West Sussex bowlers relish clashes with the neighbours

The Premier team, after their good win in Kent in the opening game, found the going tough.

In the first session they shared the points, winning both pairs and losing both singles. The second session was disappointing with only one win and they trailed 10-6 at lunch.

In the third session the points were again shared and again both pairs won to take the bonus points in that discipline. Needing a good final session West Sussex won both fours and one of the triples, picking up the bonus points for the fours and ended up with a 20-20 draw.

In the singles Bognor’s Brian Mills lost 22-6 and 14-8. In the pairs the Martlets combination of Chris Blackman and Marc Lancaster won 10-9 and 16-9 while Infinity’s Dan Blackman won 18-10 and 24-8.

In the triples the Martlets Mel Lillywhite and Jim Noton with Chanctonbury’s Eric Stewart lost 12-10 and 16-6. In the fours the Southbourne combination of Karen and Dave Alner and Robin Armstrong lost 11-7 and won 10-6 and the Lavant combination of John Simms, Peter Winter and Peter Whale won 10-4 and 12-3.

The A team were looking for an improvement on their poor performance at Kent and started strongly, winning three of the games in each of the morning sessions to lead 12-4 at lunch. The afternoon was similar with three wins in each session and bonus points in all disciplines for a final win by 32-8 and 248 shots to 127.

In the singles Nyetimber’s Freddie Kaucher lost 16-15 and won 25-4. In the pairs Southbourne’s John Hardy won16-9 and lost 12-11. In the triples Crablands Joyce Abel and Martin Hunt lost 12-10 and won 17-5 while Bognor’s Eric and Brenda Jones won 23-5 and 20-4.

In the fours Lavant’s Ray Harding, Rob Peirce and Dominic May won 13-4 and lost 7-4 and the Martlets Ivan Salmon with Bognor’s Clive Andrews and Southbourne’s Dave Walter won 12-8 and 14-5.

The B team opened their season with a friendly in East Sussex and got a good start, winning three games in each of the morning sessions to lead 12-4 at lunch. In the third session East Sussex got back into the game with three wins but West Sussex picked up the bonus points in the pairs.

Points were shared in the final session with each side taking one set of bonus points and West Sussex ran out close winners 22-18 but by 203 shots to 149.

In the singles Crablands’ Mollie Back won 13-8 and lost 13-12 while Bognor’s Clive Andrews lost 15-9 and 16-14. In the pairs Bognor’s Pam Andrews won 21-8 and 11-10.

In the triples Lavant’s Jackie Lee won 14-7 and 21-6. In the fours Crablands Rod Shambrook won 8-7 and lost 10-8 and Chanctonbury’s Pam Healy won 8-3 and lost 13-8.

West Sussex held their champion of champions singles tournament, pitting last year’s club singles champions against each other.

There were 13 entries and the first semi-final matched Ron Booty from Upper Beeding against Ken Williams from Mannings Heath, with Booty running out winner 12-8.

In the second semi-final Ashington’s Richard Jeffery faced Nyetimber’s Freddie Kaucher with 16-year-old Jeffery winning 13-4. The final was a tight game with Booty winning 11-7.

ARUN

Arun are starting their new season back in the first division, with the first of their men’s county league games on October 26.

The club league games started at the end of September with organised roll-ups being well-attended.

Arun men’s captains 77 Arun men’s presidents 91

The president’s men won the day with Angus Anderson’s team getting top rink by 16 points, John Newell winning on rink six and John Saunders winning on rink two. Only one of their rinks lost and one drew.

This was an enjoyable start to a busy season.

Scores: D Fair, G Dunham, J Fox, J Saunders won 20-16; P Miles, A Hunt, F Taylor, A Anderson won 25-9; G Finch, L Hall, C Pickard, E King lost 26-14; T Arnold, S Wilson, J Greenfield, B Butler drew 12-12; L Corne, C Chesrer, V May, J Newell won 20-14.

LAVANT

As an opener to the season Lavant were faced with a first-round match in the County League knockout competition with the A team at home to Horley Falcons.

A close game on mat one saw Lavant easing to a good win. On mat two Falcons scored only single shots over six ends, handing an easy win to Lavant, 26-22.

