West Kirby Victoria Bowling Club

The Vics travelled to Shrewsbury this morning to compete as the Merseyside representatives in the British Crown Green Club Championship but were beaten by the 2008 Champions, Tonge from Manchester. The Vics lost out by 21 shots despite excellent displays by John Devlin 21-11, Billy Atkinson 21-13 and John Lloyd 21-19. Ian Sherbrooke 18-21, Mally Johnson 15-21 and Karl Sherbrooke 14-21 all performed creditably at the excellent Severside complex. A disapponting loss for the Vics but once again the level of competition the Vics are now playing at shows the increasing strength the Club now has with regular appearances at these events.

The Vics Birkenhead Evening League side showed why they are amongst the favourites for the Division One Title this year, with a comfortable 84 shot home victory on Friday against a Bromborough Pool side with a few extra additions to last season. The Vics only had 2 losing cards on the night and with Mally Andrews 21-05, John Lloyd 21-08, Mally Johnson 21-09 and Ian Sherbrooke 21-09 all starting off the season in style with excellent performances, new Skipper John Lloyd looks to be facing some interesting selection posers as the season progresses. Anthony Thompson 21-12, Karl Sherbrooke 21-13, Brian Leanord 21-14, Robby Franklin 21-15, John Devlin 21-16 and Matty Gilmore 21-19 all got off to a winning start and with Andy Dawson, Jamie and Robby Fitzpatrick, Trevor Rodgers and Neil Sherbrooke all waiting to start their season, the Vics look strong enough to pose a real threat to all the other teams in the league. The return against Bromborough Pool is on Monday night.

The Vics afternoon “A” and “B” teams came through their preliminary round matches in the Afternoon Shield unscathed on Wednesday but the “C” team were unfortunately eliminated. The “A” team travelled to Bromborough Pool to play Gladstone Tigers and despite having to give away 10 shots won quite comfortably in the end with only 3 losing cards. The “B” team played on a very quick Birkenhead Park green and in a tremendous match against the previously unbeaten Thingwall, which finally finished at 4-35pm, came through by 3 shots. The Vics had seven winning cards with 21-17 wins for Ian Cameron and Ian Hamilton being the best in as tight a match as you could wish for. Unfortunately the “C” team could not hold on to the 35 shot handicap against Second Division, Lever Club despite a fine performance.

Skipper, Ian Wilson, set the standard required from his team with a commanding display in a 21-04 victory at Heswall RBL “B” last Wednesday. The Vics players followed his lead well by posting 7 away winning cards in a fine 25 shot win. Ted Lawrence once again showed that he is fast regaining his form from a few years back, with a fine 21-10 victory. Calvert Jones delighted his Captain by bowling well in his 21-13 win and both Arthur Fagan and Ray Farrell came through tough encounters to post 21-17 winning cards. “Bluey” Davies, 21-18 and Harold Rutter 21-19 got off to welcome winning starts to the season to complete a magnificent 7 away winners for the Vics on the day. Ian Wilson will be hoping for more fine away displays like this during the season to set the Vics up for a charge up the League Table. The Vics play Lever Club at Royden Hall next Wednesday in the Shield.

The Vics afternoon “B” went down by 6 shots at an uneven Harrison Park green last Wednesday despite Skipper, Keith Etches’s brilliant 21-06 victory. After a comfortable home victory last week, the Vics had high hopes of not just the aggregate point but also an away victory. The Vics did have 5 away winners on the day but just could not pull back from 2 early single figure losses. “Branding Iron” Brandon made it 2 wins out of 2 with an excellent 21-11 win and both Derek Thomas and Bill Purcell also completed early season doubles with 21-14 wins. Ian Hamilton proved that last seasons away victories were no flukes with another fine 21-17 victory on foreign soil. Keith Etches showed no mercy in a clinical display of bowling and was understandably disappointed to lose out by such a narrow margin at the end of the day. The “B” team take on Thingwall at Birkenhead Park on Wednesday in the Shield.

