Pegasus win top of table clash
THE big game this week in the Bowls Loughborough Men’s Monday League Division 1 focused on the clash between leaders Shepshed Rams and second placed Loughborough Phoenix Pegasus at Bowling Green Way.
On a green that was flooded 24 hours before the game, it meant the green was heavier than anticipated and it was Pegasus who mastered the conditions better on the day running out a comfortable 82-29 (8-0) winners to move to the top of the table six points clear with two games to play.
Syston Fosseway could be the dark horse in the chase for the title as they face Rams and Pegasus in their final two matches and currently lie in third place nine points behind the leaders after they defeated bottom club Queens Park Queens 59-49 (7-1).
St Margaret’s Saints look the likely candidates for the drop next season after they lost at home 39-53 (4-4) to Belgrave Cygnets whilst Thringstone Woodpeckers secured a 55-31 (6-2) home win against East Leake Willows that should be enough to keep them in the top flight next year.
Birstall Lighthouse increased their lead at the top of Division 2 when they returned from Syston White Plum 65-31 (8-0) victors whilst Quorn Weavers moved into second place nine points behind but with a game in hand after they defeated Wymeswold Wolds 62-43 (6-2) at High Street, Quorn. Meanwhile, Birstall Sands moved into contention for a promotion place with an excellent 63-35 (8-0) win at home against St Margaret’s Maggies whilst at the other end of the table, Sutton Bonington Riversiders find themselves destined for Division 3 after they succumbed 41-55 (1-7) at home to Loughborough Greenfields Badgers.
Rothley Crusaders crashed to a 47-49 (3-5) away defeat at Sileby Swallows which allowed Loughborough Brush Peregrines to close the gap to seven points in the chase for the top spot in Division 3, Peregrines gaining a 73-35 (6-2) win at Wymeswold Steamers. Shepshed Lambs entertained Soar Valley Merlins at Charnwood Road and to the points with a 55-48 (6-2) win and Soar Valley Avons shared the points with Kegworth despite winning the match 46-43 (4-4).
Loughborough Phoenix Kingfishers 52-37 (7-1) victory over second placed Syston Fosseway Romans means they only require four points from their final league game to secure the title in Division 4 after Syston Green and Royals left themselves a lot to do following their 40-49 (2-6) defeat at the hands of Loughborough Greenfields Foxes, despite having a game in hand.
The bottom two clubs met at Nanpantan where hosts Loughborough Brush Hawks found themselves on the wrong side of a 46-53 (2-6) score line against visitors Belgrave Ringers.
Wymeswold moved a step closer to leaders East Leake in the Ladies Tuesday Morning League when they secured an excellent away win 45-17 (6-0) at Soar Valley whilst “Leake” could only muster a 41-36 (4-2) win at home against Loughborough Greenfields.
Third placed Kegworth just pipped Loughborough Brush 33-28 (4-2) whilst the remaining two games produced some excellent games, Keyworth scraping home 33-32 (4-2) against Loughborough Phoenix and the Shepshed and Sileby game finished all square 30-30 (3-3).
As it was Trophy Day in the Men’s Thursday Evening League, only one league game took place, that was between Loughborough Brush Eagles and Sileby Swifts where the game finished all square 65-65 (5-5).
Meanwhile in the Trophy East Leake Willows from Division 2 moved into the semi-finals on 15th August after they overcame division 1 Loughborough Greenfields 73-65 (6-4) at Holt Drive to secure a home tie against Thringstone Rangers who defeated Loughborough Phoenix Flyers 73-49 (8-2) in the all Division 1 clash. Loughborough Queens Park Carilloners of Division 3 put up an excellent fight at Division 1 Syston Fosseway before going down 67-69 (4-6) to hand the Fosse a home tie against New Lount Hares, current leaders of Division 1 after they overcame local rivals Shepshed North 75-73 (6-4) in a very close game.
Shepshed Lambs are the Champions of the Ladies Friday Evening League following their 35-26 (6-0) victory over fellow club team Shepshed Lions with Thringstone taking the runner up slot moving above Wymeswold after they overcame Syston Fosseway 60-8 (6-0) and the Wolds could only secure a 38-31 (4-2) win at home against Loughborough Greenfields. East Leake move above Quorn after an excellent 50-23 (6-0) against them.
Loughborough Phoenix and Queens Park met last Saturday at Queens Park in the annual Archie Peel Memorial Trophy fixture, a game played between the two clubs in memory of Archie who had been a good member of both clubs In an even game, well contested by both sides it was the Phoenix who took the trophy this year by a score of 67-54.
Phoenix skips names first: M Reeve 16 D Griffin 15, C Jackson 21 I Holmes 15, C White 17 D Moore 11, C Smith 13 T Burkinshaw 13.