This week featured the two Pairs Semi-Finals. On Monday at Littlemoor in a match that was played early, it was an all Littlemoor affair with Sid Ash and myself taking on team-mates, and holders of the trophy, John Allan and Graham Tudor. 

Sid and Graham were up first. Sid's handicap points advantage on Graham was just 10 and so a close game ensued. As well as being close, there were long periods when virtually nothing happened with the balls somehow being magnetised to the cushions. Once the room was warmed up, the balls then behaved, and ran better. Although it was close throughout, it was Sid who finished better and closed out 201-192. 

The handicap start I had on John was therefore 64 instead of  55, which (I believed) was plenty enough for Sid & I to have a great chance. John started well though with an early break of 21. I managed to claw that back early with 2 breaks in double figures. So, early on the advantage was maintained and looking good from our point of view. However, the running seemed to change, but with the game now flowing much better than in the first half, it was John who took full advantage, scoring two good breaks into the twenties. Although a couple of decent chances fell my way, in and amongst not much to go at, they were squandered. He caught me up around the 350 mark and never looked back to claim the win by 400-362. "Well done to them and good luck for the final."

The other semi-final was played on Thursday at St Andrews ... the only detail I have is that Congs brothers Dave and Mick Hirst beat St Andrews A's Nigel Brayshaw and Neil Lee 400-327. I'm also advised that Nigel hasn't been well recently, with some time in hospital. I'm not sure whether this had an effect on the result, but our best wishes go to Nigel for a speedy recovery and to get well soon.

This coming Thursday will see the first final of the season featuring the culmination of the Team Knockout contest, between Pudsey Congs and Littlemoor. On their way to the final Pudsey Congs beat St Andrews A and Princeville, whereas Littlemoor beat Bradford Deaf and St Andrews B. The final will be played at St Andrews and we are hoping to get an early start of around 6:30pm. All spectators / supporters are welcome. We will also be using the newly introduced rule in this competition i.e. that who plays whom, will be drawn from a hat prior to the commencement of play. The best of luck to all involved.

Lastly, please note that the next league meeting will be on Friday the 2nd May at St Andrews, when we will be drawing the Individual Merit semi-final contenders. 

David Howarth

League Secretary

Just the four Individual Merit matches to report on this week...

Steve Boocock and Dave Hirst were the early birds at St Andrews and played out quite a straightforward match, in which Dave was the more consistent scorer of the two, but without either of them doing anything exceptional, it was Dave who finished the better, and with little fuss, to win 200-187.

Neil Lee and I were up next. If the first game wasn't very much to write home about, this game certainly had nothing in comparison. After a multitude of no scores, 2's, 3's and 5's, both of us had good chances to win at the end... both of us spurned them. It was Neil that eventually fell over the line to claim a place in the semi-final... and so good luck to him. From my point of view, it was definitely one to forget!

John Bedford and Peter Allan then livened things up, with Pete quick out of the traps and extending his 25 handicap advantage up to nearly 50. John persevered and adopted a more measured and tactical approach, potting Pete's yellow and then running both balls safe a few times. It worked... a 20+ break then got him right back into it after he had scored a couple of double figure breaks that were met with little response. Once in front, John's confidence grew and he was able to close the game out very well to win by 200-164.

Elsewhere, I only have the scores to report on the Ralph Allan and Richard Bowes game... 200-149 to Richard... enough said.

This coming week... It's Easter and so we have a free week. Don't overdo it on the chocolate (he said) and we will resume on the 24th April with the Pairs semi-finals, which are shown on the appropriate page.

By David Howarth

League Secretary

With just half a point between the top two teams, going into the final week of the league campaign, it really was all to play for... Littlemoor's form over the previous eight matches had been hit and miss at best, having won just four of them. Their constant pursuers, Pudsey Congs, had won all eight... Littlemoor were a full 9 points clear of their nearest rivals at one stage, but Congs were relentless, with their upward pressure on them, as the end of the season drew closer. 

In the final week, both teams were away - Littlemoor at St Andrews B and Congs were at Princeville. Playing bottom of the table St Andrews B, made Littlemoor favourites to clinch the title. However, they were uneasy, having suffered a 5-1 defeat the previous week to the A team at the same venue. Congs must also have had one eye on the fact that Princeville had recorded a 5-1 home win last week against Bradford Deaf. 

