The afternoon “C” team, once again a much changed line-up, went down to a 42 shot defeat at Poulton yesterday despite many good performances on the day. Even though we only had two winners, there were close games in 5 of the other 8 games. Bernie Davies, showing good form again for the Vics, won 21-13 and Reg Armitage also had a good win 21-15. There were close games for Eric Neal and Ernie Peers before both lost 16-21 and there were a trio of 17-21 losses by Bill Spraggett, Paul Lomax and Eddie Dodd. 42 shots might seem a lot but the Vics will be hopeful of gaining revenge and the extra point at home next week. Skipper Eric Neal is finding it really hard to field anything like a settled 10 players as “B” team calls for his players through illness etc. are disrupting his selection. A couple of good home wins will see the Vics climb the table soon.
There was a close defeat for the afternoon “B” team today as they went down by 9 shots at Oxton”B”. In a much improved away performance, the Vics had 5 winners on the day. Ernie Peers led the way today with a good 21-12 victory, closely followed by the in-form Derek Thomas, who won 21-13. Lawrie Blackburn had a good 21-17 win and Reg Armitage won a tight game 21-18. Ian Cameron had a titanic tussle, triumphing 21-20 eventually, to complete the Vics winners on the day. Paul Lomax and Dave Bosworth gave good performances before both lost 17-21 and C.K.Pau went down 19-21 after another good display. Hopefully the Vics will capitalise on this showing in the return match next week and claim a much needed aggregate point.
The afternoon “B” team went down to a 21 shot defeat at Burton’s on Friday afternoon to lose the aggregate point by 16 shots. With only 3 winners for the Vics they did well to keep the scorline as low as it was. Peter Walker starred for the Vics, with an easy 21-09 win and acting skipper Derek Thomas followed suit by winning 21-16. Brian Ibbotson had a tight game, eventually coming out on top 21-19 but that was it as regards winning cards on the day. There were plenty of close calls for the Vics with both Ian Cameron and Lawrie Blackburn managing 17-21 scores and Paul Lomax making it to 18-21. Andrew Stratton had a good game before going down 19-21. These are tough times for the Vics afternoon “B” and “C” teams with both sides having to constantly change personnel because of illness and holidays. With settled sides much improved performances will surely follow.
The Vics Wallasey League side cruised into the Harold Jones Cup semi- final last night with a 59 shot victory over Harrison Park on a bumpy green at Parkfield. Peter Dodd had given Harrison Park some hope of progress when he lost 07-21 in a poor display by him. With the other bowlers in the front four all involved in tight games Harrison Park led by 4 going into the middle four. Robby Fitzpatrick soon put paid to any hope for Park though by slamming his way to a 21-08 victory and after the middle four the Vics led by 25. This was increased to 59 at the end of the night with the Vics once again showing strengh throughout with 11 winners on the night.
Ian Sherbrooke and Billy Atkinson with 21-11 wins and Matty Gilmore 21-12 were the best of the rest for the Vics with Neil Sherbrooke, continuing to be unbeaten this season, winning 21-15. 21-16 was a popular score for the Vics with Robby Franklin, Mally Johnson, Eddie Clayburn and Dave Gilmore all winning to that margin. Trevor Rodgers, 21-18 and Bernie Owen 21-19 completed the scoring on a night Peter Dodd will want to forget. Tranmere Rovers going out of the play offs on penalties completed a miserable time for the club secretary but he will be back, as will Rovers!!!
The Vics Birkenhead League Evening side lost to Gladstone again last night, this time going down by 34 shots at home on a damp green at West Kirby. The Vics only had a disappointing five winners out of twelve and just don’t seem to be able to offer a strong enough challenge to Gladstone. After a heavy defeat for the Vics on Friday, the loss of Karl Sherbrooke through illness, was the last thing the Vics needed in their attempt to pull back 66 shots. Bill Tottey valiantly filled in again at short notice but the writing was on the wall for the Vics with only three winners from the first ten blocks. Trevor Rodgers, withstanding some barracking from the opposition, came through 21-16 and skipper Ian Sherbrooke had a tough match before winning 21-18. Neil Sherbrooke kept up his 100% record winning 21-18 but there were no more winners till the last two on the green Billy Atkinson and Mally Johnson won their games. Billy won 21-16 and Mally won the sweep by producing a good 21-15 victory. Colin Saville 20-21, was the best of the rest with Dick Peake also playing quite well before losing 15-21. Special mention again for Bob Jones, a newcomer to the club, whose original plans to only play afternoon bowls were quickly altered. Bob was 12-07 up tonight before coming a cropper on a very short mark indeed to lose 13-21. The Vics need to keep their spirits up as Gladstone and Higher Tranmere are obviously way ahead of the rest in this league and we will have more good nights than bad during the rest of the season.
