITH PAUL STRETTON BEFORE WINNING 21-16. IN THE BOTTOM HALF OF THE DRAW PHIL WRIGHT PUT PAID TO DALE SPRAGG’S HOPES WINNING 21-14, SURPRISE PACKAGE, MATTHEW JONES OF THE ROYAL OAKBEAT FANCIED BRIAN WOODCOCK 21-17, PAUL HAWKER TOOK OUT JASON QUINN OF NETHERSEAL 21-20 IN PROBABLY THE BEST GAME OF THE ROUND. JON GUESS SHOWED HIS IMPROVED FORM THIS SESASON BEATING NEIL PICKERING 21-11 AND ANDY MILSOM HAD A REAL UP AND DOWN TUSSLE WITH GEOFF FAIRBRASS, WHICH AT 19 ALL WAS ANYBODY’S, WITH ANDY GETTING THERE 21-19.  ANDY SPRAGG STRUGGLED BEFORE GETTING THE BETTER OF BARTON’S DARREN SHAW WHO PLAYED WELL 21-16 AND IN THE FINAL GAME JOHN DEWEY JUST GOT THE BETTER OF PETER CONWAY 21-20. AS WE HAVE HAD FOR SOME YEARS, 8 QUALIFIERS FOR THE ALL BRITAIN MADE THIS THE “MONEY” ROUND WITH THE WINNERS QUALIFYING FOR THIS EVENT. IN A TREMEDOUS MATCH NEIL WORTHINGTON GOT THE CRUCIAL LAST END AT 20 ACROSS TO BEAT KEITH WIDDOWSON; DARREN SMITH USED GRENN KNOWLEDGE TO GOOD EFFECT TO TURN WILLIE OWEN OVER 21-10.  NIGEL ARMSTRONG USED HIS HANDICAP PLAY TO GOOD EFFECT TO BEAT MATT FORD 21-19, AS DID STUART SMITH WITH MICK BACON 21-17. MATTHEW JONES CONTINUED HIS GOOD PLAY AND BEAT THE DANGEROUS PHIL WRIGHT 21-15 AND PAUL HAWKER HAD A SIMILAR WIN 21-15 OVER JON GUESS. ANDY SPRAGG WAS HAVING A TITANIC BATTLE WITH ANDY MILSOM AND AT 14 ACROSS IT WAS ANYONE’S BUT A CRICIAL 4 BREAK SAW THAT ADVANTAGE NEVER THREATENED AND SPRAGG QUALIFIED AGAIN 21-17. JOHN DEWEY PLAYED TIDILY TO SEE OFF CHRIS BARLOW 21-14. WORTHINGTON NOW HAD THE BIT BETWEEN HIS TEETH AND HAVING FOUND A MARK ON THE GREEN WAS MAKING GOOD USE OF IT AS EVERYONE ELSE STRUGGLED ON IT. HE BEAT TEAM MATE, DARREN SMITH, 21-19.  NIGEL ARMSTRONG WAS MUCH TO STRONG ON LONGER LENGTHS FOR STUART SMITH AND WON 21-9. HAWKER DEFEATED JONES IN AN EXCELLENT GAME 21-20 AND WITH SPRAGG A 21-10 WINNER OVER DEWEY IT LOOKED LIKE A WORTHINGTON SPRAGG FINAL. THE SEMI FINALS SAW WORTHINGTON ON HIS MARK AND WINNING 21-6 OVER ARMSTRONG AND WITH SPRAGG GOING UP A GEAR, HAWKER HAD NO ANSWER TO HIS ACCURACY. IN THE FINAL WORTHINGTON GOT SPRAGG ONTO THE MARK EARLY AND MADE A BREAK TO 9-2 AND NEVER LOOKED BACK, ALWAYS SCORING HEAVILY ON HIS FAVOURED MARK HE EVENTUALLY WON COMFORTABLY, WINNING 21-14.AT THE ALL BRITAIN WE HAD A MIXED SET OF RESULTS, 4 GETTING THROUGH THE FIRST ROUND, BUT ANDREW SPRAGG GIVING A MASTER CLASS ON THE NO.1 GREEN AT PENN FIELDS IN WOLVERHAMPTON. A NOISY CROWD HAD BEEN BETTING AGAINST HIM RETAINING HIS TITLE ALL DAY, AS IT IS JUST NOT DONE, BUT ONCE GETTING CONTROL OF THE DIFFICULT CORNERS ON THE GREEN THERE WAS ONLY GOING TO BE ONE WINNER. THE ONLY PERSON TO GIVE A SCARE WAS WATERLOO CHAMPION, ANDREW MOSS FROM SHROPSHIRE, WHO HAD ANDY 13-5 DOWN BEFORE HE GOT THE CORNERS GAME GOING AND MOSS ONLY SCORED ONE MORE IN AN EXHIBITION OF CORNER BOWLING IN THE SEMI FINALS. IN THE FINAL AGAINST SIMON COUPE THE STANDARD OF BOWLING WAS AS GOOD AS I HAVE SEEN IN A FINAL, BUT AGAIN COUPE COULD NOT GET THE CORNERS AND DESPITE HIM GETTING BACK TO 17 THE RESULT WAS A LITTLE MORE CONVINCING THAN THAT. SPRAGG BECAME ONLY THE SECOND MAN IN THE HISTORY OF THE GAME TO WIN BACK TO BACK ALL BRITAINS. THE ONLY OTHER PERSON WAS THE GREAT DICK MEYRICK FROM SHROPSHIRE. AT THE CHAMPION OF CHAMPIONS NEIL WOTHINGTON BEAT ANDY AGAIN IN THE QUARTER FINALS BUT LOST IN THE SEMIFINALS.

