Coates beats clubmate to retain title
Gareth Coates of Akroydon Victoria retained the Halifax Association’s Merit title, sponsored by Quality Stoves, at Sowerby T & BC on Sunday. The defending champion had a 21-15 victory over club-mate Ian Smith in the final.
Coates struck good form early on, taking a 9-1 lead in his opening game against Brian Hildred of Laurel Crescent.
He finished with a break of seven to win by 21-12 after Hldred had fought back to within two chalks at 12-14.
Coates made a shaky start to his second game, against Clayton Victoria’s Paul Gill. He trailed by 3-9 before recovering to draw level at 12, then ran out with a break of nine to win by 21-12.
In his quarter-final against Phillip Holroyd of Hill Crest, Coates was 13-4 ahead before Holroyd rallied to within two chalks at 11-13.
A break of seven took Coates to all-but and although Holroyd threatened a late fight-back, Coates went on to win by 21-15.
Coates’ resolve was sternly tested in his semi-final against Siddal’s Martin Greenwood.
Little separated the two in the early stages with the scores level at seven before Coates pulled ahead 13-10.
Greenwood edged ahead at 14-13 but the scores were level again at 16 and 18. A pair brought Coates to all-but and, after a single to Greenwood, Coates went through 21-19.
Ian Smith scored a break of 12 on the way to his 21-7 victory over Hill Crest’s Jason Harris in his opening game.
He enjoyed a second comfortable victory, by 21-10, in his second game against another Hill Crest player, John Halliday.
In his semi- final, Smith faced Akroydon Victoria clubmate Julian Dawson.
Dawson led 4-0 after three ends but Smith drew level with consecutive pairs and gradually took control to win 21-13.
The lead changed hands several times in the first half of the final.
Smith led 4-3 before Coates moved ahead by 8-5. Smith went ahead again with three consecutive pairs to lead by 118 before Coates replied with a similar break to go ahead by 14-11.
After another double by Smith, a break of six took Coiates to all-but.
Smith responded with two singles but Coates finished off the game at the next end to complete a successful title defence with a 21-15 victory.
Quarter-final scores: Yorkshire Parks Ladies Division One: Moldgreen 2 Silsden 8 (118-150), Mytholmroyd A 4 Linthwaite B 6 (145-147), Linthwaite A 7 Akroydon Victoria 3 (158-134) Pl W D L Pts 11 10 0 1 83 9 7 0 2 61 10 6 0 4 56 8 6 0 2 51 9 5 1 3 51 9 6 1 2 51 10 4 0 6 43 11 2 0 9 39 11 2 0 9 34 10 1 0 9 25 Silsden Mytholmroyd A Paddock Hove Edge Linthwaite A Linthwaite B Halifax A Akroydon Victoria Moldgreen Sowerby Division Two: Spring Hall 3 Siddal 7 (134-145), Cullingworth 3 Mytholmroyd B 7 (138-157), Greenroyd 2 Canalside 8 (114-154), Lindley 6 Halifax B 4 (136-133), Halifax C 0 King Cross 10 (98-168). Canalside Siddal King Cross Bradshaw Park Mytholmroyd B Halifax B Lindley Cullingworth Greenroyd Spring Hall Halifax C Pl W 11 10 11 9 11 8 10 7 11 5 9 5 9 4 11 3 9 2 9 0 9 0 D 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 L 1 1 3 3 6 4 4 7 6 9 9 Pts 84 76 74 60 53 47 44 42 30 25 15 The gap between Elland WMC and Brighouse Sports at the top of the Halifax League remains three points after both won 9-3 on Wednesday. Division One: Brighouse 9 Asa Briggs 3 (191161), Akroydon Vics 10 Siddal 2 (197-134), Crossroads 8 Hove Edge 4 (191-157), Greetland 8 Todmorden Park 4 (194-174), Hill Crest 4 Mytholmroyd 8, Elland WMC 9 Clayton Vics 3. Points: Elland WMC 96, Brighouse 93, Clayton 84, Hove Edge 82, Mytholmroyd 81, Akroydon Vics 78, Crossroads 77, Hill Crest 61, Asa Briggs 58, Siddal 54, Todmorden 51, Greetland 49. Halifax & District gained a stunning and much-needed 24-8 win over Preston in Division One of the Federation of Crown Green Bowls National League. They won nine of the 12 individual games at home and seven of the 12 away for a 455 – 393 scoreline. At Mytholmroyd BC, Richard Hobson (Brighouse Sp), Robert Holmes (Elland WMC) and Gary Murphy (Hill Crest) all won to single figures At Kirkham Cons’ large but less demanding green, Halifax won two of the first six games but