I'm unaware of the playing order at Princeville, but at St Andrews B, John Allan got Littlemoor off to a good start, beating Dave Smith 170-156. Littlemoor's Dave Howarth then had a big win over the luckless John Oyston 200-146 in just 25 minutes; and Graham Tudor then followed that up with a much closer 200-186 win over Steve Clark to put Littlemoor (possibly) in an unassailable position. However, in a nail biting final game, and being unaware of what was happening at Princeville, St Andrews B's John Bedford managed to just edge out Ralph Allan 157-152. The news was through though, that with just 5 minutes left, that Ralph's game didn't really matter; as Congs had only drawn 3-3. Littlemoor were league champions!

At Princeville, the scorecard shows that Richard Bowes suffered quite a big defeat to Princeville's James Butcher 155-97, and with no breaks recorded on the scoresheet, and playing on his least favourite table; was possibly the explanation for that defeat. Princeville's other vital winner was Keith Tomlinson over John Hirst 194-145. Dave Hirst knocked in a 29 break on his way to beating Gareth Kershaw 199-163 and then Congs Phil Hirst managed to get the better of last week's (brief) Players Table leader, Graham Bentley, 160-192. Congs will be disappointed with that, but were the first to congratulate Littlemoor with WhatsApp messages sent very soon after.

*** LATER ADDITION***

James Butcher has sent me the following match report, but for some unknown reason, I hadn't picked it up when I wrote the initial round-up. Here it is now:-

"Little Princeville knew at the time (except for the home skipper), Graham Bentley was top of the Players Table at Week 19. Largely on the back of 2025 performances that Rick Astley would be proud of!

First up was James (Butcher) v Richard (Bowes) and Keith (Tomlinson) v John (Hirst). The top board game started slowly, gradually turning into an attritional affair. Although Richard played some fine individual shots to start a break (most notably the long jenny), a break of significance to overcome the handicap difference and time limit did not materialise. James played a percentage game and gave little away.  Being content to pot the yellow ball on a number of occasions when scoring chances were not clear. Chances became more clear in the final 10 minutes or so.  Richard had an opportunity to get within parity and had promise to score a break past fifty but could not find the clutch moment whilst having all three balls at the top of the table. James played a ball in hand long game towards the end to secure a win.  

On the other table Keith started off better, commentated his way to a 16 break en-route and at one stage appeared to be ahead by almost 60. John pulled some points back at the end, but up against the time. In true fashion, Keith confirmed his win by putting the kettles on.

Next up was Gareth (Kershaw) v David (Hirst) and Graham (Bentley) v Phil (Hirst). Graham appeared slightly nervous. The 2nd board game started off at a high tempo. Both David and Gareth registered double digit breaks within their first three visits. But it was David who got going first, with an array of long cannons and good link up play en-route to a valuable 29 break. Gareth tried to hit back and had an opportunity to get close to parity but could not execute key shots from ball in hand. Whenever Gareth tried to pull it back to less than a street, approaching single figures, David found a scoring surge to maintain his well-produced lead. 

On the other table, both Graham and Phil got off to a fast start. The lead changed hands many a time.  Eventually Phil built a solid lead of a street. Graham started one of his trademark comebacks, but Phil was in no mood to get "Rickrolled" and continued his scoring prowess, with a view of winning the aggregate point.

Both sides shared the points.  A gallant comeback from Pudsey Congs right and up until the very end."

At Windhill & Daisy Hill Cricket Club, St Andrews A continued their storming final quarter of the league season in picking up another 5-1 win, with good wins from Graham Pearson, Neil Lee and Gary Rogers. Ian Ford was the home team's only winner by just 6 points. That 5-1 win leapfrogged St Andrews A up to fourth spot above Princeville. It was pointed out to me by Gary Rogers that if the league season was just in the final quarter of the season, then St Andrews A would be champions!

As the season draws to its natural close, this coming week will see the Individual Merit quarter finals with 3 matches at St Andrews and one (potentially) at Littlemoor, but as the bowls season is "waking up", that match could be played elsewhere, or may even be rescheduled. Good luck to all those involved.

The final Players Table is also now up to date and will form the basis of how all next season's player handicaps will be assessed. 

David Howarth

League Secretary