 

JUNIOR INDIVIDUAL COUNTY MERIT

 

THE FINALS DAY TOOK PLACE AT ON A VERY VERY WET AND COLD DAY AT CLOWNE MINERS WELFARE WITH ONLY 13 PLAYERS IN ATTENDANCE. THE MAIN THRUST OF PLAYERS WAS FROM THE COUNTY JUNIOR TEAM SO SOME SEARCHING DRAWS WOULD COME OUT OF THE FIRST ROUND. BRACKEN’S LIAM McNEILLY GETTING DAN HARTLEY OF ALVASTON & BOULTON FIRST GAME AND THE MORE ACCURATE LIAM WON 21-10. WILLIAM GLASBY STARTED WELL AGAINST ALVASTON & BOULTON TEAM MATE BEN RYDER TO GO 3-0 UP BUT THEN BEN FOUND HIS RANGE IN THE CORNERS AND SCORED 21 UNANSWERED POINTS. WILLIAM’S BROTHER, JAMES, AFTER GOING OUT 20-21 IN THE PREVIOUS THREE YEARS, BEAT DARRELL MATKIN 21-14. HEAGE’S SCOTT JONES HAD A LITTLE TO MUCH EXPERIENCE AGAINST EASTWOOD PARK’S GRANT HERRINGTON, WINNING 21-12 THE BOTTOM HALF OF THE DRAW SAW ADAMS STONES MAKE IT A BAD DAY FOR THE HARTLEY FAMILY AS HE BEAT ADAM 21-18. MAREHAY’S JAMES PICKERING GOT A BYE TO THE NEXT ROUND AS DID CONOR CHAMBERLAIN AND JOSH HALL. HALL HAD BEATEN CHAMBERLAIN LAST YEAR AT THE SAME STAGE BUT THERE WAS TO BE NO REPEAT AS CONOR SHOWED HIS EXCELLENT LONG GAME TO BE IN GOOD SHAPE AS HE GAINED REVENGE 21-12. THE GREEN WAS STILL BOWLING QUITE WELL DESPITE THE HORRIBLE WEATHER AND ADAM STONES BEAT JAMES PICKERING 21-8 WITH THE NO GAME FOR JAMES BEING THE DECIDING FACTOR. BEN RYDER MOVED UP A NOTCH IN THE CORNERS TO BEAT LIAM 21-10 AND JAMES GLASBY BEAT SCOTT JONES 21-16. RYDER LOOKED TO BE A COMFORTABLE FAVORITE BUT JAMES GLASBY PRODUCED AN EXCELLENT PERFORMANCE TO BEAT BEN 21-15 AND WITH CONOR BEATING ADAM 2118 IN A HIGH QUALITY GAME IT WS ALL SET FOR A GOOD FINAL. THE RAIN CONTINUED TO COME DOWN AND WITH THE GREEN STARTING TO PUDDLE THE NECESSITY OF SCORING WHEN THE JACK WAS IN YOUR HAND WAS NOW PARAMOUNT. BOTH PLAYERS SCORED IN SPURTS, 7-1 TO GLASBY BECAME 11-8 TO CHAMBERLAIN, THEN GLASBY 15-11 BUT JAMES MANAGED TO CONTROL THE JACK MARGINALLY BETTER IN HIS HAND AND EVENTUALLY WON 21-13 TO BECOME JUNIOR MERIT CHAMPION FOR THE FIRST TIME. CONOR WAS ON HOLIDAY FOR THE ALL BRITAIN FINALS DAY AND IN A 3^RD PLACE PLAY OFF ADAM BEAT BEN BY COMING FROM A LONG WAY BEHIND TO WIN 21-19. AT THE ALL BRITAIN JUNIOR MERIT FINALS, JUST UP THE ROAD AT TODWICK PARISH, ADAM CAME UP AGAINST WAYNE DITCHFIELD FROM NORTH LANCS & FYLDE, THE CURRENT BACK TO BACK CHAMPION, IN THE FIRST ROUND AND DESPITE PLAYING WELL LOST 3-21. JAMES ALSO LOST HIS FIRST ROUND MATCH IN A HIGH QUALITY JUNIOR FIELD.  WAYNE DITCHFIELD WENT ON THE WIN AN UNPRECEDENTED 3^RD TITLE IN A ROW AND AT ONLY 16 NHE HAS 2 MORE YEARS IN THIS LEVEL.

