HOME LEG@ LMRCA

CHESHIRE 8 BIRKENHEAD AND DISTRICT 6

Jamie Bramley 21 John Finch 18
A real nip and tuck affair, John wanting to play corners and me wanting to play him over the middle. I Just edged home with a bit of green knowledge, some quality ends and a cracking lad to boot.

Rob Brown 21 Mike Myles 20
Been down and practised the green 3 times had Bobby and it showed at 14-6 up, a spirited fight back from Mike Myles, but Bobby found a super wood for game well done lad.

John Chapman 19 John Hignett Jnr
How often do you see a losing man of the match? Well Chappers came from Great Moor to help us out and played the game of his life against a Merseyside merit winner.

Dave Wilson 20 Ant O'Neill 21
Quality throughout this game. Wilson was shading it for a bit then Jonjo got on top. Some quality striking and hitting from both, one of the games of the day.

Craig Butterfield 14 John Roberts 21
Didn't see much of this one. but Craig doesn't roll over to many on the Diamond. so John must have played it well.

Mark Millen 9 Jon Ellis 21
Mark just didn't get to grips with the green early doors and by then Jon was away gone. Top player 'High Tower' though and credit where it's due he played well.

Paul Wrigley 21 Chris Halsey 19
Well played wriggers. didn't see much of this one either, but a vital win for the home team.

Steve Brown 13 Tony Sullivan 21
Steve was harsh on himself about his performance; believe me lad you put in a shift and helped us out last minute, you can hold your head high you played well.

Keith Robins 21 Richie Finch 20
Super Robbo came from a mile down to edge home 21-20 in a fantastic game. A real hero in my eyes today Keith; absolutely fantastic effort and helped us out when others let us down.

Ian Stokes 21 Paul Brady 13
Cool Calm Collected from Stokesy who is fast becoming one of the most consistent and useful jacks in the Parks set up.

Steve Robinson 21 Dave Rowlands 15
Another lad who is playing the bowls of his life, turned in a real shift, is useful round the green and played his heart out.

Howard Thomas 21 Darren Hankin 18
A right nip and tuck affair was in progress here. Howard dug in and played some real bowls to see off his determined opponent.

Steve Millward 21 Mick Andrews 20
Some fun and games in this one let me tell you and controversy with the card, but in the end Milly prevailed and secretly loves the LMRCA green, heard he's signing for us next year!!!

Neil Jenkinson 18 Robbie Hall 21
Tenner on its way with Robbie after this Ian! Quality game. both played a similar length. both wrapped it as you'd expect. Two of the best jacks going clashed here and both played the game in a great spirit. Jenky wrapped two to go 19-20 but Robbie struck 'em off!!!

Man of the Match- John Chapman

Thanks to everyone who helped me finally make this possible and Cheshire's rise continues.

AWAY LEG @ GLADSTONE LIBS. BIRKENHEAD

The Gladstone Sports venue offered up a real challenge to the visiting Cheshire side here today. With a healthy crowd in attendance it was the visitors who took the game to their opponents early on.
GRAHAM SOUTHGATE was the first man into the winners enclosure despatching opponent David Motley Jnr 21-10 after some 'eye catching' lead bowling had taken him from 5-9 down to 19-9 in front.
IAIN DUNBAR once again showed maturity beyond his years to keep Mal Andrews at arms length recording a 21-15 win.
DON MARSDEN despite a poor season for his respective club sides found that elusive 'next level' when he moved up a gear to see off Graham Motley 21-16.
GRAHAM McDERMOTT was desperately unlucky after coming back from 12-18 down, he eventually suffered a narrow 19-21 reverse against Ian Muskett.
After the opening exchanges Cheshire held the lead at 82 chalks to 62.
BIRKENHEAD 62 CHESHIRE 82 ........AFTER FOUR GAMES.

With the second round of games underway Birkenhead knew that they had got a game on as the middle four homesters began to impose their presence.
ADAM SMITH became the first to feel the backlash when he battled bravely against Ray Jones for a 7-21 score-line.
STEVE WATERHOUSE showed tremendous fighting spirit when he looked well and truly on the ropes at 5-19 against Tommy Lowndes. However Steve dug in and eventually reached double figures at 11-21.
GARETH WHITTAKER Jnr went ever so close to turning the tables on his opponent John Rogers. Trailing 2-17 Gareth summoned on all his reserves to claw the score back to a creditable 15-21.
SCOTT SMITH looked to be in for a win when leading Mike Whalley 18-16. However the Birkenhead man finally managed to claw victory at 18-21.
With the second phase completed the Homesters had pushed themselves into the lead by just 13 chalks.
BIRKENHEAD 146 CHESHIRE 133 ........ AFTER EIGHT GAMES

With a 5-3 lead on games the home side were looking to build on their advantage after a shaky start.
DARREN FLANNERY put in a counter punch for the visitors, recording a very impressive 21-11 success over Alf McDermott.
STEVE WOODING can count himself somewhat unlucky to fall 11-21 against an in-form Colin Goulding.
BEN HOLBROOK hit back for Cheshire just a couple of minutes later as he got the better of Nigel Hughes to record a 21-13 success.
DAVE FOX battled bravely to record a 15-21 deficit as opponent Mike Brook really 'took' to the green.
With twelve games completed Cheshire had narrowed the gap on their opponents team to just eleven chalks.
BIRKENHEAD 212 CHESHIRE 201 ........AFTER TWELVE GAMES

Cheshire's tactic of imposing their presence on the venue had been there for all to see during the afternoon and with the final two games on the green the noise levels measurably increased.
DENNIS ROBINSON fought valiantly but could do little to stop the very accomplished Chris Motley from recording a 12-21 victory on the day.
And in the final game of the afternoon it was perhaps fitting the we should witness the closest contest.
TERRY HESTER slugged it out 'toe' to 'toe' with opponent Richie Davies and can count himself very unfortunate to suffer a 20-21 reverse.

FINAL SCORE........BIRKENHEAD 254 CHESHIRE 233 (9-5)

D. MARSDEN 21 G. MOTLEY 16
G. McDERMOTT 19 I.MUSKETT 21
I. DUNBAR 21 M. ANDREWS 15
G. SOUTHGATE 21 D. MOTLEY 10
S. WATERHOUSE 11 T LOWNDES 21
A. SMITH 7 R. JONES 21
S. SMITH 18 M WHALLEY 21
G WHITTAKER Jnr 15 J. ROGERS 21
D. FOX 15 M. BROOKS 21
S. WOODING 11 C. GOULDING 21
D. FLANNERY 21 A. McDERMOTT 11
B. HOLBROOK 21 N. HUGHES 13
T. HESTER 20 R. DAVIES 21
D. ROBINSON 12 C. MOTLEY 21

I am immensely proud of my players today!

Before the start I asked them to be positive. Be alert around the green to their team mates on it. I asked them to 'Impose themselves on the venue'. I asked them to be strong in character and show mental toughness against quality opposition.

Not only did every player carry out these disciplines to the letter, they then took it a step further by literally 'taking the game' to their higher level opponents for long periods.

THANKS' LADS YOU WERE GREAT!