09 May HUDDERSFIELD GET OFF TO A FLYER

Friday 5 May saw the first round of the seasons Inter-District Veterans Bowling League where Huddersfield had a commanding win against Skipton. The overall result was a 45 -11 in favour of Huddersfield with the away team contributing 23 of those points.

Our picture shows the Huddersfield Home team, minus Barry Gibson with the non-playing captain Frank Greenwood and referee Ray Tunnacliffe. The home team played at Thongsbridge whilst the away team played at Skipton Whinfield.

Home team managers report

David Armitage reports that 3 of the team were playing their first inter district game. The home team got off to a good start with 6 winners and claiming a 22-6 victory with3 winners and 1 loser in each half. Robert Dickinson winning to 11 and Peter Kain and John Bloomer winning to 15. Steven Haigh was playing his first game as Alan Bamforth who was unavailable but lost to 14.

In the back 4 – Graham Sigsworth and Ray Whitwam were in command all the way and won to 7 and 9 respectively. Andrew Wyke, in his first game, won comfortably to 14. Barry Gibson had every chance but stuck on 19.

There was good bowling throughout with not many loose ends.

Our thanks to Thongsbridge for hosting and providing an excellent green and running the raffle which helped defray expenses. Thanks also to the referee and the ladies in the tea room.

Away team managers report

Alan Sharpe writes that all the away team players turned up early to look at the green determining the fast and slow running. The first four made a perfect start all going on to make a 4-0 success, P Hopkinson and T Poulter winning to 14 and 17 respectively, Roger Stopford also won to 14 and Garry Senior winning 21-20 giving us a 19 point positive margin. We took a break at half time and it was a good job we did as the heavens opened and we had a really heavy downpour for 10 minutes. Our next 4 apart from one looked really comfortable especially Tony Butterfield winning 21 to 7. D Hewitt winning to 12 and the captain M Gilbert winning to 16. Our only loser Edwin Haigh drawing Skiptons best bowler who defeated him 21-16. Making it a very satisfactory winning start 23-5.

The writer also attended the away team match and presented Mr Roy Sanderson with a selection of craft beers as a thankyou for sponsoring the league for many years.