STOCKPORT METRO LEAGUE

VERSUS

WEST YORKSHIRE

VENUE

WOODHOUSE PARK LIFESTYLE CENTRE, WYTHENSHAWE, MANCHESTER.

MATCH RESULT: STOCKPORT: 24 POINTS.

WEST YORKSHIRE: 16 POINTS.

Welcome everyone to the new indoor season, and, virtually twelve months ago we were welcoming the new champions, West Yorkshire. Here we go again! Stockport welcoming the reigning champions, West Yorkshire! The match took place on Sunday 11th October, 2009, commencing at 11am.

Representing Stockport in the singles games was:

Adam Smith (Avon’s) and Lesley Fennell (Hazel Grove)

Adam commenced his season against Royston Lewis and after the first six ends was cruising at 11 shots to 2. Royston then woke up and took the game by the scruff of its neck and by the 11^th end had cut Adam’s lead to two shots at 11-9. Then the pendulum swung Adam’s way as he put the game to bed by the 14^th end taking 9 shots without reply from Royston, although Royston did take the 15^th to end the game 20-shots to 10: an excellent start by Adam and the first two points in the bag.

In his second game Adam took on his old adversary, Darren Cookson. Adam quickly settled into his stride and by the 3^rd was leading Darren by 5 shots to 1. The game then see-sawed along with both players picking up shots that at the 10^th saw Adam in front at 8 shots to 7. In the 11^th Adam picked an excellent three but was immediately floored in the 12^th by a great four from Darren. 11 across then became 14-11 to Darren at the 14^th. In the 15^th Adam made a great effort to draw level but only managed a single as Darren finished at 14 shots to Adam’s 12. This was another excellent game between two very good players.

Lesley started her campaign against Darren and by the end of the 8^th end had run up 11 shots to Darren’s 3. Darren then started his comeback and by the 12^th had reduced the deficit to 1 shot as Lesley led 11 shots to Darren’s 10. Lesley then took the 13^th with a single but Darren closed the game out with 5 shots from the last two ends; the final result being Darren 15 to Lesley’s 12. This was an excellent game from these two players.

Lesley’s second game saw her matched with Royston. They both started steadily and by the end of the 7^th Lesley had a one shot lead at 7-6. Royston then took 6 good shots from the next two ends to lead 12-7. Lesley dug in and played good bowls to take 5 shots to bring the game all square at 12 across on the 12^th end. Royston took 1 on the 13^th; Lesley took one on the 14^th and so into the final end all square. Lesley produced good bowls and was holding two shots as Royston played his last wood; and what a wood it was as he took out Lesley’s two and claimed the game by 1 shot at 14-13. Both players played excellent bowls and it was a shame there had to be a loser.

Representing Stockport in the pair’s games was:

1. Win Thompson (Woodley) and Billy Burn (Bramhall Village)

2. Rhona Mason (Poynton A) and Scott Smith (Avon’s)

Win and Billy opened the doubles season against Geoff Scott and Keith Worrall and immediately hit top form as they racked up 14 shots to 3 at the end of the 9^th. They were then hit with a 4 as Geoff and Keith put in more effort to catch the Stockport pair; who took 3 more shots from the next two ends to lead 17-7 at the end of the 12^th. Both pairs then took 1 shot each, and the 15^th end saw the Yorkshire lads claim a good 3 as Stockport ran out very good winners at 18 shots to 11.

Their second game saw them matched against Dave Fletcher and Andrew Miles. By the 5^th the Stockport pair held a comfortable lead at 6 shots to 1. Both pairs then took 3 shots each too give Win and Bill a 9 shots to 4 lead at the 9^th. 1 shot apiece-10-5; then Dave and Andrew hit the Stockport pair with an excellent three in the 12^th to bring the score to 12-8 in Stockport’s favour. At this stage Dave and Andrew must have fancied their chances but that thought was quickly squashed as Win and Bill took 7 from the remaining three ends to gallop over the winning line 17 shots to 8. This was an excellent four points from Win and Bill.

Rhona and Scott started their season with a game against Dave Fletcher and Andrew Miles. The Stockport pair played good bowls and ran up a 7shots to 1 lead at the end of the 6^th. They continued in the same vein and held 10 shots to 5 lead at the end of the 12^th; eventually getting home by 14 shots to 6. This was a good performance from the Stockport pair as they picked up two well earned points.

Their second game was against Geoff Scott and Keith Worrall. Rhona and Scott continued where they had left off as by restricting their opponents to single shot scores they had opened an 11 shots to 5 score at the end of the 10^th. The Yorkshire pairing only managed 3 more singles as Rhona and Scott took the game 14 shots to 8. This was a tremendous result for the Stockport pair as they took all four points and ensured the extra 2 points for the aggregate score.

