The Vics proved too strong an outfit for Magazine last night in the Wallasey League Presidents Cup 2nd round. With eleven winners out of the twelve blocks the Vics won by the massive margin of 126 shots at Sacred Heart’s green. Dave Gilmore once again set the pace with a commanding 21-02 and with Mally Johnson 21-06, Robby Fitzpatrick and Tony Vyskocil both 21-07 all single figure winners the stage was set for Peter Dodd to try to erase the memory of the previous nights display. “Doddy” did not disappoint with a fine 21-12 to restore some much needed confidence. Robby Franklin and Neil Sherbrooke both had 21-10’s and Billy Atkinson and Anthony Thompson both completed 21-11 victories. With Ian Sherbrooke and Matty Gilmore both winning 21-12 the Vics moved confidently into the next round of a competition we badly want to win after missing out last season because of the handicapping procedure.
Mike Skipworth produced a stunning performance tonight away at Heswall Legion, beating Roy Dewhurst 21-04 in a reminder of the form we know he is capable of. Neil Sherbrooke from 07-13 down ran out a comfortable 21-13 winner and combined with Robby Franklin’s superb 21-10 the Vics managed to produce a better performance than on Friday to go down by 29 shots. All except that is Peter Dodd!! who followed up a dismal day watching Lancashire at Aigburth by going down to a demoralising 01-21 against Mike Tunstall. I will however still be there on Friday playing or not!!! Ian Sherbrooke, Billy Atkinson and George Morgan all produced creditable scores and Bernie Owen somehow managed to throw away a 17-11 lead, with his opponent running out. There was even talk as to whether Bernie had been weighed down by the feast he managed to down at the day out yesterday. With Karl Sherbrooke, Colin Saville and Tony Vyskocil all well into double figures the Vics all round effort was better away than at home on Friday. For Mally Johnson and Peter Dodd however it is back to the drawing board or scorecard duties.
The committee meeting arranged for Tuesday 29th June has had to be cancelled because of the Wallasey Cup game taking place on that night. Notification of a new date will follow in due course.
Congratulations to Tony Vyskocil on retaining his title in last nights Wallasey Merit finals. Beating Jimmy Bunting and Ian Mitchell to qualify for the final he beat Matty Croston of Queens Royal 21-16 in a close fought final. Rumour has it that Tony was actually in a jovial mood after his efforts but we will have to quiz him about this at a later date. Seriously though, it was a tremendous effort to retain his title and mention must also be made of the fact that both Billy Atkinson and Matty Gilmore made it to the quarter finals.
On a glorious sunny day at Christleton today Bill Powell, accompanied by his junior partner, Bill Atkinson, rolled back the years by producing some top quality bowling to take the trophy in a somewhat one sided final against Ian Sherbrooke and Bill Tottey. After both pairs had sailed through the qualifying sections, Bill Powell leading against Ian Sherbrooke, produced some vintage woods even on the longer distances. With Bill Atkinson counting when required a dominant 11-01 lead was built up before Ian and Bill(Tottey) were stung into a comeback. They managed to pull back to 07-13 before a nice two just in front of the crowd wrapped things up for the Powell/Atkinson duo at 15-07. It was nice to see Bill Powell back playing so well after his health problems of the last few months and I think Billy Atkinson was delighted to have drawn such a good partner. The day itself was a complete success at the new venue at the Cheshire View with the green in superb condition and the food and service first class. Thanks must go to Dave Bosworth in arranging for us to use these facilities which no doubt we will use again. A good day was had by all and win or lose (Andy Fergus and Bill Spraggett taking the booby) everybody enjoyed themselves which is most important on club outings. Roll on next year!!!!
Bill Spraggett and Trevor Rodgers, incredibly paired together again in the draw, completed a cup double by taking the Tom Stanley trophy on Thursday afternoon. This seemingly unbeatable pairing defeated Elwyn Williams and Dave Bosworth in the final to take their second trophy in two outings.
Despite a tremendous 21-08 from Tony Vyskocil and excellent wins for Mally Johnson, Ian Sherbrooke, Billy Atkinson and Karl Sherbrooke (from 06-15 down), the Vics Birkenhead League side went down by 33 shots at home to Heswall RBL last night at a warm and sunny Vics green. Heswall, fielding a strong side, proved just how far the Vics are behind other teams in being able to field 12 players capable of performing well in this league on a regular basis. To have only five winners at home is not good enough in this standard of bowling and even though every player gives of his utmost in each game, consistency of performance is lacking at this level. Team captain, Ian Sherbrooke, has a tough job in trying to rest players out of form because of the lack of numbers in the squad. With Tony Vyskocil beating Brian Lane, Mally Johnson defeating Alan Hill, Ian Sherbrooke beating Alan Wolfe, Karl Sherbrooke winning against Danny Barwise and a tremendous win by Billy Atkinson against Dave Mcdermott, we do have players who can beat the best but a raising of standard is required to compete and stay in this division. We still of course have the balance of a semi final against Albany to complete so all is not doom and gloom at the Lower Park.
The Sansom Cup semi final between the Vics Birkenhead League side and Albany was abandoned last night because of the atrocious conditions at Cammell Laird. With the match starting under dark skies and light rain, the weather conditions deteriorated to such an extent that after eight blocks, gale force winds and driving rain had flooded the green. There was no other option than to abandon the match with Albany holding a slender 2 shot advantage. With 2 winners each in the 1st four the Vics were trailing by 3, and with two winners each in the middle four the deficit was reduced by one. Vics winners on the night were Trevor Rodgers, Bernie Owen, Colin Saville and Tony Vyskocil(sensibly kitted out like Nanook of the North). With Peter Dodd, Mike Skipworth, Ian Sherbrooke and Billy Atkinson to play in the last four the match is balanced on a knife edge when play resumes at a later date.
Port Sunlight Village were blown away by the Vics afternoon “A” team yesterday in the Centenary Cup 1st round. Ian Cameron 21-05 and George Morgan 21-09 setting the early standard at a wet and windy Upton green. With good wins for Brian Ibbotson, Elwyn Williams and Dick Peake, the Vics easily pulled back the 35 shot handicap. With Bernie Owen, Billy Atkinson and Mally Johnson also winning the Vics had eight winners on the day to move smoothly into the next round.
Thursday’s Wallasey division one game against Sacred Heart has been postponed until Monday July 12th because of the Euro 2004 England game against Portugal.