 

COUNTY CUP 

 

THE ENTRY FOR THIS YEAR WAS EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTING TO BE AT ITS LOWEST FOR NEARLY 25 YEARS AT 45 ENTRIES, AND SOMETHING MAY HAVE TO BE DONE SOONER OR LATER TO TRY AND GET THE ENTRY BACK UP, BE IT HANDICAPPING OR SOME OTHER METHOD. FINALS DAY WAS TO BE AT A NEW GREEN FOR MANY OF THE COMPETITORS, THE EXCELLENT VENUE OF HOLBROOK M.W., ON A STUNNINGLY BRIGHT WARM SUNNY DAY, PROBABLY THE ONLY DAY OF THE COUNTY CALENDAR THIS SEASON. THE CATERING AND THE DIFFICULT STANDARD OF THE GREEN AND A VERY GOOD CROWD AT HOLBROOK HAVE NOT BEEN SURPASSED, BUT AT THE END OF THE FINAL THINGS COULD HAVE BEEN BETTER AS WE FINISHED IN TOTAL DARKNESS AND A CHANGE OF START TIME WILL BE IMPLEMENTED IN FUTURE FOR FINALS DAY. THE SEMI FINALISTS WERE ALVASTON & BOULTON1 AGAINST OLD WHITTINGTON 1 AND LAST YEAR’S RUNNERS UP, SWADLINCOTE CATHOLICS, AGAINST PREVIOUS WINNERS, BURBAGE 1. THE GREEN WAS VERY VERY SLICK AND DIFFICULT TO PLAY AND THE FIRST BLOOD WAS WHEN OLD WHITTINGTON’S DALE SPRAGG DOMINATED ALVASTON’S CAPTAIN, RICHARD GILL TO WIN 21-7 FOR THE BEST POSSIBLE START. DAVE REDFERN WAS BEHIND TO LEE PASHLEY AT 5-11 ONLY FOR DAVE TO FIND A MARK AND VIRTUALLY RUN OUT 21-14. TIM GLASBY LOST THE FIRST END A LITTLE UNLUCKILY AGAINST STUART SMITH AS STUART HIT THE JACK AND WENT OFF BUT THE JACK STAYED ON THE GREEN SOMEHOW AND THEN TIM FOUND HIMSELF 11-0 DOWN AND LOOKING AS THOUGH HE WOULD NOT SCORE AS STUART FOUND THE GREEN TO HIS LIKING.  A TYPICAL GLASBY GRINDING PERFORMANCE SAW HIM LOSE 20-21, NEARLY AS GOOD AS A WIN. ANDY RUSHFORTH WHO HAD BEEN TRANSFERRED IN THE CLOSE SEASON PLAYED THE GREEN IMMACULATELY AND SAW OFF WHITTINGTON’S STEVE HASLAM 21-8 AND BOULTON WERE IN FRONT AND NEVER LOST THAT LEAD. JOHN BENNISON BEAT CALVIN JACKSON 21-17 TO GET THE MATCH BACK TO A TIGHT ONE POINT BOULTON LEAD. PHIL MAY WAS IN SPARKLING FORM AGAINST ALL BRITAIN CHAMPION, ANDY SPRAGG, AND GOT HOME 21-18, BUT WITH STUART SHARPE REPEATING THE SCORE AT NUMBER 7 AGAINST DAVE SMITH THE DIFFERENCE REMAINED AT ONE. MARTIN HARTLEY, HAVING FOUND SOME REAL CONFIDENCE IN THE PREVIOUS FEW WEEKS, WAS ALWAYS IN FRONT AGAINST DOMINIC WHEATCROFT AND WON 21-18 TO EXTEND THE MARGIN. NEIL DESMOND, WHO HAD BEEN ON A POOR RUN OF FORM ALL SEASON, HAD LEE DAVIES IN ALL SORTS OF TROUBLE AT 15-5 AND WITH ANDY RYDER RELISHING THE FAST GREEN HE WAS HOLDING IAN JOHNSON. LEE EVENTUALLY GOT A RUN GOING BUT IT WAS MUCH TOO LATE AS NEIL GOT HOME 21-15 AND WITH RYDER LOSING 20-21 A