26 Sep Wike wins game of two halves!

LONGWOOD bowler Andy Wike took the John Hoyle Trophy after defeating fellow inter-district bowler Graham Sigsworth in the final held at Moldgreen Con.

Wike won the contest 21-14 and was heard to say to his opponent that it was a “game of two halves” and that was exactly right.

Although Wike had some early points to his name it was Moldgreen Con bowler Sigsworth who won eight consecutive ends to lead 14-7. However, the next 12 ends belonged to Wike who kept a tight control of the contest to take the trophy.

Sigsworth reached the final thanks to a relatively straightforward win over David Pollard of Cowcliffe, Sigsworth winning 21-11.

The other semi-final saw the lead change hands seven times in a contest that lasted 29 ends. Stuart Greaves from New Mill WMC looked out of it when trailing 17-11 but won six consecutive ends to edge in front at 19-17. The drama continued as Greaves and Wike went into the 29th end with both bowlers “all but”, Wike edging home.

Twenty-nine ends seemed to be the order of the day as Wike and Greaves were involved in quarter-finals that also lasted that distance. Wike accounted for John Belfield, also from New Mill, 21-17 while Greaves defeated Garry Senior 21-19.

The 2024 John Hoyle winner, Tim Poulter, lost out by four points to David Pollard whilst Barry Tinker fell to a 21-16 defeat at the hands of Graham Sigsworth.