Plenty of close games in week one of Wednesday Evening Fours

THERE WERE three nip-andtuck games in week one of Halifax Bowling Club’s Spring Wednesday Evening Fours.

One of the best games on the indoor rinks featured Arriva (Les Holmes, Graham Hickey, Robert Holmes, Graham Wilson) and Saxons (David Armitage, Peter Lomax, Peter Greenwood, David Laycock).

The game commenced with Arriva dominating but Saxons having one player at each end successful with one bowl to prevent Arriva from scoring. At the ninth end, Arriva held a three before Saxons number three

Greenwood scored a five. Arriva skip Wilson played a superb bowl to reduce the advantage and leave Saxons holding a 7-3 advantage with three ends to play.

Arriva scored a single to reduce the gap again before they bagged a six to take the lead at 10-7.

In the final end Saxons could only manage a two to make the final score 10-9.

Another close game in the Wednesday Fours featured Light Relief (Steve Martin, Bob Sandie, Richard Firth, Tom Roper) and Gapp (Gary Robinson,

Danny Leather, Pat Grant, Peter Grant).

At the final end Light Relief needed a three for a draw but managed only a two to make Gapp the 12-11 winners.

The game between top teams Clayton (Tony Riley, Mel Fielding, Hedley Kettlewell, Paul Gill) and autumn champions Up the Edge (Chloe Hirst, Tom Gasson, Frank Higgins, Scott Smith) was another first class game.

Clayton conceded a four with the sides level at 4-4. At the start of the final end Up the Edge held an 11-8 advantage and Clayton fell short with a two as Up the

Edge, with star player Frank Higgins outstanding, won 11-10.

TNT (Peter Grant, Neil Mort) and Sisters (Del Haigh, Val Bax) played out an exciting game in the Friday Evening Pairs.

The sides were level at the last end but TNT scored a two to win 12-10.

New pairing Blue Woods (John Sharp, Andy Balmforth) got their new campaign off to a winning start with a 13-11 win over C Dogs (Ray Clegg, Michael Hutchinson).

MGM (Mick Rowntree, Gordon Akroyd) who finished second in the Autumn league edged

Gary & Pat (Gary Robinson, Pat Grant) 13-10.

Well Bowled (Brian Winrow, Jennifer Plane, Gary Plane, Nick Blackburn) and G2+A2 (Barbara Gee, Jimmy Bainbridge, John Hamer, Alan Fleming) both had hard first games in the Monday Afternoon Fours.

Well Bowled won 8-6 against Hard Lines (Pauline Ward, Maywynne Denby, Pam Berry, Jack Pickles) and G2+A2 led Dodgers (Eileen Dovernor, Lorraine Boulton, Jeff Dovernor, Rodney Collinge) 9-2 before a recovery by the former champions saw them narrowly lose 11-9.