NINE SHOT WIN BY ALVASTON & BOULTON WAS ACHIEVED. THE OTHER SEMI HAD MUCH OF THE SAME PATTERN. SWAD WERE MANY PEOPLE’S FAVOURITES ON THE FAST GREEN, BUT THEY NEVER GOT TO GRIPS IN THE EARLY STAGES DESPITE CAPTAIN, ANDY FEARN, STARTING THEM OFF WITH A 21-18 WIN OVER PHIL CLAPHAM. WILLIE OWEN WON 21-6 AGAINST BRIAN JORDAN AND JON GUESS CONTINUED HIS COUNTY FORM TO COMPREHENSIVELY BEAT RICHARD GOLDBY 21-8. WALLY REDFERN HAD A FIGHTING WIN AGAINST DAVE MYCOCK BUT THEY WERE JUST SWAPPING WINS AND SWAD NOT MAKING ANY HEADWAY. RICHARD PEACH WON 21-18 FOR BURBAGE AGAINST JOHN INSLEY THEN TIM BARNETT BEAT PAT HEANEY 21-19 AND WHEN CHRIS ADAMS BEAT MARTIN HICKS 21-15 THE MATCH WAS NEARLY OVER AND A MIRACLE WAS NEEDED. THEY NEARLY FOUND ONE WHEN SIMON SMITH HADANDREW EDGE 14-0 DOWN AND A NIL SCORE LOOKED ON THE CARDS AS EDGE JUST COULD NOT GET THE GREEN PACE, BUT HE SCRAPED ACRUCIAL 4 IN THE END. THE MATCH WAS NOW IN THE BALANCE AS TWO GOOD WINS WOULD GIVE SWAD A REMARKABLE VICTORY. HOWEVER, THE EXPERIENCE OF BRIAN RATHBONE CAME TO THE FORE TO STEADY THE SHIP WITH A 21-7 WIN. THE MATCH WAS STILL IN THE BALANCE BUT DEREK EDGE MANAGED TO KEEP CALM UNDER PRESSURE AND JUST LOST TO GRAHAM BAILEY 20-21 FOR A 7 SHOT WIN FOR BURBAGE. THE TWO OUTSIDERS WERE TO CONTEST THE FINAL WITH NO-ONE PREDICTING THE OUTCOME DUE TO THE DIFFICULTY OF THE GREEN. EVERYONE BY NOW WAS WARY OF THE GREEN AND ALL OF THE FIRST GAMES WERE CAGEY. PHIL CLAPHAM WON 21-17 AGAINST ANDY RUSHFORTH TO GIVE BURBAGE A START THEY NEVER RELINQUISHED. ANDY RYDER HAD A 21-20 WIN OVER JON GUESS TO REDUCE THE LEAD BY ONE. THEN PHIL MAY REDUCED IT TO ONE SHOT AS HE BEAT WILLIE OWEN 21-19. NEIL DESMOND WAS IN ALL SORTS OF PROBLEMS AT 12-20 DOWN TO CHRIS ADAMS BEFORE A VINTAGE DISPLAY OF CLOSE BOWLING SAW HIM WIN 21-20 SO THE SCORES WERE LEVEL AFTER 4. THE LIGHT WAS CLOSING IN AND A 5^TH BLOCK WAS INTRODUCED TO THE GREEN. RICHARD PEACH WON 21-17 OVER TIM GLASBY TO OPEN UP A LEAD AND THEN DAVE MYCOCK COMING BACK WELL TO BEAT CALVIN JACKSON 21-18 GAVE BURBAGE A 7 SHOT LEAD WHICH WAS CRUCIAL. WHEN PAT HEANEY WON 21-13 AGAINST MARTIN HARTLEY THERE SEEMED NO WAY BACK AS THE LIGHT WAS REALLY POOR NOW. RICHARD GILL ELIMINATED THE HARTLEY SCORE BEATING DEREK EDGE 21-13 AND WHEN DAVE REDFERN GOT HOME AGAINST    BRIAN RATHBONE 21-16 THE GAME LOOKED TO BE TIGHT. BURBAGE HAD PUT THEIR RESERVE IN AND BILL ADAMS WAS 15-7 UP AGAINST DAVE SMITH. HE NEVER LOST THAT LEAD TO WIN 21-11 IN TOTAL DARKNESS AND GIVE BURBAGE A WIN BY 193-171. 

