Had the clocks gone forward 6 months this week, it was bloody freezing & wet, isn't Bowls a Summer activity??? We welcomed the Heywood Boys this week & what a friendly bunch they are, but was this all part of a cunning plan by their A team cohorts to lull us into a fall sense of security???!!!
On a wet slow surface the Hollinhurst Green was far from the usual home advantage which many visiting teams fail to master & if we were to maintain our slender lead over the Hopwood A team we couldn't afford to be complacent.
We needed a good start to settle my nagging doubts of a humiliating defeat as top took on bottom & the wrong result would certainly put the skids under our early season advantage which was now down to only 4 points.
The boys rose to the occassion & answered my doubts with 5 solid wins from 5, with both Duds & JP winning to 6, Charlie was taken the distance by Brian O'Connell to run out to 19, Waggy & Tommy T completed the cleansweep from the 1st half games, winnig to 16 & 11 respectively.
Would the second 5 blocks maintain the winning streak?? In a word yes, we completed the first full house for as long as I can remember & capped a memorable 13-0 victory with an excellent comeback from 12-1 down, by the Legend in his own Dinnertime Johnny "Razor" Blades to beat Brian Goodall to 16, well done Razor, performance of the Week & back to his best form.
With Hopwood A at home to the Eagle, we could possibly extend our lead this week.
Next week, Prestwich BC at their place, best Green in the League I hear, hopefully another happy hunting ground?
Thursday, 29 May 2008
Tuesday, 20 May 2008
Week 7 - May 16th - Eagle & Child A
The ever boisterous Eagle Team played hosts to Hollinhurst on a cold Friday night, when we all probably wished we were somewhere else??? The Green looked in perfect condition, but with the notable abscences of Duds & Wrighty, could there be an upset on the Cards??
Thanks go to Gary Ellis & Ian Turrell for standing in at short notice, both had tough games with Ian coming from behind & beating a battling & impressive John Turner to 20 & being one of 4 Hollinhurst lads to run out eventual winners to the same score. Gary nosed out Phil Challis to 15 & knew his scalp was on the line for much of the game.
John Pearsons 21-5 win over Martin Turner was immediately cancelled out by an out of sorts Charlie Cowsill going down to the same score too Cliff Wood. Tony Normans unorthodox technique once again defied the purists to dispose of Tommy Taylor to 16 & we took a slender 3-2 lead into the second half of the game, with the Agg at 84 - 78 it was game on.
Block 6 saw Johnny Blades slip to a 21-13 defeat, please remember to bring your own Bowls next week Bladsey!!! Yet another excuse to add to the weighty Tome which is the "Bladsey Book of Bowling Defeats" War & Peace is a short story by comparison????????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
With the Match standing at 3-3 & the final 4 games all showing a healthy lead to the Eagle, could the Eagle lads sense the sweet smell of victory??? would Hollinhurst sucumb to their 1st defeat of the season??? The baying crowd, fuelled by a copious supply of Mr Holt's finest Bitter were vocal in thier unwavering support, not least the shy & retiring David Rosenfield who takes every opportunity to exercise his vocal chords!!!!!!!!!!!
I am sure the final 4 games will prove to be the most compelling & crucial to Hollinhursts 2008 title winning aspirations. With all 4 games well advanced, the pendulum had swung to a huge Eagle advantage, with Eggy & Kenny both trailing by 19 - 7, Ian lay all but 17 down & I was all but 19 down. The probable outcome looked like a 10 - 4.5 win to the Eagle, but what transpired, left me with a smug grin on my face all weekend. On a full corner mark where Graham Butterworth had scored heavily against me, I finally pulled out 2 - 6" Bowls to sneak home, Ian had a grueller against John Turner & at all but across his huge experience proved invaluable, beating a foot wood from John. Performances of the week by some distance goes to Kenny & Eggy, 2 awesome, gritty displays of close tactical bowling left their opponents in disbelief, pondering how the F**k did I lose the game???
I am still scratching my head how we manged to run out winners by 13.5 - 3. A great team performance & a pleasure to be part of. Well done lads, bring on Hopwood Unionist B!!!!!!!
Thanks go to Gary Ellis & Ian Turrell for standing in at short notice, both had tough games with Ian coming from behind & beating a battling & impressive John Turner to 20 & being one of 4 Hollinhurst lads to run out eventual winners to the same score. Gary nosed out Phil Challis to 15 & knew his scalp was on the line for much of the game.
John Pearsons 21-5 win over Martin Turner was immediately cancelled out by an out of sorts Charlie Cowsill going down to the same score too Cliff Wood. Tony Normans unorthodox technique once again defied the purists to dispose of Tommy Taylor to 16 & we took a slender 3-2 lead into the second half of the game, with the Agg at 84 - 78 it was game on.
