Latest news from Mid Cheshire crown green bowling scene

THE second half of the men’s Mid Cheshire Crown Green Bowling League season began on Friday night with the top-flight league leaders Castle Sports making the ‘long journey’ to Castle Sports B.

It was a good effort from the B team, having four winners out of 10, but Castle A took the match 152-194.

Wharton Cons, in second spot, hosted Crewe PO (fourth) and it was Wharton with six winners who won the match 182-157.

Frodsham Red Lion A made the trip to Middlewich CC. Although Frodsham had six winners to Middlewich’s Four, it was a bruising match with both teams taking points from each other before Frodsham ran out 177-166 victors.

At the bottom of the table Kingswood and Alsager look most likely to go down unless their results improve.

In Section One, Shavington, Owley Wood B and Meadowbank are the teams battling for promotion and the title.

Meanwhile, in the Mid Cheshire Ladies League, last Monday’s matches saw Red Lion Ladies again winning, with their fifth maximum score of the season, the only difference being that they were playing away at Lady Owls.

Just a glance at the first division averages gives a clue to why they are top - four out of the top five play at Red Lion.

Lady Owls were beaten 168-107.

Winnington Ladies, in third place, had a great win at Bunbury.

Winnington had five winners to Bunbury’s three, succeeding 156-113 which keeps them in the race for second spot.

On Tuesday night, second place Castle Ladies travelled to Davenham Ladies.

It was another away win with Castle having seven winners and Davenham One in a 157-90 triumph.

In Division Two, things are more exciting with less than 20 points separating the top four teams, even the team in fifth has a chance to get to the top before the end of the year.

First are Bostock Ladies, second are Barnton B, third are Rudheath SSC, fourth are Moulton Ladies and fifth are Norley B who are only 26 points behind fourth.

The final day of the Pogson Pairs was played on Sunday at Comberbach.

The quarter finals saw Jason and Adam Cornes beating Andrew Poynton and Gary Brady, Nathan Brown and Ryan Sandham defeating Dave Orr and Matthew Clarke, Danny Nixon and Shaun Yearsley overcoming their Wharton Cons teammates Tom Vickers and Alan Vickers.

The last pair to make it through to the semi-finals were Paul Farrington and Andy Campbell.

In the semi-finals, Castle Sports pairing Jason and Adam Cornes dispatched Victoria pair Ryan Sandham and Nathan Brown, while Danny Nixon and Shaun Yearsley (Wharton Cons) took no time in defeating Middlewich CC pairing Paul Farrington and Andy Campbell.

It is not unusual to have Castle Sports and Wharton Cons fighting it out for a final, be it singles, doubles or a team match.

On this occasion, Jason and Adam Cornes fell 21-17 to Danny Nixon and Shaun Yearsley.

Three Mid Cheshire players made the journey to compete in the BCGBA Senior Merit, representing Cheshire.

Glynn Cookson went out in the first round after drawing Gregg Smith, the eventual winner.

Andy Gregory also lost in the first round to Lee Longfield, who made it to the semi-finals but was beaten by runner-up Chris Mordue.

Andy Hamman made it through to the last 16, beating Neil Withers and Keith Middleton, before losing to Jon Edmondson.

Martin Simcock, another Mid Cheshire player, also travelled, representing Potteries and District. Martin made it to the last 32, losing to Lee Longfield after beating John Evans in the first round.