 

REPECHAGE TROPHY

 

THE FINAL WAS TO BE PLAYED AT THE SUPERB VENUE OF MAREHAY WHERE CLOWNE M.W. TOOK ON LOCAL RIVALS SHIREOAKS M.W. SHIREOAKS WERE THE VICTORS.

 

JACK & JEAN ISHERWOOD VETERAN'S INDIVIDUAL MERIT

 

THE COUNTY FINALS TOOK PLACE AT STRETTON B.C. ON A DAMP DAY BUT IT WAS NOT LASHIND DOWN WITH RAIN AS HAD BEEN THE FORMAT FOR MOST OF THE SEASON. GRAHAM JONES USED HIS GREEN KNOWLEDGE TO GOOD EFFECT TO BEAT EASTWOOD PARK’S MICK HEATON 21-14. DEREK HEATH BEAT DENIS CLARKE FROM THE BUXTON AREA 21-12 TO SET UP A SEMI WITH JONES. IN THE BOTTOM HALF OF THE DRAW ROY SPRAGG JUST LOST OUT TO DAVE TUBEY 15-21AND WHEN WYNN ROBERTS OFR BARTON BEAT BURBAGE’S JOHN WHEELDON 21-18 THIS SET UP AN ALL BURTON CLASH LN THE OTHER SEMI FINAL. GRAHAM JONES BEAT HEATH IN A CLOSER GAME THAN THE 21-15 SCORELLINE SUGGESTED AND TUBEY WAS FAR TO EXPERIENCED AT THIS LEVEL AND COMFORTABLY BEAT WYNN ROBERTS 21-12. IN THE FINAL TUBEY BEAT JONES. THE NATIONAL FINALS DAY WAS TO BE PLAYED AT A NEW VENUE, PREES BC, WHITCHURCH IN SHROPSHIRE. WE ONLY HAD 2 QUALIFIERS FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE THE COMPETITION STARTED. GRAHAM LOST HIS FIRST ROUND GAME AND DAVE HIS SECONDROUND GAME.