Block 6 saw Johnny Blades slip to a 21-13 defeat, please remember to bring your own Bowls next week Bladsey!!! Yet another excuse to add to the weighty Tome which is the "Bladsey Book of Bowling Defeats" War & Peace is a short story by comparison????????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
With the Match standing at 3-3 & the final 4 games all showing a healthy lead to the Eagle, could the Eagle lads sense the sweet smell of victory??? would Hollinhurst sucumb to their 1st defeat of the season??? The baying crowd, fuelled by a copious supply of Mr Holt's finest Bitter were vocal in thier unwavering support, not least the shy & retiring David Rosenfield who takes every opportunity to exercise his vocal chords!!!!!!!!!!!
I am sure the final 4 games will prove to be the most compelling & crucial to Hollinhursts 2008 title winning aspirations. With all 4 games well advanced, the pendulum had swung to a huge Eagle advantage, with Eggy & Kenny both trailing by 19 - 7, Ian lay all but 17 down & I was all but 19 down. The probable outcome looked like a 10 - 4.5 win to the Eagle, but what transpired, left me with a smug grin on my face all weekend. On a full corner mark where Graham Butterworth had scored heavily against me, I finally pulled out 2 - 6" Bowls to sneak home, Ian had a grueller against John Turner & at all but across his huge experience proved invaluable, beating a foot wood from John. Performances of the week by some distance goes to Kenny & Eggy, 2 awesome, gritty displays of close tactical bowling left their opponents in disbelief, pondering how the F**k did I lose the game???
I am still scratching my head how we manged to run out winners by 13.5 - 3. A great team performance & a pleasure to be part of. Well done lads, bring on Hopwood Unionist B!!!!!!!
Week 6 - May 14th - Whitefield Bowling Club
After the good start to the 2008 season, week 6 was potentially the Banana Skin that could halt our winning streak. Alan Seel has strength in depth in an experienced squad, who could all be in with a chance of winning on the still slow Hollinhurst Green.
Duds continued his impressive run by demoloshing Alan Seel too 8, in what on paper could have been a very close game. A polished performance was hopefully the springboard for the rest of the team to emulate??? Tommy Taylor & Charlie efficiently disposed of stiff opposition to 10 & 14 respectively & I'm sure Graham Lamb & Gary Sandiford would have fancied their chances for a win?? Waggy went down to 14 to Steve Monaghan & in the last game of the 1st half John Pearson had a Battle Royal with his old adversary Dave Howells. In a game they both lead numerous times, a draw seemed a fair result, but at 20-19 up & in sight of the winning post, John fell at the final hurdle to some excellent precision Bowling from Dave.
Alan must have been more than happy with 2 winners from the 1st 5 Blocks & with Eggy just losing game 6 (20-21) to the most improved player of the past 2 seasons, Ian Meadowcroft, it was anybody's game at 3 games a piece.
In what I billed as the "Game of the Night" Les Toth showed why he is the reigning Averages Winner & anihilated the un-beaten Dave Wright to 5. Dave battled, but had no defence for the masterclass from Les. Les was particularly humble in his Victory............... was he Bollocks, he told anyone who would listen how good he is!!!!!!!!! & from what I saw, he was good.
With the game 4-3 in favour of the Whitefield lads, a few Hollinhurst Bums began to twitch nervously??!!!!
Just when you need a hero to emerge from the Ranks, up pops the legend in his own dinner time, Johnny Blades. After a spat with his Captain the previous week over team selection, he put his differences behind him to dispose of Bruce Holden to 8. Performance of the Week goes to John.
At 4-4 the last 2 games would prove decisive & with Kenny up against the rock steady Mick Middleton & myself against a Hollinhurst Homester, Kev Newbury, the balance could tip either way. Kenny scraped home to 17 & at 18-10 up, I almost grasped defeat from the Jaws of victory by easing home to 16 after an awful spell of 5 ends without reply.
Final result 6 winners to 4 & the Agg 185-157 gave us a 9 -6 win over a battling WBC side.
With our next game only 2 days away, due to the re-arranged Champions League clash, we had 2 days to savour a job well done.
Duds continued his impressive run by demoloshing Alan Seel too 8, in what on paper could have been a very close game. A polished performance was hopefully the springboard for the rest of the team to emulate??? Tommy Taylor & Charlie efficiently disposed of stiff opposition to 10 & 14 respectively & I'm sure Graham Lamb & Gary Sandiford would have fancied their chances for a win?? Waggy went down to 14 to Steve Monaghan & in the last game of the 1st half John Pearson had a Battle Royal with his old adversary Dave Howells. In a game they both lead numerous times, a draw seemed a fair result, but at 20-19 up & in sight of the winning post, John fell at the final hurdle to some excellent precision Bowling from Dave.
