Harrogate Bowling

Black Swan won the prestigious Challenge Cup in emphatic style after a great battle with close rivals Wayside.

Swan got off to a flying start in the first 4 Jacks with wins from Phil English 21-13, Martin Hemmingway 21-12 and Dave Hodgson 21-20 gave them a 16 chalk advantage. Cedric Cockcroft was Wayside’s only winner at 21-18.

Wayside pulled things back in the middle order however with Brian Walker 21-15, Chris Rigby 21-15 and Kevin Birtwhistle 21-18 all gaining good wins. Swan skipper Chaz Charleton responded strongly with a 21-17 win to steady things for his team.
After 8 matches both clubs had 4 winners apiece with the score standing at 150-145 in Swan’s favour.
Bob Parker and Stuart Atkinson got the last 4 games started with a real battle. Parker finally managed to clinch the game 21-20. Gordon Flower gained Wayside’s best result of the evening winning 21-11 but Dave Rowson followed up for the Swan by cancelling this out after his 21-13 win.

With one game remaining the score stood at 203-199 in Swan’s favour. Steve Cochrane made an excellent start against Richard Hebblewhite playing a short pegging mark and taking a 12-7 lead.

Hebblewhite fought hard however and with the Jack finally in his hand he led exceptionally well. With the pressure on and the crowd loud Hebblewhite held his composure to bowl with great skill. Running out a 21-15 winner the cup was secured with an overall 224-214 result.

Pairs Merit Final
Black Swan’s Dave Rowson and Chaz Charleton lifted the Harrogate Pairs Merit title in fine style last week.

They opened the quarter final match against Bilton WMC pair Derrick Fox and Alan Rothery. Getting off to a storming start they went 10-1 up after the first 5 ends. It was a start the clubmen struggled to counter as the Swan pair ran out 21-5.

Josh Coker and Stephen Walker made a dynamic start in their first major finals event together. Playing with confidence and skill they were soon in a commanding 10-3 lead over Bardsey’s Alan Baldwin and Ray Milner. The experienced Bardsey pair slowly started to pull things back though bringing the lead down to 14-9. They then went on a terrific break of 10 chalks over 4 ends to take firm control of the game at 19-14. Coker & Walker fought to the end but the Bardsey men held on to win 21-16.

Wayside’s Chris Rigby and Mark Reynolds were up next against Swan’s Dave Hodgson and Richard Hebblewhite. Rigby & Reynolds got their noses well in front with a great start that saw them take a 15 chalk lead that went unanswered. With things looking bleak Hodgson & Hebblewhite rallied together to pull off a great run that saw them win 7 of the next 8 ends and pull the match back to 17-12. Rigby & Reynolds killed the game off scoring 4 chalks on the final end to secure their semi final place.

Phil English and Peter Nacey got off to a flyer in their game against Starbeck’s hotshots Cory McLeod and Alex Wolfenden. With English leading with pinpoint accuracy the Swan men took an early 9-2 lead. In a great run the Starbeck lad’s took 8 of the next 9 ends to edge clear 13-11. The game then swung back and too until 19 across. With two singles it was McLeod and Wolfenden who secured a fine win.

It was neck and neck in the first semi final between Rowson\Charlton and Baldwin\Milner all the way to 12 across. The Swan pair scored a vital 4 chalks followed by a 2 to take advantage. It was an advantage they maintained right through to the end gaining a good 21-15 victory.

It was soon clear in the second semi between Rigby\Reynolds and McLeod\Wolfenden that both pairing’s were favouring a long corner to corner mark across the Almscliffe green. An early 7-2 advantage for the Wayside team was soon turned around bringing the game back to 8-8. Rigby\Reynolds got their noses in front once again going 14-10 ahead but the Beck boys pulled together a good break of 7 taking a 17-14 lead.

With a single chalk win the Waysiders got the Jack back in their hands. In a terrific finale both McLeod and Wolfenden showed great skill to take 4 chalks and the game 21-15.

In the Final Rowson\Charleton again got off to an excellent start taking control of the game and building a good lead. Wolfenden finally found his length however taking the Jack and allowing his partner McLeod to finally get into the game. Leading well the Beck team fought back to get themselves right back in it and set up a tense last few ends. With everything to play for it was the Swan pair who held their composure bowling and excellent pair on the last end to clinch the title.

Division 1 League Results
Bilton Centurion 8 v. Dacre Eagles 2
Bilton WMC 6 v. Black Swan 4
Knaresborough Lions 2 v. Knaresborough Tigers 8
Starbeck 1 v. Wayside Travellers 9
Bardsey Kestrels 6 v. Low Harrogate A 4

Division 2
Bilton Trojans 6 v. Wetherby Knights 4
Collingham 6 v. Pateley Bridge 4
Low Harrogate B 6 v. Wayside Wanderer 4
Black Swan 2nd 10 v. Bardsey Osprey 0
Almscliffe Climb 10 v. Bilton Spartans 0

Division 3
Starbeck 2nd 9 v. Knaresborough Badgers 1
Wayside Rangers 6 v. Bilton WMC 2nd 4
Pateley Bridge 2 4 v. Dacre Falcons 6
Wetherby Cavaliers 7 v. Bilton Athenians 3
Division 4
Low Harrogate C 6 v. Collingham 2nd 4
Knaresborough Fo 1 v. Black Swan 3rd 9
Pateley Bridge 3 3 v. Bilton Corinthia 7

Division 5
Dacre Owls 8 v. Starbeck 4th 2
Black Swan 4th 8 v. Knaresborough Ho 2