The Vics Wallasey League side stormed into the Harold Jones Cup Final last night with a comfortable win over Manor Road “B” at Liscard. With only 3 losers on the night, the Vics were never seriously challenged and easily overcame the meagre 30 shot handicap given to them by the Handicapping Committee. The Vics will play old rivals Queens Royal “A” in the Final on Saturday 14th July at a venue to be confirmed after Queens Royal had done a similar demolition job on Harrison Park in their semi final.
Charity Day Line Ups
The Charity Day Teams have now been finalised after some of the original selections have had to pull out and all the players who have had invitations have either confirmed or been unavailable for selection on the day. Hopefully the weather will be kind to us on Sunday and we can have a decent turn out of spectators to help us raise money for the Elm House Trust at Clatterbridge Hospital. The Match starts at 1-00 pm at Manor Road Bowling Club.
West Kirby Victoria Wallasey Select Side
1 Eddie Clayburn / Bill Astles
2 Colin Saville / Rick Keeley
3 Brian Leonard / Ernie Gartland
4 Bernie Owen / Craig Saville
5 Ken Palin / Andy Wainwright
6 Peter Dodd / Colin Jones
7 Nicky Gilmore / Maureen Saville
8 Keith Etches / Tommy Walker
9 Gerry Reeves / Denis Bulman
10 Billy Atkinson / Paul Diamond
11 Anthony Thompson / Les Henderson
12 Dave Leonard / Ron Hitchmough
13 Dave Gilmore / Les Jones
14 Matty Gilmore / Paul Saville
15 Robby Franklin / Noel Boyd
16 Mally Johnson / Mike Costal
Harrison Park’s Bob “Bulldozer” Edwards blasted his way to a third Veterans Merit Title tonight after a magnificent display of bowling in his three matches. Bob beat Association Chairman and last years winner, Mike Costall, 21-09 in his quarter final match and bettered this by one with a 21-08 defeat of club mate Derek Walker in the semi final. In the final Bob went one better again with a brilliant display in a 21-07 defeat of Bill Atkinson from West Kirby Victoria. Bob had taken to the heavy Magazine Hotel green like a duck to water and was never really challenged in his three games and was a worthy winner of the event. Bill Atkinson had come from behind in both his earlier matches, defeating John McEneany (Manor Road) 21-18 in a gripping quarter final match and then beating George Stead also from Manor Road, 21-14 in the semi final after George had taken an early lead. George Stead beat Roy Williams 21-11 in his quarter final match with Derek Walker beating his Harrison Park club mate Howie Williams 21-18 in another tough quarter final tie. All in all this was an excellent evenings bowling well Refereed by Syd Taylor with the only disappointing part of the night being the small crowd that turned up. Bob received his trophy from Association President Keith Etches and Association Chairman Mike Costall.
Billy Atkinson and Bob Edwards pictured with Referee Syd Taylor before the Final
All the League results and averages up to Thursday 21st June can now be seen via the Results section.
Billy Atkinson won the Martha Ashman Memorial Cup, at the excellent Lever Club green, when he defeated the 2005 Champion, Bill Cheesemam (Albany), 15-08 in the Final. Billy had earlier defeated Geoff Newnes (Kings 2000) 15-14 and was involved in another nailbiting 15-14 victory over Jimmy Welch (Albany) in the semi final.
The afternoon “B” team gained a much needed aggregate point against Greasby on Wednesday, when on a heavy Ashton Park green, Derek Thomas’s side ran out winners by a close run 12 shots.With 3 losers in the first 4 four blocks things looked bad for the Vics despite Ian Cameron winning 21-20 after a terrific battle. The Vics came good however in the middle 4 with “Dynamo” Dave Leonard, starting to show the form expected from him, having a good 21-16 win, supported by a much improved showing from Don Ibbotson in a 21-17 victory. A surprise appearance from “C” team Skipper Brian Buck, resulted in a welcome 21-20 victory for him after another titanic battle. With 4 winners each it was down to the Vics last 2 on the green to force a victory and to do so by enough shots to pull back the 8 shot deficit from last week. Peter “The Gourmet Chef” Walker was really cooking in his game and came off a good 21-11 winner leaving the Vics “Enforcer” Keith Etches needing to win to gain the aggregate point and win the match. Keith as usual came up trumps and forced his way to the top of the averages with a hard fought 21-17 win to send Derek and his team home happy. Next up is a Centenary Cup match at Birkenhead Park against Higher Tranmere “C”.
Because of the heavy work load I have this month with both the Wallasey C.G.B.A. and West Kirby Victoria Secretary jobs , I will not be posting any match reports until after the Charity Day on July 1st. Unfortunately with all the Individual competitions and Veterans and Senior County Matches to organise I do not have any spare time left this month. All the Match Results will be updated as normal during this time. I apologise for not keeping the match reports up to date as I know their are some people in Canada, New Zealand and the USA who read these reports.
Eddie Clayburn (West Kirby Victoria & Heswall RBL), won the Merseyside CGBA Jim Parry Memorial Trophy played at the Coffee House, Wavertree, Liverpool last Month.
Playing on the green for the first time Eddie beat some strong local competition to reach the final, where he beat Jim Wikely (H R B L & Frodsham Red Lion ) 21-18. Eddie now goes forward to represent Merseyside in the All-England Veterans County Merit at Whitchurch later in the year.
Eddie has already qualified for the All-England Senior Merit this year, and the winners of both these competitions will be invited to play in the BCGBA’s Champion of Champion’s competition on the Waterloo bowling green in September.
Afternoon “B” team Skipper Derek Thomas, despite a brilliant 21-05 victory for himself, was left rueing the continual disruption of his team selection by call ups to the “A” team again, when his team went down to a narrow 8 shot loss on a super quick Greasby green yesterday. With four winners, two 19-21’s and a 20-21 Derek was left bemoaning the poor start made by his team with the first five blocks losing ones for the Vics. “Dynamo” Dave Leonard finally “charged” his way to a first (of many we hope) league wins for the Vics with a determined display in a narrow but more comfortable victory than the 21-20 scoreline might suggest. With Keith “The Enforcer” Etches producing another fine display in an easy 21-10 win and Peter Walker bringing up the rear with a hard fought 21-19 victory, the Vics early losers proved crucial on another frustrating day for the Skipper. These narrow away defeats could easily have been victories with a bit more luck and the proper side fielded but that is life, with the “A” team gaining preference in team selection.
The afternoon “C” team made the short trip to Heswall RBL “B” yesterday and returned home well and truly thumped by 73 shots. To be fair to Brian Buck and his team further inroads into team selection by the “B” team left the “C” team struggling to raise their normal side. With only one winner however in John Brandon’s excellent 21-14 victory the Vics were never in with a chance on the excellent Heswall green. 18-21 displays by Reg Armitage and Harry Preston were the closest the Vics got to another win and a big task awaits Brian and his merry men in the return at West Kirby next week.