Stuart Greenhalgh update on Mid Cheshire crown green bowling scene

THIS has been a great season for Mid Cheshire Federation.

The first game was lost but then they won the next three, and they found out at the weekend - from results elsewhere - confirmation of their promotion and that they have advanced from Division Three to Division One in just two seasons.

The Federation League is run over five weeks, and with only four matches a season every team gets a month off. It is on that month off, Mid Cheshire Federation run their Merit competition and this took place at the weekend.

Owley Wood agreed to host the event on their second green.

They have spent money on their greens and surrounds and now the whole package gives Mid Cheshire one of the best bowling venues in the country.

The club and bowls section are always incredibly supportive of bowls and go out of their way to help.

It was nice to have the distraction of the Merit as everyone waited for the last results of their Federation division to come through and confirm the promotion.

The Merit showed the bowling quality of the players soon to be going into Division One.

Two of the bowlers, Anthony Lloyd and Emma Earlam, were playing on a different level as they moved towards the final.

And It was Ant Lloyd who joined 2022 Kevin Duncalf (2022) and Owen Cookson (2023) as Merit winners.

Jamie Bramley won the supplementary competition, just edging Darran Beardmore into second place.

The Federation team knockout will be played next month in the Mid Cheshire area.

On Saturday, two Mid Cheshire sides featured in the county’s Brunner Cup semi finals.

Castle Sports A travelled to Vulcan Sports Club to take on Lever Club and had nine winners, easing through 230-177.

This will be Castle’s fourth final in five years.

In the other semi-final at Swettenham, Frodsham Red Lion had six winners out of 12 and pushed Houldsworth all the way but just lost by five points 198-203.

Look out for the final, it will be a great match.

Two more Mid Cheshire teams played in the county’s Norman Cup semi-finals.

Rudheath A took on Packhorse BC at Cheadle Cons. It was not to be their day. Rudheath had only two winners out of 10 but only lost 210-195.

The other semi-final brought together Wharton Cons against Lloyds at Croft BC.

The game could not have been closer with Wharton just beating Lloyds by one point, Wharton’s six winners out of 10 just keeping them ahead 184-183.

The final of the Mid Cheshire Merit D&D Cup will be played on Castle Sports number two green from 1pm on Saturday.

The eight qualifiers are: Glynn Cookson, Tom Vickers, Ryan Sandham, Rob Pace, Nick Walker, James Gurney, Conall Redmond and Gerald Merry.

Meanwhile, Wharton Cons A have had a run of nine games unbeaten in the Mid Cheshire Crown Green Bowling League which has kept them in second place in the top flight.

Their latest home win of 206-133 against Helsby put them to within 36 points of the top spot.

Kingswood, who are fighting to stay up, inflicted upon Castle Sports their second defeat of the season 185-171.

Frodsham Red Lion had a great result at Alsager, who are in the bottom three. Frodsham had four losers but won 198-161, keeping them in third.

Fourth-place Crewe Post Office delivered another home win, beating Owley Wood A 192-146.

Rudheath Bowls A had a good win at home, beating Middlewich CBC 191-149.

The final game in the Premier League resulted in a home win for Castle Sports B against Comberbach A 188-179.

In Section One, Shavington came away from Castle Sports C with a dent in their chances of winning the title, with the hosts winning 194-169.

Owley Wood B closed the gap on Shavington with a good 192-161 home win against Wharton Cons B.

Meadowbank, in third place, had a home win against Middlewich RBL A 178-156.

In Section Two Barnton CC A remained top after a great win against Wharton Rec A 178-196.

Victoria, who have played a game less than Barnton, kept second spot with a maximum 210-105 win at home against Kelsall.

In Section Three, Middlewich and Shavington B both scored 206 at home keeping them both at the top and moving away slightly from the five teams below them.

In the Mid Cheshire Ladies League, Red Lion continued their unbeaten run, with a win at Bunbury 117-152.

Second-placed Castle Ladies had a home win against Winnington Ladies.

You would think Winnington with five out of eight winners would have done better than their 144-116 loss.

Barnton A kept up the chase on second spot with a win at Davenham 135-148.

In Division Two, Rudheath SSC, Barnton B, Bostock Ladies and Moulton Ladies are fighting it out for the top spot. With only Fifty-seven points between Rudheath in first place and Moulton in fourth.