Harrogate in white, Cheshire Parks in Black and Gold,
it felt good to back playing in the Federation league after a 2year break.
Cheshire were up for the challenge today; all the team had turned up before Steve Walker had even got out of bed and with the Swam Pub open, they soon found their way through the back door with refreshments in hand.
Weather was a little cloudy to start, however the sun peaked out now and again just warm us through.
Game 1
Alan Whitaker v Steve Cooke
Steady start from both players, with the customary jack swapping over the first few ends to get a feel of the green. After 11 ends they were tied at 6-6, a break of 5 for Alan and Steve responded with 6 of his own taking the game to 12-11. An exchange of jacks over next few ends again, but as we headed towards the business end, Alan upped his game, 3 singles and 2 pairs had him just requiring 2 for the win and first blood to Harrogate. Steve saved the game with a single, however the next end Alan wrapped it up 21-15.
Game 2
Phil Hill v Ian Cranston
Good start from Phil racing into a 10-1 lead, however Ian responded well, dragging himself back within 4 at the 15th end, 11-7 to Phil. A tight game ensued after this, unfortunately for Ian, Phil was winning 2 ends to Ian’s 1 and by the 29th end Phil was up 19-13. Obviously those from the other side of the Pennines are made sterner stuff and with 2 2’s against, Phil had to react, which fortunately he did, 21-17 and 2-0 to Harrogate.
Game 3
Alan Rothery v Pete Thomas
Fast out of the blocks was the Cheshire man with a single and a pair, Alan hit back with a 2, poor lead out and Pete was up 5-2. Alan got his lead going and patiently recovered to 7-5 up, quick game this, as both players were leaking 2’s and again the Harrogate man scoring in every 2 ends to the Cheshire mans 1, 14-10, 18-12 and this was only going one-way, great game from Alan, 21-14 to take Harrogate into a fantastic position 3-0.
Game 4
Steve Cochrane v Luke Thomas
Experience verses youth, great to see an 18-year-old at this level and clearly Steve was not in for an easy afternoon. Despite the score card showing not much consistency from both players, there were some great bowling, Steve having to save on several occasions and rolling back the years. At the halfway stage Steve was up 12-8, back came Luke with a 5 break and a single from Steve leveled it up at 13 across. A run of singles had Steve with a slender lead 17-15, encouraged by the support from Cheshire, that was the last time Steve scored and Luke raced away with the first point on the board for Cheshire, 21-17, well played young man!
First 4
Harrogate 3 (80) Cheshire Parks 1 (67)
Game 5
Carol Sunter v Lawson Mitton
Another Cheshire player out of the blocks early in this one unfortunately for Carol, 13-1 after just 9 ends, soon to be 16-2 and a mountain to climb, but this Carol did, finding some form with a fine single and 2 pairs. Back came Lawson however with a run of singles and only needing 2 for the win, Carol was not going quietly, chipping away at his lead with 6 consecutive singles getting back to a respectable 13 before Lawson limped over the line 21-13.
Game 6
Greg Johnstone v Craig Southwick
Cheshire needed a strong start from their second four and this is just what they got, Craig stormed into an 8-0 lead and Greg was left hoping for anything to get him started, a single apiece followed with a hard earned 5 break from Greg and he was off. Another single from Craig and again Greg responded well with another 6 break, back in the game 12-10 up, jack swapping over the next few ends 15-14 to Craig, back to 16 across, 18-16 to Craig, 19-18 to Greg, great game. Jack in hand, keep it simple is my moto, off went the jack, ouch! Craig sent it into an unfamiliar area for both, Greg sent his first off, but Craig was well short, understandably, Greg threw his second off, 2 to Craig, all but, good lead from Craig and Greg was found wanting, hard to take, but great game gents. 21-19
Harrogate 3 Cheshire Parks 3
Game 7
Stuart Whitehouse v Adam Dawson
Long game this, 33 ends. Good quality bowling from both and I am sure Adam had a chuckle at Stuarts golden balls!
anyway, away we went, singles a plenty, but no consistency from either player, 16 ends in and nothing in it, 11-10 to Adam, business end of the game and Adam was up 17-14, back came Stuart with a break of 4 to lead 18-17 hopefully to see it out…….….not to be and as with the previous game, big finish from the Cheshire player, 4 singles on the bounce and it was all over. 21-18 to Adam. So close.
Game 8
Lee Singleton v David Read
Yet again another flying start, 5-1 to David, I battled back with a pair and a single, however David replied with the same, 2 ends to David, 2 ends to me was the state of play, David leading well, me not so (angry face)
20th end 15-10 to David and I stopped the rot with a good pair down the hill. Guess what? Poor lead, 2 to David, to be fair I found myself having to save 2 on several occasion, so he fully deserved the 21-14 win, not what the team needed.
Second 4
Harrogate 3 (144) Cheshire Parks 5 (151)
Game 9
Martin Hemmingway v Howard Thomas
With Harrogate having some work to do, Black Swans Mr. consistent entered the green and as expected got off to a great start, 9-1, soon to be 11-4.
Howard dug in with 3 singles, but back came Martin with the same, at this point Martin started to lose his length letting Howard back into the game with some good bowling. Pair, single, single, single,16-14 to Martin and this was not what Harrogate needed. Back to Mr. consistent, what has he got? 6 singles and some great leading that’s what, 21-14 to Martin.
Game 10
Jason Worsnop v Roy Tarmy
Harrogate battling back again hopefully?
Not if Roy had anything to say, another great game, Roy took an early lead 5-3, only for Jason to fight back with a break of 5, 8-5.
A 6 break from Roy and only a pair from Jason could not stop Roy taking the lead 11-10, fantastic come back from Jason with 3 2’s,16-11.
I’m not sure what the swan pub were serving, but it gave the Cheshire boys more of a lift and back came Roy, encouraged by the team support, leading into the corner and back to the middle, Jason was searching and soon the game was gone, 10 without reply, 21-16 to Roy.
Harrogate 4 Cheshire Parks 6
Game 11
Steve Walker v Paul Bannister
Finally, Steve had turned up and boy did we need a performance, 2 games remained, and Harrogate needed two wins to tie the game.
Jack swapping for the first 6 ends, nothing in it, Steve’s customary 19 yards bowling moved him into a 9-5 lead, back came Cheshire’s Captain, 14 ends 10 across. Back to his 19-yard bowling and bowling it very well to be truthful, raced into a fine 19-11 lead despite some accurate striking from Paul, but he was only stalling the inevitable, but did the final 2 from Paul make a difference?
21-13 to young Walker
Game 12
Brian Walker v Tony Stevens
Last man standing and with the aggregate score at Harrogate 202, Cheshire 199, what a great day’s bowling we have had, regardless of the result.
Tony looked like the real deal and like many that had gone before, got off to a great start, 7th end and he was already 8-3 up, with the sun finally disappearing behind the clouds and the Swan Pub, so was the hope for a tied game.
Another fine break from Tony, 7 to add to his 8 and Brian only able to squeeze in a single looked doomed at 15-4 down. Pride was at stake and Harrogate’s number 1 was not going down without a fight. 5 break from Brian 9-15, a further 3 from Tony and away he went again 18-9, 2 from Brian and a single from Tony left him just requiring 2, here comes Brian 2,2,1,1, 17-19 great effort, the game was for the taking……… single from Tony, bummer, followed by another, gutted, 21-17
Great game gents and well done to Cheshire on a fantastic day’s bowling.
Great to be back!
Result
Harrogate 5 (219) Cheshire Parks 7 (220)
Photographer
Jed Singleton
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