County results – Shropshire win game of the day

The first round of County Championship matches brought a number of close games as well as some convincing victories. The first result was a close win for Staffordshire over Merseyside. 

In Merseyside’s home venue at the Mossley Hill Bowling Club set on a hill in picturesque south Liverpool. This artificial green is one of a number whose increasing use is not 100% welcome.

Although widely seen to be important to the future of the game the use of artificial greens has seen a number of counties attempt to prevent their use. Currently all attempts to prevent their use have been rejected. 

This small and tricky green has already proved to be a reliable home venue for the Merseyside men. With some of the Staffordshire men struggling to get used to this quick & slick surface, and the banter flowing as quickly as the drink, the Merseyside men claimed nine winners on the way to a fifty-three point win. Phil Lee led the way beating Nathan Dawes (21-06).

At the Staffordshire home venue of Hammerwich in Burntwood the home players were even better. Thanks in no small part to having a single figure win in every block they claimed ten winners on the way to a sixty-nine point win. Ben Dixon claimed the best win over Ryan Walters (21-06).

The other game in their group saw a convincing win for Wales over Gtr Manchester. 

The Welsh men bounced back from a disappointing season to beat a Manchester team hoping to repeat an impressive 2018 season. A hugely impressive win in both legs saw the Welsh men claim fifteen wins and a thirty one point win. 

At the Manchester home leg of Ashton Cricket Club Leighton Roberts beat home star Dean Ferris (21-13). 

The Welsh men were in full control from early on at Broughton and Bretton thanks to Andy Delooze (21-03) and Kevin Nicholas (21-08). Though Robbie Ellis will be prod of his win for the Manchester men (21-04). 

Probably the most anticipated game was the battle, which it most certainly was, between Shropshire and Yorkshire. This game was a repeat of the 2009, 2011 and 2016 finals which saw the Yorkshire men claim two trophies. Today though it was a tale of revenge for the Shropshire men.

At the Yorkshire venue, Crosland Moor, the Shropshire men were thankful for two huge wins. Debutant Jon Palmer and Callum Wraight both won 21-06. Yorkshire were indebted to Jack Dyson (21-08) for being able to claim a nine point home leg victory as news from Shropshire filtered through.

At Newport Bowling Clubs number two green the Shropshire men were in control. Although James Davison (21-07) kept the Yorkshire men in the battle the coup de grace was delivered by Wayne Rogers (21-08). The early dominance by the home men proving so important in this close win by five points overall. 

The other group game saw things a little more clear cut as North Lancs and Fylde eased to a forty point win over Cumbria. 

The Cumbrian home leg in Barrow (North Scale BC) saw an impressive win by the North Lancs visitors. Tommy King led the way (21-05) ably assisted by Stuart Mort (21-10) and although a Cumbrian late fight back led by Dave Jones (21-09) they couldn’t prevent a North Lancs win by eleven points. 

Down the M6 in Preston the home venue of Bamber Bridge Catholic Club saw a closer game. The Cumbrian visitors were in the game until a last block double of Derek Ainsworth (21-05) and Michael Leach (21-09) saw the Preston men home. 

Group two contains just three teams as Isle of Man were not able to secure funding to guarantee their participation this year. This meant the reigning champions Warwick and Worcester had the day off. They looked on as Cheshire played South Yorkshire.

South Yorkshire claimed a narrow win home and away. In Northwich at the Rudheath Club Jonathan Sneddon claimed a hugely impressive win (21-07) as the team claimed seven winners. A mention though to Steve Curbishley (21-04) as the Cheshire men looked the sneak a home leg win. 

Both decisive game wins in the last block and it was the same at Dearne Sports in Rotherham as Lee Johnstone (21-07) for Cheshire and Andrew Sorsby (21-08) for South Yorkshire saw the game out. It was just enough in the games for the South Yorkshire men as every bowl had something on it.

The biggest win of the day saw Potteries ease past Lancashire. The Potteries men have a better recent history than Lancashire men and probably went into this game as slight favourites.

In Stoke at the tricky Florence club it was a dominant display by the home men. Only Kevan Shaw (21-20) could claim a win for the Lancashire men as the Potters, led by Oat cake specialist Kerry Morris (21-06) registered a seventy-three point win. 

At the legendary Garswood Hall club it was just as impressive for the Potteries men. Although Paul Winrow (21-09) was impressive for Lancashire the Potteries men responded as the tow Matts, Matthew Hill (21-10) and Matt Fellows (21-12), saw an eleven point away win from seven winners. 

The other game saw the 2017 winners North Midlands lose both legs to Derbyshire. Prior to the game the money was on North Midlands to record a victory on the way to trying to reclaim the trophy. Derbyshire found the form that took them to the final in 2008 and 2013. 

At the tricky Dunlop club in Coventry Steve Adams and Paul Hawker (both 21-08) led the way and although Tyler Dewis responded (21-09) it was the away men who won by a single point. 

Over in Derby at the Co-op club North Midlands got off to a good start thanks to Matt Horton (21-12) but Richard Gill (21-09) helped the Derby men to eight winners and a twenty-four point win.

Attention now turns to the next round of fixtures on Sunday 2nd June. This is the last chance for teams who lost the first game to remain in with a chance of qualifying for the semi-finals.

Results for Sun May 5th

Full scores from games played Sunday 5th May