The Vics Birkenhead Evening League side lost by 66 shots to a strong Gladstone Liberal Club on Friday night in a Division One away fixture. With only two winners on the night the Vics did well to keep the overall deficit down to 66 shots at the end of the match. Robby Franklin, thankful to see Danny Harrison only on the bench for Tranmere Rovers, celebrated by producing a vintage 21-10 victory. Neil Sherbroke continued his unbeaten start to the season with another fine win, this time running out a 21-16 winner. There were good performances by Karl Sherbrooke 20-21, Ian Sherbrooke 18-21 and Dick Peake also 18-21. Once again Bob Jones turned out at short notice and a big thanks to Bill Tottey, making his debut at this level, for covering for someone putting Tranmere Rovers before bowls. I wonder who that might have been?, suffice to say a miserable night was spent at Hartlepool with an arrival at home of 02-20 Saturday morning.
The afternoon “C” team beat Heswall RBL “B” by a clear 35 shots at West Kirby on Friday afternoon but the margin of victory was not enough to claim the aggregate point. Eddie Dodd, showing his expertise after a guest appearance for the Vics Birkenhead Evening League Division One Side, trounced his opponent 21-03 in a masterful display. Reg Armitage showed a pleasing return to his known form with a comfortable 21-09 victory.Bill Spraggett finally back from his travels, won 21-10, closely followed by another victory for the formidable C.K.Pau, a 21-11 winner. Ernie Peers continued to impress for this team with a 21-12 win and Stan Evans defied the years with another victory, 21-16 this time. Bill Tottey, now fully recovered from his voluntary work in South Africa, had a difficult game before coming out on top 21-20, to complete 7 winners out of 10 for the Vics. A good performance again by the “C” team at home but away performances need to improve to gain the vital aggregate points need to gain a good league position. Andy Fergus again scored 19 in his game and a victory for him is surely not far away now.
Karl “Crusher” Sherbrooke stomped all over his opponent tonight as the Vics Wallasey League side demolished Quarry Vikings by 130 shots on a quickish green at Ashton Park. Crusher cruised to a 21-02 victory as the Vics had an incredible eight single figure winners on the night. Valiant Quarry were well and truly pillaged by the Vics bowlers with no mercy being shown to a side that had been unbeaten so far in Division One. Eddie Clayburn followed up his 21-06 victory last Thursday, with another dynamic display, winning 21-05. Neil Sherbrooke continues to show impressive form, with an easy 21-06 win and brother Ian also had a quickfire 21-07 win to make it 63-15 to the Sherbrookes tonight. The two Robbies, Fitzpatrick and Franklin, both strode to victory 21-08 and with Billy Atkinson and Trevor Rodgers winning 21-09 the rout of the Quarry was well under way. Bernie Owen and Peter Dodd, in both winning 21-14 were made to struggle at times although both had big leads they let slip. Dave Gilmore won 21-16, which judging by the other scores on the night, seemed like really close run game. Skipper Mally Johnson allowed the Quarry a solitary victory by going down in a tight tussle 18-21. With a much changed side from most of last season, the Vics still showed impressive form and sent a warning to the rest of the League that they will not give up their title without a tremendous battle.
The Afternoon “A” team’s own version of the “Welsh Dragon”, Elwyn Williams, fired the Vics towards a fourth consecutive league win and to the top of the table this afternoon, with a stunning 21-03 victory. Bernie Owen and Mally Johnson also profited in the sunshine, with identical 21-09 wins. With Robby Franklin also winning to a comfortable 21-10 scoreline, the Vics were well on the way to a 65 shot victory over an Albany side playing against a Vics team for the fourth time in seven days. Skipper,Billy Atkinson, understandably delighted with his team’s start to the season, weighed in with a 21-14 win and there were 21-16 victories for Peter Walker (king of the midget gems) and Dick Peake. Andrew Stratton had his customary victory, with a hard earned 21-17 win, to remain unbeaten in the league. With the next two matches against Manor Road “B”, Billy Atkinson must make sure his team don’t become complacent and concentrate on “each game as it comes”.
Trevor Rodgers, with another commanding display and Colin Saville, for the second match running, helped power the Vics Birkenhead League side to an easy 58 shot win over Albany in last night’s Rose Bowl tie at Upton. Trevor 21-05 and Colin 21-08 were the pick of the Vics bowlers on a night when the Vics had nine winners to leave everyone wondering how we managed to lose to the same opponents last Wednesday in the Sansom Cup. Billy Atkinson 21-10 and Karl Sherbrooke 21-12 piled up the points and with Mally Johnson, complete with new belt and therefore no danger of spectators having to cope with the gruesome sight of his trousers falling down, winning 21-13, the Vics were well on the way to the next round. With a trio of 21-17 victories by the horse racing enthusiasts, Neil Sherbrooke, Ian Sherbrooke and Peter Dodd the outcome of the match was anything but a close run affair although a photo finish was needed to separate Robby Franklin and his opponent with Robby winning by a short head 21-20. Next up Gladstone away in the league on Friday. Once again our best wishes go to George Morgan as he enters hospital today for his operation.