Chris Williams came from behind to claim the afternoon “B” team averages with 2 wins in his last 2 games against Upton. Chris won 10 lost 6 for an average of 1.18 just pipping Derek Thomas and Tony Ryding who came joint 2nd with averages of 1.16. Derek won 12 lost 8 and Tony won 10 lost 6. Joint 4th came Don Ibbotson and Lawrie Blackburn with averages of 1.10. Don won 10 lost 11 and Lawrie won 9 lost 7.
Billy Atkinson won the afternoon averages for the”A” team when he completed his season by winning 12 out of 18 league games for an overall average of 1.32. Bernie Owen jumped up to 2nd place with his 21-08 victory in the final game for an overall 11 wins amd 10 losses and an average of 1.17. Elwyn Williams came 3rd in the table by winng 14 and losing 8 with an average of 1.10. The 4th and final player to show a plus average was Eddie Clayburn, winning 12 losing 10 for an average of 1.01. Robby Franklin did not play sufficient games to be included the table but won 8 lost 2 for an average of 1.28.
The afternoon “C” team stormed to the 5th division title with a much needed aggregate point winning victory over Thingwall at home on Friday. After going down by 40 shots last week in the away tie the aggregate point was vital to the Vics in their quest for the title. In a match that kept the spectators on tenterhooks regarding the final points tally the Vics came out on top by 49 shots to give them a final league total of 33 points and the title by a clear 2 points. Ken Bidwell completed his own personal landmark of winning every game he played by powering to a 21-06 win and ensuring the aggregate point belonged to the Vics. John Davies used all his experience in coming from 0-5 down to win 21-08 and Stan Evans stormed to a great 21-09 win. Skipper Eric Neal leading from the front, won 21-12 and C.K.Pau had a good 21-14 victory. Eddie Dodd had a close 21-16 win and Bill Tottey, seeing red all the way through his game, won 21-17 as a good Evertonian should when having to play against an opponent using red woods. Club President Sid Dutton performed well enough on a heavy green before going down 13-21 and Arthur Fagan played well before going down 16-21. Club stalwart Andy Fergus went down 18-21 in a close encounter but as has been the case all season every player produced when mattered to bring the title to the Vics. It was also good to see “C” team skipper Len Sherbrooke on the sidelines cheering his team to the title after his unfortunate illness halfway through the season prevented him from running the side. Congratulations to Lenny and Eric Neal and their squad on an excellent season.
The afternoon “A” team finished the season in fine style with a resounding 48 shot victory over Hoylake Marine to gain the aggregate point and close the season on 25 points. Bernie Owen powered his way to an easy 21-08 win followed by Eddie Clayburn storming to a 21-09 victory. Elwyn Williams continued a fine season by winning 21-10 and Billy Atkinson cemented his place at the top of the averages with a 21-12 win. George Morgan won again , this time 21-14 and Dick Peake continued his great end to the season winning 21-15. Ian Cameron had a closer game in winning 21-16 and both Dave Bosworth and Brian Ibbotson had tremendous games before both losing 20-21. Robby Franklin drew the short straw this week when he came unstuck against Peter Williams, no doubt Robby will learn from this experience as he gets older!!!!!!!! In another difficult season for Skipper Brian Ibbotson regarding availability of players through injuries illness etc. the team did reasonably well to finish with 25 points.
The afternoon “B” team finished the season on a high with a good overall victory over Upton “B”. In the home game last week the “B” had seven winners with Derek Thomas leading the way with a storming 21-06 win. This was closely followed by another fine display by C.K.Pau who won 21-07. Arthur Fagan again produced the goods with a confident 21-09 win and Chris Williams won again, this time 21-10. Bill Spraggett chipped in with a powerful 21-11 as did Club Chairman, Dave Bosworth. Don Ibbotson was the seventh winner on the day with a closer fought 21-16 win. Skipper Stan Ridgway had a hard game before eventually going down to a 19-21 reverse but the final victory margin was 59 shots which would hopefully be enough in the return game.
