League’s promotion and relegation issues finalised
ALL OF the promotion and relegation issues are now finalised in the Bowls Loughborough Leagues.
Champions of the Monday Men’s Division 1, Loughborough Phoenix Pegasus were without a game this week having played second placed Syston Fosseway earlier, so Shepshed Rams had it all to play for to secure second place above the Fosse, and they found relegated Queens Park Queens in fine form on the Park, but managed to get enough points in a 48-47 (6-2) victory to claim the runner up slot.
There was nothing to play for in the remaining games other than pride as St Margaret’s Saints were already relegated and they went down on their travels to Thringstone Woodpeckers 44-52 (2-6) whilst East Leake Willows travelled to Belgrave Cygnets and returned home victorious 61-41 (6-2).
The two Birstall Bowling Club sides, Lighthouse and Sands have secured the promotion places in Division 2, Lighthouse are the champions after an emphatic 93-32 (8-0) win against relegated Sutton Bonington Riversiders and Sands take second place following their 64-46 (6-2) win at Quorn Weavers.
The fight to stay up between Loughborough Greenfields Badgers and Syston White Plum was won by Badgers in fine style, 65-27 (8-0) sending White Plum down. Wymeswold Wolds were also in the drop zone before their game against St Margaret’s Maggies but they pulled off a good win, albeit close, 57-55 (6-2) to stay up.
Rothley Crusaders and Loughborough Brush Peregrines were already promoted but their games would decide who went up from Division 3 as champions, and the Crusaders collected a 47-44 (7-1) win at home against Kegworth to secure the title, whilst Peregrines beat Soar Valley Merlins 55-41 (6-2). Wymeswold Steamers and Shepshed Lambs were already relegated before the teams met at Wymeswold this week where the hosts took the spoils with a 57-49 (6-2) win. The mid table clash between Soar Valley Avons and Sileby Swallows was won by visiting Swallows 49-46 (7-1).
With no game in Division 4 this week for champions Loughborough Phoenix Kingfishers, there was a real challenge for the four teams below them, all of whom could secure the second promotion place depending on results on the day.
It was Syston Green and Royals who, with an excellent 63-30 (8-0) win against Loughborough Brush Hawks secured second place, with Loughborough Greenfields Foxes currently sitting in third place after a convincing 65-36 (8-0) home win against Belgrave Ringers. Fosseway Romans and Quorn Dons fixture was postponed.
With East Leake having already been crowned champions of the Ladies Tuesday Morning League it was left to Kegworth and Wymeswold to battle it out for the runner-up place.
Kegworth had home advantage in their game with East Leake but it was the visitors who took the points with a 34-28 (4-2) win whilst Wymeswold travelled to Keyworth and collected the vital points needed in a 32-28 (4-2) victory that assured them the runners-up place.
There were close games at Loughborough Phoenix and Shepshed, Phoenix winning a hard fought game 33-32 (4-2) against Soar Valley whilst Shepshed hosted Loughborough Greenfields and secured a 37-34 (4-2) win. The remaining game saw a comfortable win for Sileby 48-25 (6-0) at home against Loughborough Brush.
It was down to the wire in the Men’s Thursday Evening Division 1 where leaders Shepshed North had a difficult away game against second placed New Lount Hares who could still take the title with the right result. In a tight game it was North who accrued enough points to ensure the title was theirs for the third season in a row, despite losing the match 60-66 (4-6).
Meanwhile it was a similar situation at the bottom where Thringstone Rangers and Syston Fosseway met to determine who would remain in the top flight next season, and it was Rangers who collected a 77-59 (8-2) victory which sent the Fosse down to Division 2 along with Loughborough Greenfields who had an excellent 74-62 (8-2) victory at Loughborough Phoenix.
In Division 2 East Leake Willows and St Margaret’s Maggies were already promoted and this week’s results would determine who took the title. Both teams had difficult ties, Willows at home to third placed Wymeswold Wolds and Maggies away at Quorn Millers, however, with both teams winning, Maggies 82-68 (6-4) and Willows 76-57 (6-4) it left Willows on top of the table one point ahead of the Maggies.
The bottom two sides met at Sileby where hosts Swifts required four points to remain up but their visitors Loughborough Brush Eagles proved too good on the day winning 85-56 (7-3) to send both sides down next season.
With Rothley Knights having a free week they were reliant on Soar Valley not getting more than six points from their away game at Division 3 champions Queens Park Queens but in a close scoring game, they took the second promotion place with a 63-59 (8-2) win leaving Knights rueing the day they fielded a rink short that resulted in a two point deduction and missing out on promotion.
Shepshed South moved a point ahead of their visitors Sutton Bonington in their mid-table game following their 69-68 (6-4) victory whilst bottom side Soar Valley Valoars finished their season on a high with a 71-68 (6-4) win against fellow strugglers Loughborough Phoenix Risers.