Hesketh Arms won their first league trophy by winning the inaugural 3rd Division Cup with a 16 chalk victory over Hoole Village Hall A in the final, coming back from a 29 chalk deficit after only winning one of the first four games.

For the second year running, Tommy Draper (Promenade) lifted the President's day title, which is the 1st time in league history that anyone has retain this title, by defeating Mark Wilde (Banks St Stephens) 21-8 in a one-sided final. He played a round peg mark along the side of the clubhouse to dominate both the final & semi-final match against Roy Webster (Banks St Stephens), who he beat 21-07. Earlier in the day, he had played consistently well with easy wins of 15-07 & 21-07 in the first couple of rounds. His only close game of the day was in the last 8 when he beat Robert Farron (Longton) 21-15. In the other half of the draw, Mark Wilde (Banks St Stephens) was also playing consistently well and had wins of 15-6 & 21-18 in the early rounds. He was several chalks adrift in the last 8 at 14-19 down but he used all his skills to eventually get the better of Derek Prout (Croston Subscription) 21-20 in a thrilling game. He reached the final with a 21-14 win against home club player 19 year-old Luke Howard (Hoole Village Hall) 21-14 who finally found his handicap of giving 3 start too big a hurdle to overcome. In the final Mark could not match Tommy's superior play on the round peg marks & he seemed to have run out of steam due to the real tough games he had played earlier in the day compared with Tommy's easier route to the final. 39 competitors took part in this excellent event hosted by the League President, Mr. Roger Lambert (Hoole Village Hall). Despite the torrential rain in the morning, the weather cleared up to give a dry but cloudy afternoon for the competition & the competitors were rewarded with a thoroughly enjoyable day, which included a superb hotpot & apple pie tea. Play throughout the day was of the highest standard on the superb green which run well despite the heavy rain earlier in the day. After the final, the league president, Mr. Roger Lambert, presented the prizes to the winners & thanked the caterers for producing a superb tea, his club members for all their help & Keith Robinson, league secretary, for running another excellent event as well as to all the competitors who had taken part in the event. He finished by saying that he had fully enjoyed his day.

Darren Evans (Burscough RBL) played superbly & consistently well to take the Steve Rimmer Memorial Shield singles title on the superb maintained & running Hoole Village Hall green. No-one could match his play on his favourite round peg mark on the side of the green by the covered seating & he cruised to victory in all his games on finals night. In the Last 8, he beat Richard Jenkins (Banks St Stephens) by winning 7 of the last 8 ends to run out from 11 across. In his semi-final, he was never troubled by Dave Haskayne (Burscough RBL) after taking a 12-0 lead in the first seven ends & eventually winning the match 21-9. In the final his opponent was Carl Hankin (London Hotel), who had come through two tough games on the night 21-18 & had gone one better than last year when he was a beaten semi-finalist, after the early exchanges Darren trailed 3-7 but has soon as he was able to get on his mark he scored 11 unanswered chalks to swing the game into his favour which he finally won 21-14 to take the title which he thoroughly deserved as he was the best player on the night. The League & competitors would like to give many thanks to Roger Lambert (President) for presenting the trophy & prizemoney in the absence of Yvonne Rimmer, David Taylor & Roger Lambert for running the finals night in the absence of the secretary, who was away on holiday, & Hoole Village Bowling Club for the use of their superb facilities as well as to the organizers of the qualifying rounds at the various league venues.

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.

On a fine & mild late summer evening, in front of a large crowd of around 50 spectators, Keith Cheetham & Dave Haskayne (Burscough RBL) comfortably won the title of the ever popular League pairs competition on the superb fast-running Hoole Village Hall green. In the final, after six ends the score was 7-5 in favour of the Burscough RBL pairing, then Dave leading extremely well on his favourite corner mark ably supported by Keith scored a 11 break, which their opponents Arthur Baxter (Hesketh Bank) & Phil Rigby (Holmeswood) could not match to swing the final in their favour. This took the score to 18-5 & in another five ends they had wrapped up the game 21-7 in a one-sided affair to secure the title for the first time. Earlier in the evening, they had a hard fought win of 21-16 against Chris Harding & Mike Milne (Botanic Gardens) in the last 8 & a comfortable win of 21-08 against Bill Roddan & Bob Tweddell (Zetland) in the semi-final, which included a 17 break in the first eight ends. Whilst Arthur & Phil beat Colin Coffey & Jimmy Murray (Fleetwood Hesketh) 21-13 in the last 8 & Neil Noren & Alan Wright (Mere Brow) 21-17 in a really tough match in the semi-final. However, the match of the night was in the last 8 when Bill Roddan & Bob Tweddell were trailing against Steve Iddon & Bill Neale (Burscough RBL) 0-10 after six ends & 3-13 after twelve ends before staging a remarkable comeback to win the game 21-15. Roger Lambert (President) congratulated the winners and runners-up as well as all the prizewinners before presenting the trophy & prizemoney. The League secretary, Keith Robinson, thanked Hoole Village Hall BC & their members for all the help in hosting the night & for the use of the excellent facilities.

All officials & players are now looking forward to the start of another rewarding & exciting season in mid-April 2012. If you are interested in joining this Friday Night league, there are currently vacancies for players &/or teams of 10 players for clubs based in the West Lancashire & Southport Areas. For further information, please e-mail me, Keith Robinson (Secretary), at secretary@burscoughleague.org.uk with your details.

Return to Home Page