Results: P Winter (skip), D May, R Peirce, J Simms won; P Whale (skip), P Beardmore, S Meyer, R Harding.

SOUTHBOURNE

Southbourne have had an excellent start to the winter bowling on their all-weather green with up to 36 ‘polar bears’ from various local clubs arriving.

All agree it is an excellent way to spend a morning. If any other bowlers wish to have a go all they need do is turn up before 10am on Monday or Friday mornings and pay £2.50 for two hours of bowling, including a free cup of tea or coffee.

Ashington 49 Southbourne 40

Southbourne started their short-mat bowling season with a match at Ashington in the West Sussex County Short Mat Bowls Association KO Cup.

On the mat skipped by Dave Alner Southbourne managed a win, however on the other mat, skipped by Dave Walter, the bowlers found conditions tricky and the match was lost. Southbourne will now go on to the plate competition.

Scores: Pete Jasinski, John Hardy, Alan Shelley, Dave Walter (s) lost 30-16; Karen Alner, Andy Smith, Robin Armstrong, Dave Alner (s), won 24-19.

MIDHURST EAGLES

The Eagles have played three friendlies, winning two and losing one.

The win over Cowfold was close, the Eagles coming out 48-38 the winners. Against West Chiltington it was a a bit of a runaway on two rinks but the third mat was much closer.

The third friendly, against Nyetimber, saw Eagles defeats on two of the three mats.

Scores (v Nyetimber): G Knight, M Fallows,S Weeks, B Fallows lost 23-15; J Barnard, A Knight R Weeks won 20-17; S Tate, B Osburne, L Mercer, S Glazebrook lost 28-18. v Cowfold: A Knight, L Mercer, S Weeks, R Weeks won 21-17; S Glazebrook, D Berry, B Fallows, T Berry won 27-21. v West Chiltington: S Tate, D Berry, B Fallows, T Berry won 15-13; D Clarke, B Osbourne, J Etheridge- barnes S Glazebrook won 27-11; M Fallows L Mercer, S Weeks, R Weeks won 31-11.

In the Eagles’ first league match against Nyetimber, they lost on both mats and on the friendly mat.

Scores: A Knight, L Mercer, S Weeks, R Weeks lost 21-17; S Tate, D Berry, B Fallows, T Berry lost 29-13; G Knight, D Clarke, B Obourne, S Glazebrook lost 22-20.

OUTDOOR SCENE

Bognor A 79 Bognor B 68

This was very close game between Bognor A from division one and Bognor B of division three in the Littlehampton Gazette League.

Both won on two rinks but the A team just edged the game by 11 shots.

Scores: P Lichfield, R Philpot, B Hey, S Soames (skip) lost to T Love, B Lilley, J Parry, A Hall (skip) 21-20; B Daley, D Parker, T Gaskin (skip) lost to A Lewis, G Dunham, J Edwards (skip) 17-11; N Waddock, J Christensen, D Ford, R Gardner (skip) won against R Bobbett, J Johnston, J Jackson, L Hall (skip) 24-11; R Lincoln, M Johnson, A Richardson, R Bell (skip) won against G Herrington, D Dalton, P Hasler, K Taylor (skip) 24-19.

Bognor Presidents 83 Bognor Vice-presidents 65

This friendly was the last game of the season at Waterloo Square for Bognor Bowls Club, and it was a great day for all.

The president’s team won by 18 shots.

Scores: Christine Dunham, J Johnston, N Waddock (skip) bt R Bobbett, Jane Colebrook-Taylor, J Jackson (skip) 26-11; Edna Keywood, A Lewis, K Taylor, A Richardson (skip) lost to R Lincoln, R Philpot, Jean Spiers, R Bell (skip) 19-9; D Parker, T Mussell, P Hasler, Anne Parry (skip) bt Jean Taylor, T Rexstrew, G Dunham, J Parry (skip) 13-9; G Cook, Mary Ray, J Christensen (skip) lost to B Daley, G Herrington, J Edwards (skip) 15-13; Barbara Reardon, D Dalton, L Hall (skip) bt Joan Shaw, T Love, S Soames (skip) 22-11.