The Vics afternoon “A” Team started off their home campaign with a disappointing 8 shot loss against Harrison Park “A” last Wednesday. With only 5 winners on an excellent, if slowish green, the Vics could not turn round the 38 shot loss from the previous week. Mally Andrews, running out from 09-10 down had an excellent 21-10 win and Elwyn Williams displayed fine form in a really good 21-13 victory over danger man, Dennis Robinson. Tony Ryding gained his 1st win of the season with a 21-15 winning card and Robby Franklin completed his second 21-16 win of the season to remain unbeaten so far this term. Special mention must go to Andrew Stratton who recovered from his shock demise last week to post a fine 21-16 winning card. There were disapponting displays by Eddie Clayburn, Peter Dodd and Skipper, Billy Atkinson, with all 3 bowlers seemingly unable to come to grips with either the pace of the green or the fine displays of Ernie Gartland, Peter McEneany and Brian Pinder respectively. Next up for the Vics is a Shield match against Gladstone Tigers at Bromborough Pool on 22nd April.

The Vics crashed out in the First Round of the British Crown Green Team Bowling Championships at Irlam yesterday despite winning 5 of the 8 games on the day. The Vics went down 143-148 in the end against the possible favourites for this years title, the Tonge Bowling Club from Manchester. Robby Fitzpatrick 21-15, Jamie Fitzpatrick 21-18, Matt Gilmore 21-18, Dave Gilmore 21-14 and Billy Atkinson 21-20 were the Vics winners on an excellent green at Irlam and Tonge went on to qualify for next Sundays Finals day with an emphatic 40 shot victory against Middleport Park.

The Vics will be looking for revenge against Tonge on Sunday 26th April in the B.C.G.B.A. Club Championships at Severnside in Shrewsbury.

The Vics afternoon “A” team started the season off with a disappointing 3-9 defeat at Harrison Park “A” this afternoon on a sluggish green in Wallasey. The Vics, without Skipper, Billy Atkinson were captained by Dick Peake for the first time and Dick had a problem right from the start, when Eddie Clayburn became unwell at the side of the green and had to withdraw from the match just before he should have started his game. A quick reshuffle saw Alan Hughes in the 1st four and Alan fought hard throughout before finally losing 19-21. Mally Andrews, making his debut for the afternoon side, could easily have won his match with a bit more luck but went down 20-21 at the end of a tough encounter. The Vics unfortunately had 4 losing blocks in the 1st four but did share the spoils in the middle four. Bernard Davies stepping up to the 1st team for the holidaying Skipper, carried on the fine form that saw him 3rd in the “B” team averages last year and produced an excellent, hard fought 21-20 victory. Club Secretary, Peter Dodd, had a good 21-10 winning start to the season to erase the memories of his ignominious opening game hiding last year. Robby Franklin, a late stand in for the sick Eddie Clayburn, carded a fine 21-16 win to provide the Vics 3rd point of the day and hopefully we can gain the extra point in the return fixture at West Kirby next week. The 38 shot deficit is not insurmountable and Billy Atkinson will be hoping for an improved performance from the team and with every individual winner now claiming a point there are plenty of points available to add to the 3 gained today.

The Vics afternoon “B” team started off the new season in style after last season’s promotion to Division Two, with an emphatic 10-2 victory over Harrison Park “B” at a truly excellent Ashton Park green today. Ernie Peers outshone everyone else on view with a majestic 21-02 winning performance that can only bode well for new Skipper, Keith Etches, and his team. Ernie completely outplayed his opponent in double quick time to set the Vics on the way to having 8 winning blocks out of 10. Ian Cameron showed he has lost none of his appetite for Ashton Park, with an equally impressive 21-07 winning display, to keep up his fine home form from last season. Mally Johnson, perhaps with a point to prove after dropping down to the “B” team this season, and Keith Etches both had comfortable and classy 21-10 victories with Peter Walker not far behind with a fine 21-11 win. There were more difficult games for Derek Thomas and John Brandon but both persevered to post 21-18 winning cards. Bill Purcell very nearly had to go the full distance but managed a really tough 21-19 win in the end. With the new points scoring system now in operation, the Vics collected 10 points in a more than impressive display and Keith Etches will be confident of more individual winners at Harrison Park next week and with a 56 shot lead will be looking for the aggregate point as well.