 

JAMES BIRKS MEMORIAL MIDLAND MASTERS

 

THE DERBYSHIRE ENTRY WAS UP ON LAST YEAR AT 79, MAINLY DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE FINALS DAY WAS TO BE IN DERBYSHIRE, AND WE HAD MOVED THE EVENT TO THE GREENS AT ROLLS ROYCE FROM ASHBOURNE. ON A FINE DRY DAY WITH RAIN EXPECTED LATER THE FIELD WAS PROBABLY THE STRONGEST WE HAD SEEN FOR A MASTERS FIELD WITH A NUMBER OF PAST WINNERS AND ALL BRITALN WINNERS INCLUDED. THE GREENS AT ROLLS ROYCE WERE, AS EVER, SUPERB AND VERY VERY DIFFICULT TO PLAY. EVEN THE VETERAN CHAIRMAN OF THE COMPETITLON BOB HARRIGAN HAD QUALIFIED FOR THE EVENT FROM NORTH MIDLANDS JUST TO SHOW THAT THOSE IN ADMINISTRATION CAN PLAY A BIT AS WELL. ANDY SPRAGG LOOKED TO BE FAVOURITE AS HE WON HIS FIRST GAME COMFORTABLY BUT THEN LOST EASILY IN HIS SECOND GAME. CRAIG PEARSON BEAT BOB HARRIGAN IN THE FIRST ROUND AND FINALLY LOST IN THE THIRD ROUND. UP AND COMING JUNIOR, GARETH HERBERT FROM WARWICK & WORCS, SAW OFF GED BRIDDON IN THE FIRST ROUND BUT BURBAGE’S WILLIE OWEN WAS CLIMBING THROUGH THE EARLY ROUNDS. CHESTERFIELD MW’S JON MARSHALL LOST HIS FIRST ROUND GAME AND STEVE ADAMS HIS SECOND ROUND ONE. PAUL CHAMBERLAIN SURPRISINGLY LOST HIS FIRST ROUND GAME TO SCOTT SAUNDERS FROM WARWICK & WORCS WHO WENT ON TO REACH THE SEMIS. STEVE ROGERS LOST HIS FIRST ROUND GAME. PAUL MOTTRAM BEAT PREVIOUS WINNER KERRY MORRIS HIS FIRST ROUND GAME BUT LOST IN THE SECOND ROUND. WILLIE OWEN EVENTUALLY LOST IN THE QUARTER FINALS PLAYING HIS WORST GAME OF THE DAY. THE FINAL WAS AN EXCELLENT DISPLAY OF BOWLING IN CHANGING CONDITIONS AS THE RAIN STARTED MIDWAY THROUGH THE GAME. AT20 ACROSS, IN MONSOON CONDITIONS, THE BEST FOUR BOWLS OF THE DAY WERE PLAYED BY DEAN FERRIS OF THE POTTERIES AND SHROPSHIRE’S RICH GODDARD. GODDARD LED THE JACK OVER 40 YARDS OVER TOWARDS THE CLUBHOUSE ON ROLLS ROYCE TOP GREEN AND PLAYED A 10 INCH SHORT BOWL TO THE SIDE. FERRIS PLAYED THE PERFECT BOWL BUT WENT THROUGH THE GAP TO ABOUT TWO FEET. GODDARD PLAYED AGAIN, PROBABLY TRYING TO STOP SHORT BUT THE BOWL FINISHED TO THE OTHER SIDE OF HIS FIRST BOWL ABOUT 3 INCHES AWAY FROM THE JACK AND WITH THE RAIN COMING DOWN FERRIS WAS LEFT WITH THE OPTION TO PLAY UP OR FIRE. HE CHOSE TO PLAY UP, CONTACTED ALL OF GODDARD’S BOWLS AND THE JACK WHICH THEN CONTACTED HIS OWN STATIONARY BOWL AND KNOCKED THAT INTO THE DITCH. GODDARD’S FORST BOWL ALSO ENDED UP NEAR THE DITCH, HIS SECOND BOWL SPLIT AWAY TO THE OTHER SIDE, BUT FERRIS’S LAST BOWL JUST STOPPED IN TO WIN THE MATCH, PROBABLY THE BEST BOWL HE WILL EVER PLAY TO WIN A COMPETITION. GODDARD WAS GUTTED AS IT WAS THE SECOND TIME HE HAD LOST IN THE FINAL OF THE COMPETITION, BUT THE SECOND TIME THAT THE MASTERS HAS BEEN TO ROLLS ROYCE AND A POTTERIES PLAYER HAS ENDEN UP WINNING THE EVENT. THE SPONSOR, MRS EUNICE BIRKS THANKED ROLLS ROYCE FOR THE SPLENDID FACILITY AT DERBY AND BEING A POTTERIES LADY WAS GLAD THAT A POTTERIES PLAYER HAD WON AS SHE PRESENTED THE PRIZES.

