Dramatic end sees promotion and relegation settled by tight margins

IN the final week of scheduled league matches in the Widnes & District Pensioners’ Bowls League, with the top flight title already in Eccleston’s hands, the interest was at the foot of Division One.

Here, Fords No1 were already down and could be joined by any one of five other teams.

In the event it was a very close call between Willow Brook and Bold as to which side would join them.

Both had the same number of points with Willow Brook having the advantage of being at home for their last match.

Bold, who were playing at Fords No1, started off well with three winners in the first four. Dave Swain (21-4), Jim Forrester (21-9) and Ken Naylor (21-10) put them 36 ahead at the halfway point.

At the same time, Willow Brook were losing at home to Halewood No1 by eight chalks.

Then both matches were turned around.

Fords No1 staged a remarkable comeback by winning the last four games, Fred Overy standing out once again with his 21-4 win.

The match finished tied at 128-128.

Incredibly, at Willow Brook the home side staged a tremendous recovery of their own.

They had three of the last four winners, and here the match also finished in a draw, 154 chalks to each side.

So the final relegation place was filled by Bold who had an inferior chalks difference of –17.33 to that of Bold’s –13.83.

Promotion from Division Two was also a very close call.

British Plate were lying in first place before the final set of matches, two points ahead of Victoria Park No1 and Victoria Park No2.

British Plate lost their last match at Runcorn War Memorial Club who were faced with the chance of relegation and both of the Victoria Park sides won.

British Plate, though, had the cushion of a far superior average which proved to be invaluable and saw them finish as champions.

Victoria Park No1 won at The Ball with six winners including Derek Mellor (21-3).

Victoria Park No2 won at home to Pavilions with Peter Sewell winning 21-3 and Harvey Leigh earning a 21-5 success.

So the second promotion place went to Victoria Park No2 by the most slender of margins. They had an average of 8.81 which just tilted the scales in their favour as Victoria Park No1 had an average of 8.06.

At the foot of Division Two the already-relegated Moorfield No2 ensured that Dundalk Halton would join them in Division Three next season by beating them by 47 chalks.

Division Three champions United Services Club lost their last match at Cronton by 36 chalks. The bottom place was filled by Hough Green Pensioners who lost at Halewood No2 by 104 chalks.