The Vics Birkenhead League side went down to a disappointing 1 shot loss to Lever Club on Friday night when 4 losing cards from the first 6 blocks left them with too much to do at the end of the night. Even when Crusher (Karl Sherbrooke), bounced back to form, using a new grip honed from hours of practice at home!!!, came in with an early 21-08 victory, the writing was on the wall with the Vics early starters struggling on a slow green. Bernie the Bolt (Owen) bounced back from a poor start to the season and only 3 soups at dinner time, with a timely 21-18 win in a very tight game. Skipper Trevor Rodgers continued his winning streak at this level with a hard won 21-18 victory but with only 3 winners out of 8 the Vics were 24 shots down with the last 4 on the green. Growler Colin (Saville) brought the Vics right back into the match with a great 21-10 win, despite giving a good impression of a ***** **** in a show of petulance towards the measurer, Colin will be able to fill in the blanks in his usual immaculate English. John Devlin came off with a fine 21-16 win and when Billy Atkinson also won 21-19, the Vics were right back in the match with a chance of pulling off an unlikely win. John Lloyd lying 18-09 up and with 2 counting could do nothing about a fire from his opponent that sent the jack into the dyke and cancelled the end. Even though John eventually won 21-16 the “fire” proved crucial to the outcome and the Vics went down by one shot at the end of the night.
The Vics Wallasey League side continued their relentless charge towards a 6th League Title on the trot with an easy 115 shot home victory against Burton’s on Thursday night. Even with Skipper Mally Johnson ringing the changes for this match, the Vics proved too powerful and had 6 single figure winners on the night. Rampant Robby (Franklin) and his scholastic partner Professor Bill (Atkinson), both gave out free lessons with easy 21-07 victories followed by a couple of 21-08 wins for Cool dude Craig (Borbeneaux) and Shergar (Neil Sherbrooke). Our new Roving Reporter (Dave Gilmore) and Barnstorming Buzz (Anthony Thompson) came in with comfortable 21-09 wins with Magic Matty (Gilmore), lagging behind Dad again, winning 21-10. Jaunty John (Devlin) had a harder match before running out a 21-15 winner and Joe 90 (Ian Sherbrooke) was involved in an even tougher game, finally posting a 21-18 winning card. The Vics have not lost a League Match home or away since May 2004 and it seems that even after only six matches it could be another hard slog for the rest of the 1st Division this season.
It was role reversal at West Kirby this afternoon, when the afternoon “A” team stormed to a 73 shot victory over Bromborough Pool. A fortnight ago Eddie Clayburn was stunned to come off with a 21-03 win to find he had been pipped by that rampant rogue Robby Franklin winning 21-01. Today Robby Franklin strode off the green having demolished his opponent 21-03 only to find eager beaver Eddie had thrashed his opponent 21-02. How I wish some of us mortals could have these sort of problems. Not to be outdone by the dynamic duo, Elwyn Williams bounced back into winning ways with an emphatic 21-04 win. There were two 21-09 winners for the Vics as well, with both Billy Atkinson and Peter Walker coming in with these fine winning cards. Andrew Stratton must have thought he had done well when winning 21-13 in the first 4 but sorry Andrew, not good enough !!! The Vics did have 4 losing cards but had done more than enough to suggest that they will be looking to complete the double next week.
The Vics Wallasey League side went to Harrison Park last night to face the only other undefeated team in the League and it was the Vics who clicked into gear with an excellent 66 shot victory. The Vics had 3 single figure winners to see them on their way when Ian Sherbrooke 21-06, Billy Atkinson 21-07 and Nel Sherbrooke 21 -08, combined to blow Harrison Park away and set the scene for another stunning win for Mally Johnson’s side. Robby Franklin ran out a good 21-10 winner and Anthony Thompson got back to winning form, after a rare Wallasey League loss for him last week, with a 21-11 winning card. Dave Gilmore, as usual for him, had set the Vics scorecard moving at the top of the order with a 21-12 victory, the same winning scores posted by John Devlin and Robby Fitzpatrick. Matty Gilmore was the last Vics winner with a 21-15 card to enforce the feeling that once again the title will be on its way to West Kirby this year.
