The first title of the 2019 BCGBA season has been won by the Greville Arms representing the dominant Warwick and Worcester County.
Known throughout the bowling world as “The Greville” they qualified in the last session by beating South Yorkshire’s Bradfield and then North Lancs & Fylde’s Marton Institute.
In yesterday’s bitterly cold finals day the first victims were Merseyside’s Eccleston club. Three single figure wins (Carl Fielding the best with a 21-06) saw them through to a semi-final against Staffordshire’s Dudley Dell.
In another game they dominated only Jason Westwood could win for the Dudley men. This time it was Ross Dunkley (21-05) who was the best winner for the Warwickshire men.
In the final they met local favourites Lower Hopton. The Yorkshiremen had triumphed in a classic against county rivals Thongsbridge. This game could have gone either way but by claiming five of the eight games they claimed the local bragging rights. Liam Griffin claimed the best win with a 21-09.
The competition was played at the hugely impressive Spen Victoria Club in Cleckheaton , West Yorkshire. This venue has held a very successful men’s singles competition. This was their first year hosting the event sponsored by Grounds Training.
The final saw the Warwickshire men fly off the starting blocks with Darren Plenderleith, the 2017 British Senior Merit champion, winning 21-05. Carl Fielding (21-07) was next to push them further clear and it is to Lower Hopton’s credit that the other two games on the first four jacks saw them reign in the Midland men.
Liam Griffin was again in top form (21-10) and he was helped by Wayne Ditchfield (21-12) as the Mirfield men restricted the lead to 10 points.
Although Ashley Tattersley was so impressive to win 21-07 it was almost cancelled out by the equally impressive Ross Dunkley (21-09).
Try as they might the Lower Hopton men found the Greville Arms men just too good and it was an eight point victory in the end.
Full results can be found on the BCGBA website