29 Aug Lowerhouses too strong as Marsh Lib’s remarkable run ends in final
There was a feeling, as Marsh Lib A arrived at Brockholes for the Bistro Final, that this could be quite interesting.
They were a Division 4 side. They had a 30-point handicap. They were playing a Division 1 team.
Thirty points. That’s quite a lot of points.
Unfortunately for Marsh Lib, there was just one small problem.
They were not facing just any Division 1 team, but Lowerhouses who are looking almost certain to lift the Division 1 title for the third successive year.
Lowerhouses are very good. And they showed it.
The Division 1 leaders put together a remarkably comprehensive performance, winning all five pairs games and turning that 30-point handicap into an aggregate victory of 105–71.
Graham Hirst and Les Holmes got Lowerhouses off to a winning start with a 21–9 success over Paul Booth and Peter Laycock. Gary Smith and Rob Edwards followed with 21–7.
Ashley Daykin and Ian Wimpenny then delivered the third straight win, defeating Craig Longbottom and Howard Watson 21–6, before Andy Mitchell and Andrew Turner added a 21–6 success against James Turney and John Bennett.
By then, there was no doubt where the trophy was heading.
Steve Lee and Phil Hunter completed the clean sweep with a 21-13 win over Steve Morgan and Phil Mitton.
It was a tough afternoon for Marsh Lib, but it should not detract from what has been an excellent campaign. They lost to one of the strongest teams the league has seen for many years, and there is no shame in that. They have had a terrific season so far and have given themselves every reason to believe that this sort of occasion may come around again. Getting a Division 4 team into a major final is an achievement in itself. They are also sitting proudly at the top of Division 4 and have reached the semi-finals of the Subsidiary Team KO.
They may have found Lowerhouses a bridge too far on this occasion, but Marsh Lib have certainly announced themselves.
For Lowerhouses, meanwhile, it was a performance befitting a trophy-winning side — five pairs, five wins and a first Bistro Shield for the Division 1 leaders.
Our thanks go to sponsor and host Brockholes Bowling Club and yet again to our match referee Ray Tunnacliffe.
Behind the scenes we have our Competition Secretary Paul English to thank for coordinating the Bistro as well as our other competitions. Paul will be stepping down at the end of this season and we are in need of one or more volunteers to help in 2027. We are very flexible about how the role can be organised. Whilst One person could take on the full role other options are possible. Two people who are happy to work together could work as a job-share or individual volunteers could take responsibility for just one or two competitions of their choice.
<CLICK HERE> for more details.