Alan must have been more than happy with 2 winners from the 1st 5 Blocks & with Eggy just losing game 6 (20-21) to the most improved player of the past 2 seasons, Ian Meadowcroft, it was anybody's game at 3 games a piece.
In what I billed as the "Game of the Night" Les Toth showed why he is the reigning Averages Winner & anihilated the un-beaten Dave Wright to 5. Dave battled, but had no defence for the masterclass from Les. Les was particularly humble in his Victory............... was he Bollocks, he told anyone who would listen how good he is!!!!!!!!! & from what I saw, he was good.
With the game 4-3 in favour of the Whitefield lads, a few Hollinhurst Bums began to twitch nervously??!!!!
Just when you need a hero to emerge from the Ranks, up pops the legend in his own dinner time, Johnny Blades. After a spat with his Captain the previous week over team selection, he put his differences behind him to dispose of Bruce Holden to 8. Performance of the Week goes to John.
At 4-4 the last 2 games would prove decisive & with Kenny up against the rock steady Mick Middleton & myself against a Hollinhurst Homester, Kev Newbury, the balance could tip either way. Kenny scraped home to 17 & at 18-10 up, I almost grasped defeat from the Jaws of victory by easing home to 16 after an awful spell of 5 ends without reply.
Final result 6 winners to 4 & the Agg 185-157 gave us a 9 -6 win over a battling WBC side.
With our next game only 2 days away, due to the re-arranged Champions League clash, we had 2 days to savour a job well done.
Saturday, 10 May 2008
Week 5 - May 7th - Walmersley Cons
On a perfect evening for Bowling, Hollinhurst entertained Walmersley Cons & hoped to keep up our early season winning form at full speed!!! With the notable absence of Stuart Jones we fancied our chances too rattle up a decent points tally!!!!
The 1st five Blocks almost ran to plan, apart for a defeat for Mr Consistency, Charlie Cowsill, who had potentially the most difficult opposition of the night in the shape of ex Hollinhurst stalwart, Matt O'Neill. Charlie chased the points & rallied late in the game to go down 14-21. Duds continued his excellent form against Tony Sudhurst & after being 4-0 down after 2 ends, dismissed Tony with a superb lesson in corner bowling with a 21 break & must surely now lead the avearages by some distance. Waggy, John Pearson & Tommy Taylor all won by narrowish margins against Neil Crocken, John Cranshaw & Graham Keating respectively.
In the second five blocks, Eggy & Tommo both struggled & ran out 15 & 13 losers to John Nally & Lou Peters. Dave Wright continued his charge to head the averages & kept his 100% record in tact with a 21-10 win over Terry Pemberton, Bowlsy won 21-14 over Rick Moran & I squeezed home 21-20 against Derek Butterworth, despite being 18-9 & 20-15 down, I eventually produced some form to match Dereks & maintain my early season winning streak by the narrowest of margins. Final Score 7-3 & 189 - 155 in the Agg, gave us a 10 - 4.5 win.
Home again next week to Whitefield Bowling Club, which should prove to be our toughest test of the season so far???
The 1st five Blocks almost ran to plan, apart for a defeat for Mr Consistency, Charlie Cowsill, who had potentially the most difficult opposition of the night in the shape of ex Hollinhurst stalwart, Matt O'Neill. Charlie chased the points & rallied late in the game to go down 14-21. Duds continued his excellent form against Tony Sudhurst & after being 4-0 down after 2 ends, dismissed Tony with a superb lesson in corner bowling with a 21 break & must surely now lead the avearages by some distance. Waggy, John Pearson & Tommy Taylor all won by narrowish margins against Neil Crocken, John Cranshaw & Graham Keating respectively.
In the second five blocks, Eggy & Tommo both struggled & ran out 15 & 13 losers to John Nally & Lou Peters. Dave Wright continued his charge to head the averages & kept his 100% record in tact with a 21-10 win over Terry Pemberton, Bowlsy won 21-14 over Rick Moran & I squeezed home 21-20 against Derek Butterworth, despite being 18-9 & 20-15 down, I eventually produced some form to match Dereks & maintain my early season winning streak by the narrowest of margins. Final Score 7-3 & 189 - 155 in the Agg, gave us a 10 - 4.5 win.
Home again next week to Whitefield Bowling Club, which should prove to be our toughest test of the season so far???
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