Reigning champions make impressive start to season with victory over newboys
REIGNING Monday League champions, Syston Fosseway started their new Loughborough & District Bowls League campaign with a 55-44 (6-2) home win over newly promoted St Margarets Maggies, whilst champions of Divsion 2, East Leake Willows start in the top flight didn’t go quite to plan, going down at home 50-66 (2-6) at the hands of Phoenix Pegasus.
Shepshed Rams were happy with their visit to Birstall Lighthouse, returning home with a 57-43 (6-2) win under their belts, however, Queens Park Queens were not so lucky on their trip to Wymeswold to play the Wolds, losing 44-60 (2-6).
Relegated Thringstone Woodpeckers found the going a bit easier in Division 2 and showed they mean to return to the top flight at the first attempt with a comfortable home win 69-41 (8-0) over Greenfields Badgers. In the Red Island derby in Leicester, Belgrave Cygnets made the short trip round the island worthwhile, beating local rivals St Margarets Saints 56-46 (6-2) whilst at Quorn the Weavels hosted a depleted Brush Hawks side who only fielded two rinks, Weavels winning 52-19 (8-0) and Hawks will also have the mandatory two point deducted for an incomplete team.
Surprise in Division 3 was the last minute withdrawal from the League of Sileby Finches. In a statement from Sileby Bowling Club, they informed the League that they were not in a position to field two teams on a Monday and regrettably had to withdraw the Finches. In the games played, Phoenix Kingfishers entertained Rothley Crusaders on their green at Bowling Green Way and came out on top 50-37 (6-2) and Soar Valley Merlins made the trip from Mountsorrel along the A6 to Kegworth only to return empty handed, Kegworth taking all the points in an emphatic 66-27 (8-0) victory.
In Division 4 new kids on the block Fosseway Romans commanded their game at Soar Valley Conways winning 50-34 (8-0) to show they will be a force to be reckoned with in their first season in the League. The two relegated teams from Division 3 met on the first game of the season at Syston where home advantage didn’t help the Green and Royals, visitors Wymeswold Steamers stealing the show 54-40 (8-0) but it was better news for Sileby Swallows who travelled to Leicester to play Belgrave Ringers and took the honours in a close fought encounter 48-41 (6-2).
In the Thursday League Division 1 Wymeswold Wolds lost the game to Shepshed North North but took the majority of the points on offer with a 59-76 (6-4) scoreline at the Memorial Hall ground, whilst the match between Thringstone Rangers and New Lount Hares saw the Hares home by 71-56 (6-4).
The relegated teams of Syston Fosseway and Quorn Millers got off to a good start in their life in Division 2, both winning their opening game, Fosseway beating newly promoted Sutton Bonington 76-43 (8-2) with Millers collecting a 76-53 (8-2) victory in their away game at East Leake Willows. There was a close game at Nottingham Road where hosts Kegworth entertained Sileby Swifts, the visitors taking the spoils 77-66 (6-4).
With Brush Harriers withdrawing from the league at the last minute, Division 3 is now down to only five teams. Both of the remaining games were close encounters, Shepshed South pipping Soar Valley Valoars 72-63 (6-4) whilst Rothley Knights made the short journey to Mountsorrel to play Soar Valley, and despite losing the match by only seven shots, they found themselves on the wrong end of a 73-66 (9-1) defeat.