The Vics Birkenhead league side beat Harrison Park by 76 shots last night on a hot night at West Kirby. Ian Sherbrooke and Peter Dodd starred for the Vics, with commanding 21-06 wins, closely followed by Karl Sherbrooke winning 21-09. Robby Franklin and C.K.Pau both won 21-12 and Bernie Owen and Trevor Rodgers had 21-13 wins. Mally Johnson winning 21-14 and Neil Sherbrooke 21-15 completed the 9 Vics winners on a night when the attraction of a local outdoor play “Alice through looking Glass” and gentlemen playing bowls, transformed Ashton Park into a scene from the early 1900’s. I think special mention must go to Eddie Dodd pulling back from 5-17 down to eventually manage 16-21 and C.K.Pau who won his second game of the day, because without these appearances from dedicated club members the Vics would be unable to field a full side on some occasions with the limited numbers in our squad. Club secretary Peter Dodd also needs the odd game like tonight to boost his confidence and help his spirits on his constant travels to and from the Wirral. With a 76 shot lead to take to Harrison Park next week, the Vics will be hoping to gain the aggregate point at least but it will not be easy on a tricky green.
C.K.Pau and Andy Fergus completely dominated their games yesterday, to win 21-03 and 21-04 respectively and set the afternoon “C” team on the way to pulling back the 42 shot deficit from last week. Ernie Peers also had another good day, winning 21-09. On a green in wonderful condition and in good weather, Stan Evans showed he has lost none of his short game skills, by winning 21-13. Paul Lomax chipped in with a useful 21-15 win and this was closely followed by a 21-16 victory for Tony Ryding, making a rare but welcome appearance this season. Tony has been sorely missed by the Vics because of work commitments but hopefully might be able to get in some more games before the season ends. Eddie Dodd needed to bowl at his best against a tough opponent to eventually come out on top 21-18. Eric Neal and Bernie Davies both had tough encounters before narrow 18-21 defeats but with the whole side in confident mood, a win by 53 shots and the aggregate point gained, was just the boost the Vics needed for a hopeful climb up the table.
Karl “Crusher ” Sherbrooke cruised to an easy 21-06 win last night as the Vics Wallasey League side continued their relentless search for a fifth consecutive title, with a 52 shot away success at Manor Road “B”. Matty Gilmore’s silky skills came to the fore in an equally impressive 21-08 win, not too sure about Vics players attired in Liverpool shirts though. Bernie Owen won again, this time 21-12 and there were a couple of 21-15 wins for Anthony Thompson and Mally Johnson who gained revenge for his loss in the Charity match. Eddie Clayburn and Peter Dodd both won 21-16 although Doddy lost 7 on the trot when lying 20-09 up. Dave Gilmore and Trevor Rodgers were both involved in tough games before coming out on top 21-18. Neil Sherbrooke unfortunately lost his first league game of the season but will no doubt make someone from Harrison Park pay for that in tonights Birkenhead League match. The Vics still remain unbeaten in all Wallasey matches this season despite a much changed squad from recent seasons and skipper Mally Johnson will have a tough job with team selection when the big games with Queens Royal and Manor Road come around. Next up Sacred Heart at home next Wednesday evening.
Don Ibbotson’s afternoon “B” team completed a 29 shot home victory against Oxton Conservative “B” on Wednesday to take the vital aggregate point by 20 shots. With 8 winners on the day this was a much needed boost for the “B” team and hopefully more consistent form will follow. Ernie Peers starred for the Vics with an excellent 21-08 win followed by the mercurial C.K.Pau, fresh from his charity stint, winning 21-10. Brian Ibbotson had a fine 21-12 victory and Eddie Dodd triumphed 21-15. Lawrie Blackburn won 21-16 and both Ian Cameron and Paul Lomax had tough encounters before winning 21-19. Derek Thomas came through a gruelling match to finally win 21-20, to complete the Vics winners on the day. Next up Harrison Park “C” away on Tuesday with hopefully an away win to come.
The afternoon “A” team completed another clean sweep on Wednesday, away to Manor Road “B”, to give them 20 winners from 20 games in the two matches against their luckless opponents. Bernie Owen, continued his fine run with an easy 21-08 win closely followed by a couple of 21-10 victories for Robby Franklin and Elwyn Williams. Dick Peake and Peter Walker weighed in with a pair of 21-11 wins and Eddie Clayburn continued to impress, with a 21-12 victory. Skipper Billy Atkinson had little trouble in completing a 21-13 win and Bob Jones won 21-16. Bob is proving to be a more than useful new addition to the club, playing more games than he thought when joining. Keith Etches and Mally Johnson completed 21-18 wins with Mally still waiting for Bernie Owen to get a tough draw instead of him. This win keeps the Vics out in front at the top of the table and the next two league matches against Harrison Park will go some way to assessing the Vics chances of sustaining their title challenge.
