A couple of years ago the renowned bowls organiser, Jimmy Parker, created a national team competition. The best bowling clubs from across the country played home and away in a 31up competition which swiftly became a hugely popular competition.
Since Jimmy scaled back his bowling work the competition has been organised by Liverpool’s Steve Davies. Steve, with the fantastic help of Sue Ainscough, has now released details of the draw for this years competition.
The draw has been split into north and south groups and teams won’t play another team from their own county in the first round. The teams are in groups of four and the club which wins the group then goes into an open draw for the last sixteen. The finals day will see the final eight teams on a neutral green in October.
The draw seen a couple of groups which could easily be called ‘groups of death’. The famed Lindal Club in Cumbria have a bye in the first round. In their north group, and playing each other in first round, are the winners of the last BCGBA World Club Championships, Thongsbridge from Yorkshire and Parafield Labour from North Lancs and Fylde. The Tixall, Wharton Cons and Castle Sports and Social group should also see some fantastic bowling.
The south group sees, last year’s winners, King George V play Stretton Anglesey with the winners playing Birches Head Hotel for the chance to go into the open draw last sixteen.
Northern section
Lindal v Bye
Parkfield v Thongsbridge
Springbank Dogs v Denby Grange
Eccleston v Lune road
Tixall v Wharton cons
Castle Private v Bye
Meersbrook Park v Gresford Colliery
Esclusham BC v Hadfield
Crookesmoor park v Burscough Legion
Westfield park v Bye
Maltby v King and Queen
Cunliffe BC v Netherton cons
Sandal v Bye
Woodlands park v Burbage
Southern section
Walsgrave v Florence
St Georges (Telford) v Bye
Penn BC v West Brom supporters club
Alveston & Boulton v Bye
Willenhall Nordley v Bye
M & B Cheslyn Hey v Bowring BC
Greville v Short Heath Libs
Swadlincote Catholic Club v Bye
Haunchwood v Bye
Newport BC v Bucknall ex-servicemans
Burslam CC v Kings Heath park
Hadley USC v Bye
Atherstone cons v Dudley dell
Meole Brace v Bye
Woodfield v Wolstanton High Street BC
Castlefields v Bye
KGV v Stretton Anglesey
Birches Head Hotel v Bye
The first round will be completed by the second weekend in June and the second round is to be completed by the week before the British Senior Merit in July. Steve has already confirmed that he will publishing details of the 2017 competition by the end of this years competition.
