Cleeve are champions
WITH one match remaining Bishops Cleeve secured top spot in the De Rose Wealth Management North Gloucestershire Bowls League with a 120-75 win over Cheltenham, winning on three rinks to give them nine points and an unassailable lead.
Dan Clifford, Terry Poulson, Ken Waghorn and Chris Johnson, who were six shots down with four ends to go put on a late charge to beat Keith Cripps, Brian Davies, Neville Capper and Ian Deakins 25-16; Pete Rushworth, Alan Jackson, Dave Humphries and Andy Letts won 26-11 against Alan Myers, Charlie Rodgers, Dan Brookes and Richard Purser and Neil Hook, Rob Johnson and brothers Phil and Sid Harvey won a very comfortable 34-6 against Bill Notman, Keith Dorman, Chris Stone and Ian Chapman. Although Charlie Parker, Brian D’gama, Jack Daniels and Neil Smith lost 19-24 to Mike Banyard, George Bevan, Peter Babbage and John Doody and Mike Harvey, Dave Parry, Steve and Dave Hopkins just lost 16-18 to Max Macky, Barry Steele, Kevin Costello and David Heath.
Nearest rivals Tewkesbury also won on three rinks and overall against Churchdown beating them 97-90.
Ivan Robins, Richard Evans, Rob Arthur and paul Keicher had a 27-17 win against Jeff Bailey, Stu Allen, Alan Wales and Roger Stollery’ Kelvin Bear, Tom Cervantes, Frank Hannigan and Dave Boulton beat Fred Etheridge, Bob Major, Graham Dean and Steve Scott 17-14 and Malcolm Swain, Keith Hawkes, Colin Campbell and Dave Minchew won 20-18 against Nick Marsh, Stu Dockree, Dave Blogg and Nigel Cox.
Tewkesbury’s nine points puts them 5.5 points ahead of third placed Cheltenham who could catch them if they stumble against Cheltenham Whaddon and the Town win well against Spa.
Cheltenham Whaddon pushed Cheltenham Spa into bottom place in the table, beating them 106-88, winning on three rinks to give them nine points.
Peter Weir, Richard Mason, Peter Mcgiffie and Dave Simmons beat Digger Dicks, Richard Summer, Alan Taylor and Mike Chandler 17-12; Tudor Morgan, Steve Patterson, Don Hughes and Geof Hack had a 22-14 win against Alan Beach, Mike Davis, Graham Emptage and Steve Barratt 22-14 and Jim Bowd, Ken Aldridge, Eddie Broughton and Ray Hawkins won 23-10 against John Minett, Robin Eeles, John Salmon and Adam Grieve. don Bailey, Bernard Rain, Malcolm Hodges and Roger Avery lost 13-26 to Paul Dicks, Keith Evans, Trevor Ritchie and Dave Wiggall and Frank Ladbrook, Colin Bassett, Steve Gillan and Nigel Kavanagh were beaten 19-26 by Jim Dixon, Ken Thomas, Brian Shurmer and Frank Kelly.