Wiltshires win again

TOM and Rob Wiltshire of Shepley BC and Penistone won the Harry Maxwell Adult and Junior Competition final for a second time. And the 2015 winners did it in an intriguing family final, 21-14.

On the opposite side was their brother and son respectively, Joe Wiltshire (Penistone), partnering Scott Singleton of Almondbury Lib.

The Wiltshire’s mother Liz stayed quiet on the sidelines as Joe and Scott tried to defend their title.

In the showpiece at Shepley, Tom and Rob managed to edge their way onto their favourite mark across the middle and went 12-7 up. A good bowl by Joe stopped the rot and the lads got it back to only 15-12 down.

But Rob Wiltshire’s experience and near woods made it very difficult for Scott and Joe.

Facing foot woods nearly every end on a tricky mark, they eventually lost out 21-14.

A delighted Rob and Tom collected £140 first prize from sponsor Mrs Norma Maxwell.

The competition is in honour of her late husband Harry Maxwell.

This year it attracted 25 pairs for the fourth running, with total prize money of £370.

In the early rounds, fiveyear-old Blake Hick played with dad Michael and had a good 21-13 win against homesters Amelia Hudson and grandad Norman Raper. Young Tyler Halmshaw, playing with Marsh Lib teammate Carlene Kain, had a nice 21-19 win against Sam Richardson and Stephanie Halmshaw, who also plays from Marsh Lib.

But the match of the early rounds was between father and son, Jason and Jamie Shaw.

Jason paired up with Almondbury Lib player and Yorkshire county junior No1 Cameron Ghaffar while Jason’s son Jamie paired up with Yorkshire junior Ethan Wareing.

Jason and Cameron raced to an 8-1 lead playing with a lot of bravado and confidence. But Ethan and Jamie got back in, and with a 10 break led 11-8.

Jason and Cameron weren’t fazed and with the pair oozing confidence and playing to an enthusiastic crowd, Cameron led out at 20-11.

Cameron played a good lead and with Jason complementing Cameron’s bowl, the boys were looking up Taxi numbers to book Ethan and Jamie a safe journey home!

But Jamie played a stunning bowl to keep them in the game.

Ethan found some rhythm and led very well, plus Jamie kept finding a good one when needed.

Several Jason Shaw strikes hit fresh air and with the crowd supporting the underdogs, suddenly it was 20-20.

Ethan played a difficult downhill mark towards the croquet pitch and put one within two feet.

Neither, Cameron or Jason could beat it and with lots of shaky heads, Cameron and Jason couldn’t believe they’d lost a remarkable game 21-20.

In the quarter-finals the star of the show was Blake Hick.

Running his second bowl up every end whether it was good or bad, and with a big smile on his face, standing next to the jack until his dad asked him to move.

Ex-British junior crown green merit winner Michael found some good form and beat their also young opponents Tyler Halmshaw and Carlene Kain 21-11.

In the semi-finals, Scott and Joe played young Blake and Michael.

Again young Blake kept the crowd smiling, playing some very good bowls and some bad ones as well, but running them up each time.

This time his dad Michael couldn’t match the accuracy of Scott or Joe and they lost 21-12.

In the other semi-final, good bowls were common place and all four bowlers played really well.

Tom and Wayne raced into a 16-7 lead and looked likely winners. But once again the tricky LATEST qualifiers to the intermediate stage of the Mirfield Old Bank Autumn Double are Richard and Joe Stockdale (Guiseley), who beat Chris Macdonald and Chris Ward (Stafford) 58-50.

Also through are Jon Wilcox and James Wilcox (Crossgates), who beat John Crossley and Mark Britton (Wigan) 62-59.

A Moss and P Latham (Crewe) v P Evans and S Simpson (Willenhall); R Crowther and P Senior (Spen Vic) v R Jackson and Partner (Thongsbridge).

AW Riley and Partner (Brighouse) v D Watters and S Coupe (Preston), P Fielding and B Stapleton (Rochdale) v A Daykin and J Dyson (Thongsbridge).

