The Peterborough Evening Telegraph
Parkway pair close to a fifth national title at Leamington
Bowls - Bowls England National Championships
Parkway pair Sarah Newson and Catherine Popple came close to a remarkable fifth national fours title at Leamington last week.
Teaming up with youngsters Chloe Brett and Merisha McKernan, the former England internationals guided them through to the semi-finals at the Bowls England national championships.
Having been drawn to play in the preliminary round, the local quartet had to overcome five strong challenges to reach the last four, where they were beaten 6-26 by a Kent team including three current internationals.
En route to the semi-finals they defeated rinks from Hampshire (21-19), Warwickshire (26-13), Wiltshire (16-15), Cumbria (21-16) and Oxfordshire (19-14).
The other Parkway quartet – Emma Thurston, Sophie Morton, Michelle Coleman and Pat Reynolds – were beaten 17-19 by Suffolk in the opening round.
In the women’s singles, Sawtry’s Karen Leader came through the opening round, 21-18 against Worcestershire’s Maureen Clifton, but then ran into England star Sophie Tolchard (Devon), the eventual winner, and lost 9-21.
The other Hunts representative, Sophie Purell (Holywell-cum-Needingworth), was beaten 8-21 in the opening round by Herefordshire’s Kate Williams.
Norma Squires (City of Peterborough) reached the second round of the senior singles, defeating Joan Welch (Herts) 21-17, before going down 15-21 to Irene Button (Wilts).
The West Ward rink of Jim Ruddy, Sean Fenlon, Brian Swann and Dick Noble lost 16-31 to Yorkshire in the opening round of the men’s senior fours.
MUNDAY SHIELD
West Ward snatched a dramatic one shot victory (4544) over holders Whittlesey Manor in the Peterborough League’s Munday Shield final at Longthorpe.
With one end remaining on each of the two rinks, both scoreboards read 21-21. The West Ward rink of Darren Lord, Robin Wyld, Dave Hilton and Richard Day, who had led 18-11, registered three shots on their final end against Duncan Lee, Tony Mace, Graham Agger and Martin Welsford.
On the other rink, the Whittlesey Manor rink of Roger Stevens, Melvyn Beck, Mick Duell and Peter Brown, who had let slip a 19-9 lead, could only manage two shots against Steve Johnson, Phil Afford, Peter Jessop and Rod Maplethorpe, Brown narrowly missing out on a third with his final bowl that would have forced an extra end.
RESULT MUNDAY SHIELD
West Ward bt Whittlesey Manor 45-44 (West Ward rinks first):
Steve Johnson, Phil Afford, Peter Jessop, Rod Maplethorpe 21, Roger Stevens, Melvyn Beck, Mick Duell, Peter Brown 23.
Darren Lord, Robin Wyld, Dave Hilton, Richard Day 24, Duncan Lee, Tony Mace, Graham Agger, Martin Welsford 21. Division Three: Division Four: Whittlesey Manor C 84-12; East Community Bears 83-13; Bretton Beavers 79-13; Deeping B 79-12; CoP D 59-12; Crowland Ravens 34-12; Yaxley Eagles 34-12; Itter Park 33-12.
CLUB 60 LEAGUE
Premier Division: Blackstones 100-13; Peterborough & District 81-13; West Ward Tigers 80-13; Yaxley Spitfires 68-13; Ketton Welland 68-13; CoP City 54-13; Deeping A 51-13; Longthorpe Manor 46-13; Longthorpe Tower 42-14.
Division One: West Ward Lions 122-14; Ketton Chater 80-13; Whittlesey Manor 8013; Crowland Jays 73-13; Longthorpe Woods 59-14; Langtoft Pearl A 58-13; West Ward Panthers 45-13; Conservative Blue 39-13; Yaxley Hurricanes 29-12.
Division Two: CoP Molins 81-13; Whittlesey Town 77-14; Whittlesey Town Bears 75-12; Barnack 75-13; Ryhall Robins 68-13; Langtoft Pearl Red 59-13; Itter Park 55-13; Market Deeping Wade 48-13; Baker Perkins 42-12.
Division Three: Conservative Grey 82-13; Parkway 77-12; Deeping B 71-13; Werrington Fox 60-13; Thomas Cook 57-12; Werrington Mill 56-12; East Community Bears 49-12; East Community Wolves 48-13.
Division Four: Stamford 80-9; Bourne 57-9; CoP C 56-10; Bretton Beagles 52-9; Crowland Rooks 47-11; Market Deeping Douglas 29-9; Deeping C 19-11.
WEEKEND LEAGUE
Premier Division: Blackstones 91-12; Yaxley Sharks 76-11; West Ward Tigers 72-12; West Ward Panthers 58-11; Peterborough & District 55-11; CoP City 50-11; Ketton Hanson 40-12; Conservative 13-12.
Division One: Yaxley Seals 68-10; CoP Molins 64-11; Deeping 60-10; Whittlesey Manor 5410; Whittlesey Town 46-11; Stamford 45-10; Langtoft Pearl 23-10.
Division Two: Park Crescent Bowlers 70-10; East Community Wolves 62-9; Baker Perkins 56-9; Werrington 47-10; East Community Bears 46-10; West Ward Rhinos 42-10; Whittlesey Town Bears 39-10; Bretton Beagles 38-12.