The afternoon “B” team suffered a narrow 14 shot loss away to Harrison Park “C” yesterday on warm and surprisingly dry afternoon. Derek Thomas had high hopes of an away victory at Wallasey but the home side, including players more used to being starred in their 1st team, were just too good on the day. The Vics put in a consistant performance with all players making double figures but with just three winners on the day for the Vics, Harrison Park pulled out enough to see themselves home by just the 14 shots. Paul Lomax, back on familiar territory, was the star of the show with a fine 21-09 victory after being 07-09 down. Harry Preston came in next with another equally good showing, when winning 21-10. At this stage the Vics seemed on the way to a rare away win but with only 1 more winner, “youngster” Peter Dodd, who had a tougher game than he should have had, winning 21-19, the Vics fell short at the end of the day but will be confident of reversing the scores next week for the valuable extra point.
The Vics Wallasey League side completed an early season double over close rivals Queens Royal, when their “Three Robbies” helped Mally Johnson’s side pull of an excellent and in the end convincing, 49 shot victory at West Kirby last night. Robby Franklin was the leading light with a stunning 21-09 win followed by Robby Hall, in excellent form for the Vics this season, winning 21-10. Not to be outdone Robby Fitzpatrick, showed no compassion, when producing a winning 21-13 scorecard against his Brother, Jamie. Dave Gilmore had set the Vics on their way with a commanding 21-10 win, quickly followed by Trevor Rodgers winning 21-11. Royal had won two of the early cards to suggest a tight match in the offing but with Billy Atkinson 21-13, John Devlin and Matt Gilmore both winning 21-17 and Eddie Clayburn completing nine Vics winners on the night with a hard fought 21-18 victory, the Vics had seen off their nearest challengers for the title with a big lead to take to Royal later in the season.
The Vics Wallasey League side gained sweet revenge for two cup defeats by Queens Royal last season, when they triumphed by 19 shots in the Harold Jones Cup 1st Round at Marine Park. Anthony Thompson was the star of the show after his early season holiday, with an excellent 21-08 victory which was closely followed by Robby Fitzpatrick’s 21-10 win. Dave Gilmore had started the ball rolling for the Vics with a good 21-13 win and there were impressive 21-14 wins for Trevor Rodgers and Bill Atkinson. Matty Gilmore came in at the end with a crucial 21-16 win in an excellent game with Mark Lynch and Robby Hall triumphed 21-20 after a titanic struggle with Craig Saville. It all added up in the end to a fine 19 shot win for Mally Johnson’s side and a booster for the home League Match against the same opposition on Thursday.
The Vics Wallasey League side retained the George Gilmore Memorial Trophy on Sunday afternoon with a convincing victory over a Wallasey Association select side. The real winners on the afternoon though were the R.N.L.I. and specifically the New Brighton Lifeboat, when the magnificent sum of £533 was raised for their worthy cause. I would like to thank all 32 players who took part in the match, at their own expense, and all the spectators and individuals who donated money for this event.
The Vics Birkenhead League side suffered another heavy away defeat tonight, going down by 86 shots at Gladstone on a damp evening. Team Captain Trevor Rodgers, tried out a new technique by informing Peter Dodd he was dropped for the next match before the start of this match. Unfortunately Trevors brand of reverse phychology didn’t have the required effect as the Vics only had 2 winners and the Secretary lost again, Peter has still won as many games as all but four of the rest of the team though but never mind, its only Doddy and he will still be there for the next League match. The Vics two winners tonight were Trevor Rodgers, yes folks he did turn up, who had a good 21-16 victory and Neil Sherbrooke, with a tight 21-18 win. Ian Sherbrooke 20-21 and Colin Saville 19-21 were the best of the rest on a night the Vics and certainly Trevor might want to forget. Unfortunately for Trevor the Secretary does not forget !!!!!! Finally thanks to Dave Bosworth, for turning out tonight in place of others who should have been there. Dave like the Club Secretary would never see the club field less than a full complement if he can do anything about it.
Brian Buck’s afternoon “C” team finally got their season started properly with a huge 64 shot home victory against Poulton on Wednesday but missed the aggregate point by 2 shots. Bernard Davies, proving to be a big influence in both “B” and “C” teams, starred with a tremendous 21-03 victory to set the tone for the afternoon. Lawrie Blackburn, still unbeaten, wasn’t far behind with another easy 21-06 win. Both Eric Neal and Bill Spraggett punished their opponents to the tune of excellent 21-08 victories and with Eddie Dodd also posting a fine 21-10 winning card the Vics looked as if they were going to gain the extra point. Unfortunately with three losing cards in the last five blocks this was not to be despite Ken Bidwell winning 21-15 and Bill Tottey, back from yet another Safari to South Africa, winning 21-18 the Vics missed out by 2 shots in the end. Brian Buck disappointed at losing out on the extra point will no doubt be looking for the same commitment in future home games and a few more winning cards away from home for the rest of the season, to enable the Vics to climb the table.