BURSCOUGH & LATHOM BOWLING LEAGUE

UNDER-18 MERIT REPORT 2011

 

On a fine, sunny & hot Sunday afternoon, 15 competitors whose ages ranged from 9 to 17 took part in the Burscough & Lathom Bowling League’s Under-18 merit competition. They enjoyed every minute of the afternoon & produce some top quality play for the assembled crowd to appreciate on the superb fast running Hoole Village Hall BC Green, which was a credit to the club’s greenkeeper. It was third time lucky for Kyle Dawes (Botanic Gardens BC) who took the title by beating Daniel Harding (Scarisbrick Bowling Club) 21-18 in an exciting final which was a fitting finale to this year’s competition. After taking a 12-5 lead in the first twelve ends of the final using a round peg mark on the clubhouse side of the green, Kyle looked like winning the final very easily. However, once Daniel regained control of the block, he battled back over the next 8 ends on a straight mark on another side of the green to lead 14-13. Over the next three ends, Kyle scored 4 chalks in succession to lead 17-14 & looked to be once again in control of the game until he played two of the worse bowls he had played all day to allow Daniel back in the game with a 2 to reduce the deficient to 16-17. Daniel was then looking favourite to take the title when he played some excellent bowls to take the score to 18-17. On the next end he played a side toucher with his first wood but he then sent his second wood too heavy & ran the block to Kyle’s back wood & then Kyle made his second wood count to take the score to 19-18 in his favour. He then played a round peg mark just over the crown & played both his bowls within a foot of the block whilst Daniel was short with his first bowl & too far with his second bowl to leave Kyle with the 2 he needed to take the game & title.

 

In the semi-finals, Kyle beat Adam Large (Crossens BC) 21-14 & Daniel beat Matthew Jones (Scarisbrick BC) 21-16.

 

In the early round-robin group stages, Daniel in Group B was undefeated with wins of 15-8, 15-10, 15-11, 15-11 whilst Kyle won Group C with wins of 15-14, 15-2 against last year’s winner, David Gibbons (Scarisbrick BC) & 15-5 whilst he lost 12-15 to last year’s runner-up, Alistair Adams (Scarisbrick BC) and Matthew won Group A with wins of 15-12, 15-10, 15-6 & a defeat of 10-15. Whilst Adam made the semi-finals as the best runner in the three groups with a wins of 15-2, 15-2, 15-5 & a defeat of 11-15 by Daniel Harding.

 

During the presentation, the league president, Mr. Roger Lambert of Hoole Village Hall BC, presented the trophies, prizemoney & certificates to all successful competitors. The League secretary, Mr Keith Robinson, was thanked for running another very successful competition by Arthur Adams on behalf of the parents & competitiors. The chairman, Mr David Taylor, then thanked Hoole Village Hall BC for the use of their facilities, as well as to Alan Wright, Arthur Adams & all the volunteers for their help in the successful running of the event. He also thanked the competitors for their good sportsmanship throughout the competition & hoped to see them all at next year’s event at Botanic Gardens BC.