Stadium bowl over the opposition to claim cup honours
● with wins from Sean Bell & James Holden and Ray O’Connor & Alan Jones, but the Cricket Club were too strong and finished the match off with three further wins for Trevor Chadwick, Dave Herley and Ian Sharples to give them the win.
● Mersey Hotel at home to Mill Brow Social Club
In the closest match of the week the Mersey took the lead through Paul Cotty. The Brow then stepped up their game to take the next three legs through Kev Helps, Paul Linger and Chris Bright & Paul Woodward. Not to be outdone the Mersey then took the next two to level the score with wins for Sharon Unsworth & Danny Cotterill and Mark Middleton and David Hughes.
With three to play there were wins for the Brow through Chris Bright and then Danny Cotterill for the Mersey. In this touch-and-go match it was all level going into the last leg, it was even level as they began shooting for the bull, but it was Brian Spruce who kept his cool to steal the win for the Brow giving them the match.
MONDAY, October 21, Widnes Bowling Club Cup Semi Finals and Final held at Widnes Bowling Club ● Mill Brow v Widnes Bowling Club
The first semi-final produced a close game in which the Bowler took the lead through Danny Magee. The Brow then came back with a win for Mike Callahan only to see Rob Magee retake the lead for the Bowler. Into the doubles and the Brow drew level again through Anthony Hitchmough & Mike Callahan. The Bowler then came back strongly with wins for Danny Magee & Rob Magee, Joe Batty & Alec McGill and Alec McGill in the first of the end single legs.
Despite the match already being lost the Brow didn’t give in and took the last two legs with wins for Dave Powell (15 darts), and Kieran Stringer to finish the match 5-4 to the Bowler, and put them into the final.
● Simms Cross Institute v Halton Stadium
In complete contrast to the first semi-final this match was a rather one-sided affair with the Stadium taking all nine legs. There were wins in the early singles for Alan Magee, Tony Jackson and Joe Kelly. In the doubles there were then wins for Kevin Garcia & Robbie Gorst (17 darts), Alan Magee & John Bowles and Joe Kelly & Jonny Leather (100 Checkout).
The late singles then saw the Stadium take their place in the final with wins for Robbie Gorst, Kevin Garcia and John Bowles.
● The Final: Widnes Bowling Club v Halton Stadium
The Stadium took a two leg lead with wins for Joe Kelly and Robbie Gorst (18 darts). Rob Magee then pulled one back for the Bowler but then the Stadium went into first gear taking all of the remaining legs through Robbie Gorst & Kevin Garcia, John Bowles & Alan Magee, Joe Kelly & Joe Price, Kevin Garcia (17 darts), John Bowles (17 darts) and Colin Rigby.
A great performance on the night from the Stadium, and they are worthy winners of the Widnes Bowling Club Cup 2019.
MONDAY, October 21, Mill Brow
Cup Semi Finals and held at Mill Brow Social Club
● The Hammer v Simms Cross Institute B
The first semi-final saw a very close game in which the Hammer took the first two legs through Rob Lea and Sean Connor. Andrew McCaffery then got the Stute off the mark only to see the Hammer take the next with a win for Andy Ellis & Chris Ellis.
The Stute then took the next two legs through Mark Johnson & Bernie
Teebay and Glyn Ryan & Andrew McCaffery.
Chris Ellis then grabbed another for the Hammer leaving them needing just one leg for the win, but back came the Stute through Luke Lund to make it level going into the last leg.
In a tense last leg it was the Stute who held their nerve with a win for Bernie Teebay to give them the win and put them through to the final.
● Goldmine v The Ball
The second semi-final saw another close game in which the Goldmine took an early lead with wins for Karl Windisch and Terry Roach.
Back came the Ball with wins for Martin Ball, Karl Whitfield & Martin Ball and Ged Kilburn & Lol Fonterigo, but another win for the Goldmine through Luke Littler (180) & Chris Clark (18 darts) made it all square.
Once again the Ball took the lead through Lol Fonterigo but yet again the Goldmine drew level through Anthony Conroy. And so into the last leg with it all square Karl Whitfield (18 darts) did the business for the Ball taking the leg, and the match to put them through into the final.
The date for the final of the Mill Brow Cup Semi Finals is to be arranged.