BOWLS: County round-up

Somerset edge it

Warwickshire Ladies put up a strong fight against Somerset when they met in the Johns Trophy match at Frampton on Severn Bowling Club, but although they won on 4 rinks they were pipped at the post by just 2 shots – 101-103 leaving them with 8 points to 14 in the round robin series with two matches to play against Gloucestershire and Cornwall.

Highest winning rink went to Jenny Corn (Lillington) with Elaine Taylor (Stoke), Ann Webb and Liz Westell (both Welford) who started slowly and were 1-6 down at 5 ends, but a determined effort put them a shot ahead at 12-11 on 15 ends and eventually winning 17-13.

Maureen Edwards with Yvonne Bromfield (both Rugby Thornfield), Pat Bax (Rugby Ladies) and Debbie Bloxham (Stratford) also won by 4 shots but missed highest winning rink as they won fewer ends. 10 all at the 15th end they finished with a winning score of 19-15.

Pat Moore with Brenda Carlton (both Three Spires), Gill Maund (Sherwood Park) and Sigrid Thomas (Rugby Thornfield) were also level pegging 13 all at 15 ends and managed to hold their own and pull away to win by just three shots 18-15.

Moira Parsons (Welford) with Kirsty Richards (Kings Heath), Lynne Houghton (Leamington Avenue) and Helen Slimm (Whitnash) followed a similar pattern and were one shot up at 18 ends just managing to retain a one shot lead to finish 18-17.

Jacqui Cook with Margaret Grosvenor, Pat Gagg (all Lillington) and Heather Mills (Grange Ladies) who were level pegging at 10 ends, 8 all, went behind briefly but pulled back to finish just one shot adrift at 15-16.

Sue Hornsby with Di Thurlbeck (both Lillington), Di Medhurst and Helen Harris (both Stoke) weren’t so fortunate and although they managed to pull back they eventually finished 14-27.

County President, Di Medhurst, was delighted to be able to award Johns Trophy flashes to Brenda Carlton and Pat Moore (both Three Spires).

A Warwickshire Win Against Gloucestershire

The Annual Mixed match against Gloucestershire brought out the sun for a change and was played in the usual friendly fashion with Warwickshire retaining a win 115-87.

Highest winning rink went to Gareth Wilcock (Three Spires) with Heather Mills (Grange Ladies), Ray Morgan (Bilton) and Jean Hagues (Rugby Ladies) who were down by one shot at 5 ends but soon made it clear that they were out to win and stormed ahead thereafter to eventually finish 28-10.

Pat Moore (Three Spires) with Bala Maniam (Warwickshire County Council), Terri Hitchcox (Rugby Ladies) and Boris Boulstridge who set off at a pace and were 16-4 up at 10 ends and although their opponents tried to pull back the eventual result was 23-13.

Dave Cooke with Heather Tredgold (both Southam), Margaret Boldy (Avon) and Ray Antill (Grange) were fairly evenly matched with their opponents but eventually pulled ahead to win 21-17.

Brian Mace-Humphries with Arthur Musson (both Grange) with Di Medhurst (Stoke) and Gloria Higgins (RLS) set off well and were 15-10 up at 18 ends, but a determined effort from their opponents held them at bay eventually winning 15-13.

Elaine Taylor (Stoke) with Clive Faulkner, Men’s County President (Norgren), Chris Richards (Lillington) and David Williams (Stratford) were evenly matched but were pipped at the post by just two shots, 13-15.

Maureen Edwards (Rugby Thornfield) with John Slater (Bilton), Bernadette McDonnell and Roy Lawrence (both Leamington Avenue) started slowly and were never allowed to go ahead but held their own to only lose by 4 shots , 15-19.

Photos by Carol Norton