The Vics Birkenhead League side beat Tixall by 42 shots last night, to claim the extra point by just 8 shots in a tight match, on a slowish West Kirby green. Bernie the “Bolt” Owen blasted his way to an easy 21-05 win to set the Vics on the way and Trevor “Cannonball” Rodgers fired his way to a 21-09 win, during which he managed to damage his opponents wood to such an extent that it had to be replaced during the game. The Sherbrooke trio completed their normal hat trick of home wins, Neil 21-12, Karl 21-18 and Ian also 21-18, at a vital point in the match with the overall scores tied. Robby Franklin had a good 21-13 victory followed by an excellent performance from Dick Peake, who won 21-16. Billy Atkinson almost through away a substantial early lead before coming out on top 21-17. With a trio of 16-21 performances from Mally Johnson, Bob Jones and Colin Saville and a close 18-21 from Peter Dodd, the Vics had done enough to claw back the 34 shot deficit from the away match on Friday. Another home match this Friday gives the Vics the chance to hopefully build a big lead against Harrison Park in their quest for more vital points.
The Vics Wallasey team retained the George Gilmore Memorial trophy today at Manor Road on an afternoon of heavy showers and glorious sunshine. With four guest bowlers in our ranks today, Keith Etches, Gerry Reeves, Colin Saville and Andy Smith, the Vics had 9 winners in the 14 a-side challenge. Indeed two of our guests, Colin Saville 21-05 and Keith Etches 21-06 set the Vics on the way to victory in a match where the real winners were Elleray Park School in Wallasey, Elleray Park being this year’s beneficiaries of the Annual Charity Day. Bill Atkinson 21-10 and Bernie Owen 21-13 had good wins and there were a trio of 21-15 winners in Robby Franklin, Peter Dodd and Neil Sherbrooke. Dave Gilmore 21-17 and C.K.Pau 21-18 completed the Vics winners on the day but this was a match when winning was not all that important as all the bowlers taking part had given up their time and actually paid to play in a match for the benefit of others. Thanks to all who took part and to the Wallasey Executive Committee for providing a substantial and welcome buffet at the end of the match.
Neil “Shergar” Sherbrooke continued to stay top of the ratings, with another thoroughbread performance last night, when winning 21-08 at Tixall in a Birkenhead League encounter. “Crusher” was the Vics only other winner on the night with a close 21-18 win, to keep up the family Sherbrooke tradition of providing at least one winner per match for the Vics. Despite having ten losers on the night, at a tricky Tixall green, the Vics have not ruled out the possibility of the extra point in the return on Monday at West Kirby. Bob Jones and C.K.Pau both performed with great credit to return 17-21 scorecards and Bernie Owen clawed his way back to 18-21 from a long way back. There were a trio of even closer 19-21 scorecards for Dick Peake, Billy Atkinson and Peter Dodd ( for once getting off to a good start) and Robby Franklin was never headed in his game until the last end going down 20-21. With all these close games all is not lost for the aggregate point, as 34 shots should not prove to impossible a deficit to pull back.
Karl “Crusher” Sherbrooke was at it again last night, this time Gladstone “Squirrels” were on the receiving end of his onslaught as he followed up his 21-02 victory in the last league game, with a nut-crushing 21-01 this time. Brother Ian, was also in outstanding form, showing he had lost none of his knowledge of his former home green, by cruising to a 21-05 win alongside Bernie Owen, who also “bolted” home 21-05. How does Bernie get these draws, some people ask?? Robby Franklin and Billy Atkinson had a couple of routine 21-11 wins closely followed by Matty Gilmore and Neil Sherbrooke who both won 21-13, the roar of the crowd helping Matty at a crucial time in his game. Neil , another of the Sherbrooke brothers returning to his old stamping ground, still remains unbeaten this season. Trevor Rodgers kept up his 100% record for this team and celebrated his call up for the Association County side, by winning 21-14. The Vics kept up their challenge for a fifth consecutive League Title with this 96 shot away win, at a green on which we only won by 8 shots last season.
The afternoon “A” team had a clean sweep of ten winners yesterday against Manor Road “B” to complete an 80 shot win and keep them well in the hunt for the title at this early stage of the season. Skipper Billy Atkinson, ruthless as ever, kept up his winning start to the league season, with a comprehensive 21-05 win. Dick Peake, showing the benefit from regular evening bowls, cruised to a 21-07 victory closely followed by a pair of easy 21-09 victories for Eddie Clayburn and Bernie Owen. Bob Jones, playing more games for the various Vics teams than he thought when joining the club, had a welcome 21-15 win as did Robby Franklin. Mally Johnson had a 21-16 win and there was a good win for Keith Etches in a tight game, Keith winning 21-17. Elwyn Williams was made to fight all the way in his 21-18 victory and Andrew Stratton continued his unbeaten start to the league season with a very close 21-19 win. 80 shots should be sufficient for the aggregate point next week but skipper Billy Atkinson will be demanding nothing less than an away win in his quest to drive the Vics towards the title.