Ex Services take the honours against Sporting Lions

THE penultimate week of action in the Hinckley Air Rifle League’s 2017/18 season took place at the Ashby Road Sports Club where Bedworth Ex Servicemen’s Club and the Sporting Lions met to contest the final of the Norman Illiffe Cup.

The season’s record between the two, two wins to one in the Lions’ favour, one of which was just seven days previous, suggested that the Lions should be considered as slight favourites but it had to be born in mind that with both teams stuffed with quality shooters any result was possible.

With a bare seven shooters, Bedworth’s start to the match, a 26 from Mick Cryer, was a little lower than they would have wished for but they soon recovered from any disappointment as Andrew Cryer’s 29.3 was followed by Klaus Baker’s 28.3, Jackie Bend’s 28.1, and Robert Wagstaff’s 28.2. The response from the Lions’ first half started with an excellent 30.3 courtesy of Lee Johnson and whilst the remainder of the half couldn’t fully follow Lee’s lead Todd Astill’s 27.2, Karl Bunting’s 29.3, Jeanette Mulkeirins’ 26, and Glen Dainter’s 28.2 were still good enough to give them a slight first half advantage.

Bedworth’s second half continued as the first had ended with James Bend scoring another 28.2, but their final man, Bill Bend, upped the level, demonstrating the form that made him the season’s top shooter as he scored the 30.3 that took Bedworth’s total to a formidable 198.4.

Whilst a tough target this was by no means out of reach for the Lions but an opening 25.1 from Melanie Jenkins was more than a little disappointing and although Pete Dainter improved on this slightly with his 26.2 it still wasn’t enough to give their final shooter the opportunity to win the match.

As it was Mollie Harris’ 22 wasn’t amongst the Lions’ top seven scores and so didn’t count towards their 192.2 total, meaning that Bedworth claimed the cup.