02 Jul PAIRS CHAMPIONS REIGN SUPREME

The 2019 pairs champions Tim Poulter and Edwin Haigh kept hold of the trophy in the first defence of their title on Friday 1 July at Almondbury Liberal Club.

It wasn’t, however, plain sailing as they had a closely fought quarter-final tie with Mick Fisher and Alan Bamforth of Lockwood Con finally winning 21-17. The Clayton West pair had a more comfortable victory in the semi-final against Robert Mudd and Steve Lunn of Waterloo winning out 21-14. The pair had really got into their stride by the time of the final and despatched Paul Rangeley and Barry Gibson of Meltham 21-13.

Rain was forecast for the day which did make an appearance but the bowlers played in overcast conditions with the occasional shower which tended to dampen the mood around the the green rather than the running of the green which everyone agreed was a fair surface to bowl on. The Association wish to thank Almondbury Libs for their sponsorship of the competition and for hosting the event.

In his presentation of the trophy our President Mr Alan Hirst paid tribute to the work of the groundsman and the team of Almondbury Liberal Club. Despite the adverse weather the boisterous crowd appreciated the quality of the bowling. The full scorecard for the day was:

Quarter-finals

T Poulter & E Haigh (scr) 21  M Fisher & A Balmforth (2) 17

S Lunn & R Mudd (3) 21  G Senior & T Butterfield (scr) 8

R Dickinson &I Briggs (scr) 21  T Chatfield & T Bolton (3) 13

P Rangeley & B Gibson (2) 21  J Pix & G Summers (5) 14

Semi-finals

T Poulter & E Haigh (scr) 21  S Lunn & R Mudd (3) 14

R Dickinson &I Briggs (scr) 19  P Rangeley & B Gibson (2)  21

Final

T Poulter & E Haigh (scr) 21  P Rangeley & B Gibson (2) 13