G Ainley and A Sorsby (Sheffield) v D Bodley and S Bodley (Wolverhampton), N Slattery and D Beeby (Huddersfield) v J Brown and M Allman (Lower Hopton/Littlemoor). Shepley green helped a good comeback and, playing a mark across the centre of the green, Tom Wiltshire led really well and complemented by his dad Rob, they ran out with a 14 break.

Junior secretary Geoff Martin thanked Norma for her sponsorship, and hosts Shepley.

Leah Keyworth/Rhys Beaumont (Broad Oak BC) (2) 12 Daniel Berry/Ryan Waller (Almondbury BC) (4) 21; Holly and Mark Rushworth-Robinson (Broad Oak) (6) 10 Tom and Wayne Hirst (Almondbury Lib/ Lower Hopton) (2) 21; Charley Evans/Nigel Kain (Marsh Lib) (6) 13 Eddie and Malcolm Gilbert (Shepley BC) (4) 21; Cameron Ghaffar/Jason Shaw (Alm Lib / Kirk Con) (scr) 21 Scott Shaw/ Sharron O’Melia (Alm Lib/Farnley Tyas) (3) 15; Callum Wadsworth/David M Jones (Shepley BC) (scr) 6 Ethan Wareing/Jamie Shaw (Kirkheaton Con/Alm Lib)(scr) 21; Liz Wiltshire/Lewis Pickering (Shepley BC) (5) 21 Ethan and Loise Hick (Almondbury Lib) (7) 16; Aidan and Anthony Crawley (Marsh Lib/Moldgreen Con) (4) 9 Alice Whitehouse/ James Robson (Marsh Lib) (5) 21; Tom and Rob Wiltshire (Shepley BC/Penistone) (scr) 21 April and John Rushworth (Broad Oak/Thorpe Green) (9) 9; Aidan and Harold Hick (Alm Lib/Mirfield Old Bank) (7) 21 Adam and Jamie Evans (Marsh Lib) (6) 12.

Amelia Hudson/Norman Raper (Shepley BC) (4) 13 Blake and Michael Hick (Alm Lib/Mirfield Old Bank) (7) 21; Tyler Halmshaw/Carlene Kain (Marsh Lib) (9) 21 Stephanie Halmshaw/Sam Richardson (Marsh Lib/Alm Lib)(6) 19; Scott Singleton/Joe Wiltshire (Alm Lib/Penistone)(3) 21 Megan Beresford / Lisa Robson (Marsh Lib) (7) 18; Tom and Russell Gilbert (Shepley BC) (4) 14 Daniel Berry/Ryan Waller (Almondbury BC) (4) 21; Tom and Wayne Hirst (Almondbury Lib/Lower Hopton) (2) 21 Eddie and Malcolm Gilbert (Shepley BC) (4) 17; Cameron Ghaffar/Jason Shaw (Alm Lib/ Kirk Con) (scr) 20 Ethan Wareing/ Jamie Shaw (Kirkheaton Con/Alm Lib)(scr) 21; Liz Wiltshire/Lewis Pickering (Shepley BC) (5) 12 Alice Whitehouse/James Robson (Marsh Lib) (5) 21; Tom and Rob Wiltshire (Shepley BC/Penistone) (scr) 21 Aidan and Harold Hick (Alm Lib/Mirfield Old Bank) (7) 12.

Blake and Michael Hick 21 Tayler Halmshaw and Carlene Kain 11, Scott Singleton and Joe Wiltshire 21 Daniel Berry and Ryan Wallker 20, Tom and Wayne Hirst 21 Ethan Wareing and Jamie Shaw 8, Alics Whitehouse and James Robson 17 Tom and Rob Wiltshire 21.

Blake and Michael Hick 12 Scott Singleton and Joe Wiltshire 21; Tom and Wayne Hirst 16 Tom and Rob Wiltshire 21.