MATCH REORT WEDS MENS BOWLS

Week 5  – A Team Home to Prestwich Libs A won 9 – 6 (6 winners to 4) 189 – 147 agg. B Team Away to Preswich Libs B  won 15 – 2 (8 winners to 2).

Local derbies are never easy, irrespective of sport, and this week saw a titanic tussle with near neighbours Prestwich Libs A, who, in my opinion are a very experienced side and grossly underrated, they will prove to be a good match for any in the league and cup and was reflected in their narrow defeat against the early pace setters Unionist B with 5 winners each. Anyway on with the report

Ian Luckett had early exchanges with his opponent John Whittaker before I an getting on his favourite bit of land and pulled away with a 7 point break to lead 11 – 4, only to see John do likewise to level the game 11 across. More exchanges to see the game move 16 – 17 before John put a late spurt on to take the game and Ian lost 16 – 21.

Sprinter Gareth, though braving the elements with -10 wind chill by playing in a T-shirt!!!! Might explain his indifferent form. Neither player could control the game or keep the block and the scores were locked at 4 – 4 , 8 – 8, 10 -10 and 15 -14 to Gareth only to see his opponent ( Neil Whittaker ) put a break together of 7 points to run out to win. Final score Gareth lost 15 – 21.

Marathon Man Morley again lived up to his name, though playing against the libs form player with 100% record in John Young, got off to a distastrous start which would prove to be the deciding factor. Stafford trailed 1 – 8, 2 – 15 & 4 – 19 before getting a grip and with his “never say die” attitude clawed himself back into the game to be trailing 13 – 20, only to see John win the next end and the game. Final Score Stafford lost 13 – 21

Skipper Stu Cameron lost the first end before putting in a 9 break to lead 9 -1. Opponent Chris Toland pulled a few back, before stu replied in kind and pulled further in front to lead 15 – 5 followed by exchanges between the pair to see Stu Home and win 21 – 8 picking up a respectable 7 “2’s” though the score line is not a true reflection on some excellent bowling by Chris.

Chrissy Ireland played his usual steady game and was always too strong for Brian Kelly. Chris raced to 11 – 2 lead, then either eased off or got sloppy for in the second half he conceded 4 “2’s” to give his opponent a lifeline but eventually Chris won 21 – 11

First Half 2 – 4.5 agg 86 – 82 (squeaky bum time)

Steve Globe Trotter Blaymire fresh back from his travels to New Zealand and p[laying against the ever green Stan Reid with neither player asserting authority and control in the game, a see saw tussle as follows steve trailed 4 – 8, 8 across, 12 across & 17 across before Steve bowled the bowl of the night. Stan had lead a side toucher, Steve first 18 inch behind, stans second off the road and to the side. But Steves Second bowl – he could either strike and miss or try controlled weight- he did judged to perfection run the block through to his back bowl and score 2 and lead 19 – 17. However this was to be his undoing, for it seemed to inspire stan who took the next 4 and Steve lost 19 -21

The crowd himself was next – Jon Armstrong, who still looked fresh and focused despite having completed at least a dozen circuits of the green in the first half!!!Despite losing the first end established his authority and found a nice long length (oh er mrs!! ) and raced to a commanding 12 – 1 lead against the unlucky Billy Davies. Billy stopped the surge with an excellent 6 inch bowl , only to see Jon reply with 6 points of his own to lead 18 – 2. Again Billy stopped the run with a toucher playing the full diagonal corners, a bowl the mighty Brian Duncan would be pleased with! Jon won 21 – 3 with an impressive 8 “2’s” and in 16 ends

Dave Palmer next on and playing against his old club and stable mate Graham Davies, struggled early on and trailed 7 – 11 & 11 -15 before producing a late surge with a 6 break to win 21 – 15

Old Blue Balls is back – Marky Mark Prosser reverting back to his tried and tested big blue balls (who writes this ? you cant buy it in shops!) was always in control and quickly established himself leading 8 – 4, 14 – 7 then the later stages showed exchanges of points with Mike Whittaker for Mark to win 21 – 15

Skipper Stu had shown inspirational captaincy by keeping Red Balls (my we are turning into a colourful club!) Colin Palmer to the end in the hope he would play against his old sparring partner Steve Badcock, who has probably been the libs most consistent player over the last decade! And it worked. They was sign of nerves from both players, who know each others game inside out saw the scores level at 7 – 7. Colin put in a mini break of 5 to see the score 12 -7, Steve replied with a couple of points, before Colin put another mini break of 5 and won 21 – 12

Second Half 4 -1.5 agg 103 – 66

B Team

First of all my apologies for leaving before they returned to give a full report – wont happen again.Playing away to the Libs B, and having been strengthened by the return of A teams saw a very impressive 15 – 2 win (8 winners – 2) with Martin Ackroyd & Gary Turner Being the unlucky ones, hopefully this result will be used as a springboard and bounce up the table and put pressure on the runaway Leaders Prestwich Cons B. Well done Boys

Also need to mention the fantastic success of B Team in dumping out a full strength Division one side Tonge in the first round of the cup, despite only having 3 winners – all hail the handicap which saw them through. Full cup card below: