Nice early start for the away team making the long trip over to North Wales, apart from the Black Swan lads who stayed over in the normally quite seaside town of Rhyl.
Fortunately we found a café for lunch as we had arrived a lot sooner than we thought it would take and luckily for us we had brought the good old Yorkshire weather with us too.
Game 1
David Spilsbury v Robert Pierce
Strong start from David as expected from a man of his experience, 7-0 after the first 4 ends, perhaps the homester was a little nervous, but this was soon expelled, reaching into the corners with some ease and the lead was soon dispatched as Robert led at the half way stage 12-8. The game at this point turned into a right battle, with some fantastic bowling from both players, the jack swapping hands over the next four ends. David got himself just into the lead only for Robert to snatch it back 18-16 up, another fight back from David 19-18, jack in hand, but not the best lead out, 19 across and unfortunately back in a corner.
Robert went long and led a yard short, David went flying by, second bowl of Robert's on a length, but still room and laying game, up came David into the back of the short bowl, game over, so unlucky! 21-19 to Robert.
Game 2
Tom Beecroft v Geraint Roberts
Man of the match Tom
(voted for by the Captain of Clwyd Dragons) blew Geraint away to be fair, 9-1 up after just 8 ends and only a bad lead allowed Geraint a pair to stop the flow, back came Tom with some impressive bowling, 2 more to the score and with just a single in response, Tom just got better, how I do not know. A run of 9 consisting of 4 pairs, all but to tom, leaving poor old Geraint on just 4. Dig deep was the cry from the home support and briefly he did getting his score up to 7, but that was that and the first win for Harrogate.
21-7, well bowled Beeky lad!
Game 3
Barrie Sugden v James Todd
Another great start from Harrogate, with Barrie flying out of the blocks 6-0, however James responded beautifully with some good stuff of his own to bring the game back to parity 7-6. Tight game this one with neither bowler giving much up and by the 16th end they were tied at 10 across, unfortunately this is where it started to unravel for Suggers, young James just piled on the pressure and with a break of eleven there was no stopping James 21-12.
Game 4
Chris Sunter v Ivor Jones
The first game that Clwyd got off to a good start and what a good bowler this lad was, Chris had no chance in the early stages and with the score at 10-1 in Ivor's favor it was all about Chris getting as much as he could, Chris kept him scoring in just singles, but the leads were just not there, scores checked on the 15th end had Ivor 16-4 up, Chris dug in for a pair and a single which only stalled proceedings slightly and Ivor rounded the game off with 5 further points 21-7.
First 4
Harrogate 1 (59) Clwyd Dragons 3 (70)
Game 5
Tony Derrick v Ian Mitchell
Not the best start from Tony and this may have something to do with jumping in the sea at 4am, oh and the alcohol consumption from the night before, in the blink of an eye TD was 11-2 down, to be fair to Tony he battled back with a break of 8 to get within one, 11-10 to Ian, but Ian wasn't in the mood to hang around, finishing rather well with 9 unanswered points. 21-11 to Ian, not one of Tony's better days.
Game 6
Ian Jarrett v Paul Morris
Positive start from both players in this game and by the 7th end Paul just had his nose in front 5-4, Ian stepped up a level at this point and started to bowl rather well, a break of 5 gave Ian some daylight, Paul responded with a couple of singles only for Ian to step on the gas again, three pairs and a single to take a well deserved lead 16-7, buoyed on by the
Welsh support, Paul made his come back, a single followed by three impressive pairs and he was back in the game. A single stopped the flow but Paul had the bit between is teeth now and forwards he went 19-17, a brave pair from Ian put them both wanting two, but like the his fellow club mate that had gone before, this was also a what could have been. 21-19 to Paul.
Game 7
Andrew Lloyd v Mark Whitley
I think the lest said about this game the better, Mark was a machine and how Andy still had a smile on his face after I do not know, but fair play to him for making the effort coming out to North Wales. 18 unanswered points on the board before Andy scored, but on a plus note, it was a pair! 21-2 to Mark.
Game 8
Lee Singleton (Capt) v Julie Bray
Longest game of the day belonged to me, I started off reasonably well finding a tricky short mark to my liking and on losing the jack 6-2 up, found myself being thrown full length into the corner, fortunately for me I'm a chucker as some would say and rather enjoyed the challenge, at the half way stage I had a slender lead of 3, only to be pegged back and again when leading 14-12.
At the business end I found myself 18-15 to the good, but a poor lead out I went two down, then followed a further single from Julie to make it 18 across. Back into the corner we went, poor lead from Julie and I bowled a decent length a foot wide, she played with a little pace but went just wide, I got giddy and nearly played mine out only to rest on her bowl to make two, I don't think she was best pleased! I kept it simple at all but and scraped over the line for our second point on the board, 21-18.
Second 4
Harrogate 2 (112) Clwyd Dragons 6 (151)
Game 9
Chris England v Chris Slater
Strong start form the Harrogate man going 3-1 up then 7-4 and by the 8th end 9-5, Chris Slater may now reside in Wales, but I am led to believe he was brought up in Leeds and also has some true Yorkshire grit, got himself back into the game at 9 across after producing some very consistent leading, Mr. England was now having to hang in there with Chris Slater finding more 2's to Chris England's singles and despite only being 2 behind at 16-14 down there was some hope, unfortunately like many that had gone before, the Clwyd man came up with the goods and also finished strongly to close the game out 21-14.
Game 10
Nick Lofthouse v Dave Roberts
Similar story for this game too, Nick having a good start and enjoying a very competitive game with Dave.
Not much consistency from either player but good to watch with the jack swapping hands far too often in the first half of the game.
At 9-11 down Nick finally found a run of form and produced his best spell with a 5 break, unfortunately this spurred on Dave and he too found his run of form rattling off a 9 break leaving him just needing one for the win, Nick hung on to make 2 more, but again at the business end Harrogate could not get over the line and Dave ran out 21-16.
Game 11
Peter Syson v Steve Lawley
Fine start from Peter to win the first three ends, but that was just Steve getting his eye in I think, Peter didn't see the jack again till the 14th end and now 14-5 down, this Welsh lot can bowl a bit, who ever said Division 6 is not a great standard needs to give themselves a slap.
With the game seemingly gone and the game comfortably managed by Steve, Peter did his best to get a few more on the board, just simply for his own pride, and almost getting into double figures, but it was not to be and the game ended 21-9 to Steve with a pair to wrap it up.
Game 12
Adam Varley v Steve Dace (Capt)
Save the best till last they say, this was a cracker.
Some very high quality stuff from both Adam and Steve, whilst watching the game you would have thought Adam was well behind, but he never was, at any point in the game!
which goes to show how well they both bowled. Adam led 5-4 after 5 ends and 9-5 after the 10th, nothing in it and at the 21st end where they were tied 14 across, a break of 4 got Adam some daylight and with that finally broke Steve's resolve, Adam now only requiring 3 to win, Steve gifted Adam 2 to get him on all but he had to wait one further end to finish the afternoon off and to get Harrogate their third point of the day, 21-16 to Adam.
Final Score
Harrogate 3 (172) Clwyd Dragons 9 (230)
Photographer
Jed Singleton
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