Shepshed Rams take the division championship
SHEPSHED Rams have secured the Loughborough and District Bowls League Monday Division One championship after a comfortable 65-38 (6-2) victory against Phoenix Pegasus with Wymeswold Wolds just missing out by one point after they could only secure a 56-53 (5-3) score line against Syston Fosseway.
The three points picked up by the Fosse send Birstall Lighthouse down to Division Two after they could only collect four points in their game at East Leake Willows, going down 52-53 (4-4) to join St Margaret’s Maggies, who lost 42-68 (0-8) at Queens Park Queens, in the lower division next season. In Division Two Thringstone Woodpeckers secured their place in the top flight next season with an emphatic 68-35 (8-0) away win at St Margaret’s Saints but along with second placed Syston White Plum must await the outcome of the postponed game between Quorn Weavels and Brush Peregrines to determine who takes the title and who else goes up.
White Plum did all they could to challenge for the second promotion slot with an equally emphatic 65-31 (8-0) win at relegated Brush Hawks leaving Weavels the task of obtaining seven points next week to join Woodpeckers in the other promotion place or eight points to claim the title. The mid table clash at Belgrave ended all square with the visitors Greenfields Badgers winning the game 65-48 (4-4) but having to share the points with hosts Cygnets.
Birstall Sands and Kegworth are promoted from Division Three following Sands 58-39 (7-1) win at home to Soar Valley Avons and with Greenfields Foxes already relegated the fight to stave off the remaining place took place at Mountsorrel where home team Soar Valley Merlins hosted local rivals Rothley Crusaders. In an extremely tight game it was the visitors who secured enough points to safely avoid the drop. Despite losing the match they shared the points 50-52 (4-4).
Sileby Swallows confirmed their dominance in Division Four winning their final match 58-47 (6-2) against Wymeswold Steamers to take the title nine points ahead of Sutton Bonington Riversiders who went down 38-50 (2-6) to mid table Fosseway Romans. Shepshed Lambs had a good win in a hard fought game at Syston where hosts Green and Royals continued their stuttering form succumbing to a 42-45 (2-6) defeat, whilst bottom club Soar Valley Conways finished their season with a 51-43 (6-2) win at home to Belgrave Ringers.
The final of the Thursday Trophy took place at Thringstone BC between Brush Eagles and Syston Fosseway where an excellent display of bowling produced a nail biting finish. With a very good crowd in attendance, Eagles took the initiative early in the game to lead 20-17 after five ends but the next five ends saw the Fosse collect 24 shots to Eagles 12 to lead 41-32. At 15 ends it was 62-51 in favour of the Fosse but the rink of James Alcock collected 16 shots in four ends to claw the game back for Eagles. With three rinks finished the scores were level at 67-67 however it was Fosseway who collected the all important shot on the final rink to clinch the Trophy 68-67 (6-4).
The Presentation Night will be held at Brush Bowls Club on Friday, September 15, commencing with a game at 6pm followed by the presentation of trophies and a buffet.