Representing Stockport in the triples was:

1. Bernie Thornley (Great Moor) Graham Edwards (Woodbank) Bernard Fennell (Hazel Grove)

2. Charlie Cooper (Denton A) Paul Mason (Poynton A) John Lax (Woodley A)

The triples commenced with the two Bernie’s and Graham taking on Barry Cookson, Geoff Cooper and Granville Stoyles. Stockport got away to a flying start with an excellent 4 on the first end. This was quickly followed by two sets of 3 against 1 shot from the Yorkshire lads. At the end of the 6^th the Stockport lads were in front by 10 shots to 4. This was increased to 17-4 at the end of the 9^th. The Yorkshire lads made the score a touch more respectable with 3 shots from the last two ends, Stockport cantering home 17 shots to 7.

In their second game, they were matched against Hazel Cookson, Doreen Chadwick and Kevin Siddle. At the end of the 6^th Stockport were leading 5 shots to 3, with the Yorkshire trio hanging on to the game; but then Stockport took a 4 and a 3 against 2 singles for Yorkshire and ran out easy 12 shots to 5 winners. This was another two excellent results for this trio, and a further 4 points to the total.

Charlie, Paul and John started against Hazel, Doreen and Kevin; the Yorkshire team really flew out of their blocks and by the end of the 4^th had raced into a 10-0 lead. Stockport then hit back with 5 shots from the next three ends; two more to Yorkshire and 2 from Stockport left the game at 12 shots to 7 at the 10^th in favour of Yorkshire, giving Stockport an outside chance of a possible draw: Yorkshire spoilt that dream with an impressive four from the 11^th, giving them a final 16 shots to 7 result. This was an excellent display from the Yorkshire trio.

The Stockport trio then faced Barry, Geoff and Granville in their second game, which proved a lot more productive for them. They really ran their opponents ragged over the first 9 ends, going into the 10^th with a lead of 12 shots to 3. Yorkshire took two singles from the 10^th and 11^th as Stockport romped home by 12 shots to 5. This was a good comeback by this trio and apart from ensuring 2 more points, it secured another 2 points for the winning aggregate total.

Representing Stockport in the fours was:

1. Louise Smith (Avon’s) David Bates (Great Moor) Jan Wilson (Smithy Green) Allison Boulton (Denton A)

2. Paula Moores (Great Moor) John Pajak and Geoff Griffiths (Woodley) Barry Chadwick (Europa)

Stockport opened the fours with Louise, David, Jan and team captain Allison Boulton; they were matched against Eddie Sidberry, Margaret Lavan, Arthur Roundhill and Ron Lavan. Stockport was soon chasing the game as the Yorkshire side slipped into a 6 shots to 3 lead at the end of the 5^th. 2 shots to Stockport in the 6^th was followed by 1 shot to Yorkshire in the 7^th; and at this stage with Yorkshire leading 7 shots to 5 a very tight game had developed. In the 8^th Stockport took an excellent 4 shots to lead Yorkshire by 9 shots to 7. Then, disaster struck as Yorkshire scored a great four shots in the 9^th to take the game by 11 shots to 9.

Their second game saw them up against the Yorkshire four of Carol Robinson, Margaret Stockhill, Len Robinson and Walter Stockhill. This game was quite a tight affair with both sides restricted to mainly single shots until the 5^th end when Yorkshire hit Stockport with an excellent 6 shots which gave them a 9 shots to 2 lead. Stockport only managed two more singles as the Yorkshire four ran out easy 12 shots to 4 winners.

Paula, John, Geoff and Barry opened their account against Carol, Margaret, Len and Walter; and as seems to be the case regarding the fours games this was another very tight game as the sides were locked at 5 shots apiece at the end of the 8^th. Once again a Yorkshire side excelled itself on the last end, this team taking a brilliant 5 shots off the Stockport four; the final result being 10 shots to 5 in favour of Yorkshire.

In their second game the Stockport four faced Eddie, Margaret, Arthur and Ron. Typically, another hard fought game with neither side giving an inch. At the 6^th Stockport had only scored 2 shots against Yorkshire’s 5 which were all singles. In the 7^th Stockport took 2 shots as they also did in the 8^th to lead 6 shots to 5. Then came the 9^th end but this time Stockport made no mistake as steady bowling saw them take 1 final shot to win the game 7 shots to 5 and take two very welcome points.

Understandably, team captain Allison Boulton was very pleased with this result. We had again taken on the reigning champions and after holding them to a very creditable draw in 2008; had finally defeated them.

Stockport’s next match is against Humberside (away) on Sunday 25^th October, 2009.

Finally, our thoughts must again be with John Metcalf (Europa) and his family. John was taken into Stepping Hill Hospital recently after suffering yet another heart attack. He is at present in ward B4 and he tells me that he has to undergo more tests and possibly an angiogram at Wythenshawe Hospital.

Ron Hamilton (Stockport)

19^th October, 2009.