In the return game on Wednesday the Vics went down by 29 shots but did enough to secure their final aggregate point of the season to finish the league with a creditable 28 points. although there were only two Vics winners on the day, the overall displays were sufficient to gain the extra point. Chris Williams, by winning 21-11, secured the averages prize for the “B” team this year after a difficult time with injuries and illness. Bill Tottey, with a hard fought 21-18 win, banished last weeks nightmare performance to the waste bin. Eddie Dodd and Don Ibbotson both put in fine performances before going down 19-21 and Tony Ryding also had a narrow 17-21 defeat. There were a couple of 16-21s from Eric Neal and Skipper Stan Ridgway to help with the overall fine display and Arthur Fagan and Lawrie Blackburn both produced creditable away performances before going down 15-21. This has been a difficult season for Stan Ridgway and his team with continuous selection problems hindering the side. All in all Stan must be congratulated in keeping the side in the top half of the table with a good total of 28 points.
The Vics Birkenhead evening league side finished 5th in the final league tables produced last week. This was a very good season for the Vics who had such a small squad of players to choose from. Higher Tranmere topped the table yet again followed by Gladstone and Heswall RBL. Lever Club “A” came 4th just in front of the Vics in 5th place. All in all a good season for the Birkenhead side and Skipper Ian Sherbrooke should be complimented in his use of such a small squad. A cup final appearance and 5th place would have been acceptable at the start of the season.
Skipper Eric Neal, with a stunning 21-04 win, took the afternoon “C” team closer to their 1st title in only their 2nd season in competition. Playing against Lever Club “B” at home on Friday afternoon the Vics gained a double over their opponents to bag another 5 points in their relentless quest for the title. Hot on the heels of Eric’s great win came the ultra consistent Ken Bidwell, who won his 12th league game on the trot with an easy 21-06 win. John Davies gained a comfortable 21-12 victory and Eddie Dodd weighed in with a good 21-15 win. C.K.Pau completed the Vics winners on the day with a close fought 21-17 win but there were good performances from Arthur Fagan,20-21, Ernie Peers 17-21 and Bill Tottey 15-21 to compliment the winners and an overall win by 17 shots was sufficient for the Vics on the day. Andy Fergus and John Dodd did enough in their games to ensure there was no chance of a surprise Lever win.
The afternoon “B” team cruised to an easy 50 shot victory over Bromborough Pool at West Kirby yesterday and claimed the aggregate point after last weeks narrow defeat away. On a fast green and on a baking hot day there were 6 winners on the day for the Vics as well as 2 very close losing games. There were a trio of excellent 21-03 winners in Don Ibbotson, Chris Williams and stand in skipper Derek Thomas. Arthur Fagan once again proved the selectors wrong, by winning impressively for the 2nd game on the run, this time 21-10. C.K.Pau had a tough 21-19 win and Bill Powell an even tougher 21-20 victory. Ernie Peers went down 19-21 and Bill Tottey lost 20-21 and both Eddie Dodd and Mike Washington were well into double figures in their games. A good win for the “B” team who continue to show much improved form late on in the season.
The afternoon “A” team gained a valuable extra point in the match against Heswall RBL on a lightening fast green at Heswall yesterday. Playing against one of the strongest teams in the League the Vics had only 4 winners on the day but did enough to preserve the big lead built up at home last week. Dick Peake once again starred for the Vics with a tremendous 21-09 win and continues to prove that his early season form was a mystery to us all. Bernie Owen “edged ” through in a close game against Alf Mcdermott 21-18 and George Morgan,defying the pain barrier also had a close win 21-19. With the aggregate point resting on the last 2 games on the green, Eddie Clayburn lost a tight game 18-21, and Robby Franklin won an even tighter game with a 21-20 victory over Geoff Dewhurst. This was the 2nd week on the trot Robby has beaten Geoff and his revenge for a previous cup final defeat was all the more sweet as his win proved crucial for the extra point. All in all a good 2 weeks for the “A” team and thanks must go to Eric Neal for turning out at such short notice because of a mix up on the holiday front.
The afternoon “C” team lost the rearranged game at Bromborough Pool “C” yesterday by 21 shots but this result was tempered by the fact that the Vics gained the extra point virtue of the home win last week. Bill Tottey, only playing one game today, had a magnificent 21-08 win and Ken Bidwell won again 21-15. This is 11 wins in 11 games for Ken and with an average of 2.10 Ken is well ahead at the top of the “C” team averages. C.K.Pau returned to winning form with a close fought 21-17 victory and Eddie Dodd made it 2 wins in 2 days by coming out on top 21-18. With all the other players once again getting into double figures it is not surprising that the valuable extra point was gained. This consistency of scoring by all the players is the main reason the Vics are favourites for the league title.
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