Bernard Yates Trophy gets underway for shooters in Hinckley Air Rifle League

THE closest results from the first scheduled round of matches in the Bernard Yates Trophy came at the Barwell Sports Bar, aka the Barn, where the home team, Taylor & Ayre, shot first in their match against the visiting Trojans.

Aly Steele started the action off by matching her target score of 28, after which Glenn Foxon hit a 26 to score two points, and Giles Headley recorded his first 30 of the season, whilst the highlights for the visitors were the 28s of Darren Houghton and Rob Forman.

T&A’s second half included 26s from Paul Griffin and Norman Hall before the ever reliable Alison Smith and Darren Hicks each shot 29.

Trojans’ response comprised a 28 from Leigh Hall, the 27s of Mark Smith and Will Chambers and a closing 29 from Chris Sills, all of which left the match ending with honours even, T&A winning the league fixture by 194-192 whilst Trojans managed a 10-9 win in the Bernard Yates Trophy competition.

Almost as close was the match at the Greyhound Inn were the Hounds played host to Smallshaws.

The visitors started slowly in the regular match with only notable first half score being Rob Wainwright’s 28 but this was still slightly better than the Hounds who struggled after Richard Green’s opening 27.

However, both teams improved after the break; Tom Williams topscoring for the visitors with a 29 before closing 27s from Jackie West and Bob West; whilst there was a 27-28-29 closing sequence from Richard Allen, Andrew Mitchell, and Paul Huddlestone; but Smallshaws had the greater strength in depth and so finished 189188 winners in the regular league match and 11-7 winners in the points competition.

The match at Ashby Road Sports Club finished with the Sporting Lions coming out in top in both competitions by comfortable margins.

The visitors had much the stronger first half with Lee Johnson’s 28 preceding Todd Astill’s 29, Karl Bunting’s 30, and Mel Jenkins’ 28, whereas Ashby Road had to be satisfied with Pete Finney’s 27 and Lorrarine White’s 28.

Whilst the Lions’ second half struggled a little the resulting 191 and 10 point totals were was more than enough to beat their hosts who, despite a second half 28 from Seamus Moore, finished on 185 and 6 points.