West Sussex bowlers celebrate success against Kent

The Premier team got off to a poor start, winning only one game in the first session, but improved in the second session with two wins and a draw to trail 9-7 at lunch.

In the afternoon they continued in their improved form, winning three games in the third session and taking the bonus points in the singles.

Points were shared in the final session but with West Sussex taking the bonus points in the fours they ran out winners 21-19 in a high-quality match. This leaves them clear at the top and looking favourites to qualify for the KO stages of the championship.

In the singles Infinity’s Chris Page lost 13-9 and won 15-7 while club-mate Jack Rollings won 24-8 and 16-9. In the pairs The Martlets duo of Chris Blackman and Mel Lillywhite lost 15-12 and won 17-10 while the Infinity pairing of Charlotte Rollings and Richard Jeffery lost 13-11 and 20-9.

In the triples Crablands Joyce Abel lost 13-8 and 15-9 and the Southbourne combination of Karen and Dave Alner and Antony Bull won 13-12 and lost 13-11.

In the fours Southbourne’s Audrey Bull with The Martlets’ Malcolm Rollings and Lavant’s Peter Winter and Peter Whale won 14-6 and 12-8 while Bognor’s Clive Andrews with Infinity’s Steve Jeffery and Southbourne’s Robin Armstrong drew 8-8 and won 14-8.

The A team also had a hard game in their final round-robin game. Points were shared in both morning sessions to leave the score tied at 8-8 at lunch.

In the third session West Sussex won two and drew one, taking the bonus points in both disciplines in the process. Kent came back strongly in the final session with West Sussex managing only one win but taking the bonus points in the fours for a 21-19 win.

This leaves them clear at the top of their table but with teams below them still having games to play.

In the singles Bognor’s Brian Mills lost 16-14 and drew 12-12. In the pairs Bognor’s David Stansmore and Pam Andrews won 17-8 and 13-10.

In the triples Bognor’s Gareth Morgan and Infinity’s Denise Kirby lost 16-11 and 16-6. In the fours Southbourne’s Dave Walter and Andy Smith won 14-9 and 16-4 while Lavant’s Terry Haigh won 13-10 and lost 13-7.

ARUN

Egerton Park 135 Arun 105

Arun travelled to Egerton Park, Hastings, for a county league match.

The game started well for Arun, creeping end by end ahead. By the 14th end Arun were ahead by about 30 shots.

Egerton rallied and with seven ends to go started pulling back and edged to a win.

Although Arun won on two rinks and drew on one giving them two-and-a-half points, Egerton take eight-and-a-half.

Scores: P Hamnett, P Phillips, T Arnold, B Butler drew 15-15; J Sparrow, J Fox, M Johnson, L Hall lost 34-14; D Jackson, M Campbell, R Hobbs, E Pidgeon lost 22-14; L Etherington, R Gardner, K Ball, T Sayers won 24-22; I Linfield, V May, T Dade, P Hannam lost 28-14; B Forey, R Corkett, F Taylor, A Anderson won 24-14.

Arun 128 Worthing 121

Arun entertained Worthing in their second county league game of the weekend.

Once again Arun started really well, pulling ahead by a good margin. But at halfway, Worthing were beginning to find the weight and started to pull back. Arun held on to take the win.

With five points for an overall win and one for a winning rink. Arun got eight in total, leaving three winning rink points for Worthing.

Scores: L Etherington, R Gardner, K Ball, T Sayers won 32-24; B Rebeck, V May, M Johnson, G Leaman lost 23-21; P Hamnett, T Arnold, J Newell, B Butler won 25-15; D Jackson, M Campbell, R Hobs, E Pidgeon lost 21-18; C Gilham, P Miles, S Mead, P Hannam won 21-17; B Forey, R Corkett, P Lillford, A Anderson lost 21-11.

SOUTHBOURNE/CRABLANDS

Having started the season in style, Crablands Avocets suffered a devastating 44-27 defeat away to Southbourne Rovers.

Southbourne’s Mal Keane, Colin Bulbeck, Pete Jasinski and Alan Shelley dominated their game from the start. Avocets’ Harry Stead, Joan Taylor, Terry Axworthy and Trevor Plaistow managed to pick up three shots on the tenth end bringing them to 15-5 but picked up only six more shots in the remaining ends. Avocets went down 27-11.

Avocets fared better on mat two and with superb play by skips Bill Merritt (Avocets) and Dave Walton (Southbourne) this was much more keenly-contested.

Merritt, ably backed by Sheila Plaistow, Elaine Sadler and Paul Holland, making his league debut, started out strongly and led 14-7 by the 14th end. However this was short-lived with Walton, John Hardy, Joan Frost and Alan Williams taking nine shots on the next three ends, bringing the scoreline to 16-14 in favour of Southbourne.

A nip & tuck game saw Avocets pick up three shots to lead 17-16, but Southbourne took the next two shots and Avocets a further one, levelling the game at 18-18 with one end to play. A great first shot by Hardy couldn’t be moved by Avocets, giving the win to Southbourne by19-18.

Avocets’ non-playing captain Alan Foot praised Southbourne for their substantial win but vowed vengeance at their next match.

Mannings Heath White Squirrels 38 Southbourne Rangers 32

Southbourne Rangers lost away against Mannings Heath White Squirrels in county division one of the West Sussex Winter League. Each team won on one mat and Southbourne lost overall by six shots to earn two points.

Scores: Karen Alner, Dave Walter, Andy Smith & Dave Alner (s) won 19-12; Audrey Bull, Irene Jennings, Alan Williams & Robin Armstrong (s) lost 26-13.

FITTLEWORTH

Fittleworth 53 Norfolk 50

Scores (friendly): Simon Herbert, Marilyn Knight, David Luxford, Bernard Adsett (skip) won 16-11; Jane Adsett, Arthur Ellcome, Sonia Burden, Monica Enticknap (skip) won 26-17; Alex Herbert, Eileen Warrington, Tony Broughton, David Herbert (skip) lost 22-11.

The club pairs competition was held and, having won the group matches, Dave Herbert and Richard Burden will contest the final against Bernard Adsett and Marilyn Knight on finals day in April.

OUTDOOR CLUBS

WITTERINGS

Members and friends of the Witterings & District Bowls Club gathered in East Wittering Village Hall for their annual presentation evening.

This began with a three-course meal followed by presentations to all trophy winners and bouquets from Gwilym Morgan and Ros Hanbury to Carole Tuffin, Carol Morgan and Jen Knotts for their help.

Presentations over, everyone took to the dance floor with dancing that surpassed the skills shown on the bowling greens.

Numerous raffle prizes were claimed and an enjoyable time was had by all.

Winners: Men’s Pairs Stuart Hooker & Colin Carter; Ladies’ Pairs Chris Horsley & Karen Slogrove; Handicap Lindsay Bangs; Championship Lindsay Bangs; Ladies’ 100 Up Chris Horsley; Two Woods Mark White; Club Pairs Carole Tuffin & Ron Prior; Men’s 100 Up Fred Knotts; Men’s Singles Lindsay Bangs; Ladies’ Singles Carole Tuffin; Veterans Fred Knotts; Juniors Glyn Dobson; Victor Ludorum Lindsay Bangs.

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