Silverware joy for Overy, Jones and Higginson in individuals’ contests

THE second set of individual competitions in the Widnes & District Pensioners’ Bowls League reached their conclusions this week.

In the semi-finals of the Fred Jones (Division One) competition, Fred Overy beat George Leishman 21-19 in a keenly-contested match and went on to face Jimmy Nolan who had bowled with great skill and tenacity to overcome his teammate Brian Young in the other semi-final 21-12.

In the final, Fred held sway as he came away with a 21-15 win to secure the silverware.

The Fred Jones (Division Two) competition followed a similar pattern.

In the semi-finals, Jim Penney beat John Hope by a comfortable 21-10 margin and Robin Jones held on to see off Mike Couzens 21-15.

The final was a close affair. With both players bowling well, the lead changed hands several times and after 16 ends Jim led 18-16.

Robin won the next end and would not lose control of the block after that point.

His 21-18 win gave him the trophy.

The competition in Division Three was for the Charles Saywell Trophy.

In the semi-finals, the one player not from Widnes Bowling Club No2, Colin Yates, lost to Mike Ward 21-10.

In the other semi-final, Peter Higginson just held out against teammate Peter Myler 21-20 in the closest match of the afternoon.

In the final, Mike was not able to reproduce the same standard that he had shown in his semi-final and Peter ran out a convincing 21-10 winner.

In the league, Eccleston won again, this time at Halewood No1. They have still only lost one match all season and look set, even at this stage, to retain their title.

Moorfield No1 had quite a battle at Bold. The home side had two 21-7 winners in the first four to get them off to a flying start. George Leishman (21-9) and Ray Dutton (21-11) ensured that they were not too far behind at the halfway point. Brian Hough then won 21-7 to put Moorfield in front with three games left on the green. Alan Mitchell won his match 21-17 but the other two went the way of Bold.

Roy Pearce (21-16) and Roy Cardwell (21-13) just ensured that Bold would cross the line first, winning by just a single chalk.

The Grapes are now the closest rivals to Eccleston but they were given something of a shock at bottom side Fords No1. After four blocks Fords led by nine chalks after both sides had had two winners.

The second half of the match, though, belonged almost entirely to The Grapes. The one winner for Fords was Fred Overy (21-12). The other three winners were all from The Grapes. Peter Hollet (21-5), John Briggs (21-4) and Pat Crowe (21-2) ran away with their games to give The Grapes a 34 chalk win.

Subscription No1 can have no complaints about their self-inflicted demise at Widnes Bowling Club No1.

Widnes had four winners and two walkovers with Subs only fielding six players.

In the other top flight match, Willow Brook had six winners at home to Rainhill who have now fallen into the relegation places.

In Division Two, Victoria Park No2 are now level on points at the top of the table with British Plate who had an open date. However they had to thank Ken Plumpton (21-5) in the first four and Harvey Leigh (21-7) in the second for their hard-fought win at home to Runcorn War Memorial Club. Both sides had four winners and these two matches pushed Victoria Park over the winning line by 12 chalks.

Pavilions had seven winners at home to Victoria Park No1. Ray Barnett (21-6), Mike Ainsworth (21-7) and Alan Richards did the early damage for the home side and Derrick Mellor gave Victoria Park some comfort in the first four with his 21-4 win.

The second half of the match belonged to Pavilions, who won by 49 chalks.

Castle Park had John Smith to thank for their 10 chalks win at Dundalk Halton in a close contest where each side had four winners.

The Ball was too strong for bottom club Moorfield No2 when they visited them. Trevor Forber (21-5) in the first four and Frank Lomax by the same score in the second four were the pick of The Ball’s four winners.

United Services Club continue to lead the way in Division Three. They had a comfortable 168-76 win at home to Hough Green Pensioners.

Widnes Bowling Club No2 are now in second after making the most of Fords No3 having an open date.

Widnes won at Cronton by 42 chalks with Derrick O’Neil (21-6) being the pick of their six winners.

Today, Widnes host Fords No 3 in a match which could ultimately decide which of these two teams gains promotion at the end of the season.