Birstall Lighthouse pull off shock Trophy victory against Phoenix Pegasus

PICK OF the results in the first round of the Loughborough and District Bowls League Monday Trophy was the surprise defeat of Division 1 Phoenix Pegasus at home to Division 2 Birstall Lighthouse.

It was a very close encounter with the visitors going through to the quarter final on July 2, by the closest of margins after winning on two rinks by one shot and drawing on the third rink to take the game 54-52 (7-1) to earn an away trip against Wymeswold Wolds who defeated East Leake Willows 64-54 (6-2). Division 1 Shepshed Rams had a comfortable 62-36 (8-0) win at Sileby Swallows from Division 3 and will now host another Division 3 side Phoenix Kingfishers who beat Division 4 Wymeswold Steamers 47-32 (6-2) at Far Lane.

Syston Green & Royals of Division 4 were no match for Division 1 Thringstone Woodpeckers the visitors moving into the next round courtesy of a 76-32 (8-0) win where they will host Greenfields Badgers from Division 3. Badgers could only field two rinks but still managed to defeat Division 4 Shepshed Lambs 50-32 (4-2). Controversy in the Brush Hawks versus St Margaret’s Saints match where Saints appeared to be the victors 52-46 (6-2) however upon receiving the score cards it showed Saints having fielded two players in one rink who had already played in the Trophy for another team.

The committee therefore had no alternative but to award the game to Hawks with a revised score of 45-31 (6-2). Hawks will now host Quorn Weavels from Division 1 after they overcame Division 2 opponents Belgrave Cygnets 48-43 (6-2).

In the Thursday League Shepshed North move to the top of Division 1 following their trip to previous leaders Thringstone Rangers where they won a hard fought game 73-58 (8-2). Syston Fosseway move off the foot of the table after they defeated Wymeswold Wolds 78-61 (8-2) whilst New Lount Hares leap above visitors Brush Eagles following their 72-56 (6-4) victory.

It’s extremely close in Division 2 where four point separate the top five teams. East Leake Willows retain their place at the top despite going down 63-81 (4-6) at St Margaret’s Maggies and Loughborough Greenfields 71-59 (8-2) defeat of Queens Park Carilloners moved them into second place and left the Carilloners adrift at the foot of the table. It’s not over until the last wood is bowled is the old saying, and this was certainly the case at Quorn where with one end to go and the match standing at 6-4 to the home side and four shots up on the last end, the visiting skip killed the end. The end was replayed and with the home side again two shots up the visiting skip took the jack into the ditch to claim five shots and clinch a victory for the Phoenix Flyers by 76-60 (6-4).

Leaders in Division 3 Sileby Swifts lost their 100 per cent record when they went down 64-66 (2-8) at Sutton Bonington who move up to second in the table. Kegworth continue to score highly in their games, this week beating Rothley Knights at their Nottingham Road green 90-44 (10-0) whilst Shepshed South beat a depleted Soar Valley 60-43 (8-2).