 

UNDER 16 COMPETITION

 

THE FINALS DAY WOULD BE PLAYED AT ASHBOURNE TOP GREEN, WHICH WAS AGAIN IN EXCELLENT CONDITION FOR THE TIME OF YEAR. CHESTERFIELD 1 WOULD PLAY SOUTH DERBYSHIE 1 IN THE ONE SEMI AND CHESTERFIELD 11 WOULD PLAY BURTON 1 IN THE OTHER. CHESTERFIELD 1 GOT OFF TO A GOOD START AS ADAM STONES BEAT OWEN BENNETT OF BRACKENS 21-18, BUT WILLIAM GLASBY, STARTING TO SHOW MORE MATURITY, BEAT TOM YEOWART 21-12 TO GIVE  DERBY A LEAD OF 5. JAMES GLASBY USED HIS GREEN KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE FOR A PLAYER IN THIS AGE GROUP TO WIN 21-10 OVER BLAINE HOWARD BUT DESPITE NEWCOMER, MATT BRADWELL WINNING 21-15 AGAINST LIAM McNEILLY IT LEFT A 75-65 WIN FOR SOUTH DERBYSHIE 1. THE OTHER SEMI WAS MUCH MORE STRAIGHT FORWARD. CONOR CHAMBERLAIN FOUND HIMSELF 9-3 DOWN TO THE ONLY GIRL IN THE COMPETITION, RACHEL ROBERTS, BUT LATTERLY HE USED HIS CORNER ABILITY TO WIN 21-14. DARREL MATKIN WAS ALWAYS IN FRONT AGAINST DARCY DYE WINNING 21-14 AND MATT FEARN WAS ALWAYS IN COMMAND AGAINST JAMES DYE WINNING 21-13. LEWIS BELCHER WAS HAVING A NIP AND TUCK GAME EVENTUALLY WINNING 21-18 FOR A CLEAN SWEEP 84-59. THE FINAL WAS A REPEAT OF THE SOUTHERN AREA FINAL AS BURTON 1 PLAYED SOUTH DERBYSHIE 1 WITH BURTON HAVING BEEN THE VICTORS EARLIER IN THE SEASON, BUT AS IS OFTEN THE CASE THAT WAS NOT REPEATED. OWEN BENNETT WAS IN GOOD FORM AND BEAT CONOR CHAMBERLAIN 21-18 AND WILLIAM GLASBY HAD A 21-20 WIN OVER DARREL MATKIN. IT WAS BURTON WHO WENT IN FRONT AS MATT FEARN BEAT JAMES GLASBY 21-15 FOR A NAILBITING FINISH WHICH SAW  LIAM McNEILLY WIN 21-15 AGAINST LEWIS BELCHER TO GIVE SOUTH DERBYSHIE 1 REVENGE AND A 78-74 WIN. THE COMPETITION CONTINUES TO BE SPONSORED BY CLIVE AND SHIRLEY THORNHILL. THIS CONTINUES TO BE AN EXCELLENT COMPETITION AND THE STANDARD OF OUR JUNIORS AND U'16'S IS VERY HIGH AND HOPEFULLY WE WILL DO BETTER AT JUNIOR LEVEL NEXT YEAR, BUT THE YEAR AFTER WE WILL BE PUSHING FOR THE TITLE WITH SOME CERTAINTY. WE ONLY NEED TO GET THE NORTHER AREA TO GET INVOLVED AGAIN TO GET THE COMPETITION BACK TO WHERE IT WAS 4 YEARS AGO.

 

GLYNN HOLMES

 

Secretary’s Report (page 2)

DERBYSHIRE COUNTY CROWN GREEN BOWLING   ASSOCIATION