Cygnets sunk by ducklings in the battle of the bowls newcomers

Boat Club captain for the day Lorna Lee had three team members playing in a club match for the first time against a far more practised team and the inexperience showed, with Ducklings captain Jenny Wickens leading her side to a 67-25 success.

A more epxerienced Boat Club side, led by Mary Wheildon, beat Southam 50-39 in a three-rink friendly.

Lyn Taylor skipped Boat Club’s winning rink alongside Wheildon and Carolyn Labrum.

RLS avenged an early-season defeat to Welford-on-Avon with a comprehensive 122-66 victory which saw them win all five triples.

Captain Dick Allibon led the charge alongside Jerry Horne and Barry Connolly with a 20-shot winning margin, while there were also victories for Dave Gardner (24-11), Bryan Rooke (21-17), Bill Edkins (22-17) and Eddy Arnett (26-12).

A sterling performance from Gordon McClean’s rink prevented WCC Staff from suffering a third successive defeat in a forgettable week for the club.

George Barber and Brian Wakefield both eked out narrow 13-11 wins in a 85-51 defeat for Staff at Kineton, while Mike Higgins (17-13) was the only victor in a 14-shot triples defeat at home to Welford.

A morale-sapping third defeat was averted, however, in large part to a 23-7 win for McClean’s rink in the clash with Lillington.

Richard Sharp edged out Ted Rheams 18-17 and Andy McKowen tied with Adrienne Rheams, but it was McClean’s comprehensive 16-point margin which proved the difference in a 77-70 win for Staff.

Malcolm Welch (19-10) and John Henfrey were the Lillington victors.

Lillington fared much better at home to St Barbara’s, winning all five rinks on their way to a 107-78 success.

Dennis Lee led the way with a 27-16, with Welch (21-14), Nick Simmonds (22-16), Nigel Roach (21-20) and Keith Francis (16-12) completing the clean sweep.

Lillington’s ladies, meanwhile, recovered from a five-shot deficit after five ends to beat Whitnash in a three-rink friendly.

Chris Venn beat Joan Vince 21-14 to record the highest winning rink, with Chris Ward (21-14) and Pat Gage (20-15) also on target.

Whitnash’s men recorded two wins, with Les Carkson (17-10) and K Ballard (28-10) helping secure a 58-34 triples win over Warwick Boat Club and Dave Thompson’s 29-15 success proving the highlight of a 118-105 victory at Three Spires in a six-rink match.

Captain Les Clarkson (22-15), Grev Reader (21-15) and Bob Cook (18-17) also recorded victories at Three Spires.

Dave Longdon claimed the bragging rights as the Warwickshire Vice-Presidents’ Bowls Assoc-iation’s deputy chairman’s side beat chairman Derek Wattison’s outfit 120-107 in the annual six-rink fixture.

Keith Ralins skipped the day’s highest winning rink (33-16).

Courier League results: Division One: Little Compton 30 (0pts) Norgren 64 (8pts); RLS 35 (0pts) Wellesbourne 44 (8pts); Stratford 48 (2pts) Avenue 60 (6pts); Whitnash 61 (6pts) RLS 4ths 43 (2pts). Division Two: RLS 3rds 37 (2pts) Lillington 2nds 47 (6pts); WCC A 46 (2pts) Whitnash 2nds 64 (6pts); Welford 2nds 40 (2pts) Welford 66 (6pts); RLS 2nds 54 (6pts) Southam 44 (2pts). Division Three: Shipston Sports 44 (3pts) WCC B 46 (5pts); Snitterfield 2nds 49 (6pts) Kineton 34 (2pts); Snitterfield 41 (2pts) Fenny Compton 48 (6pts); Warwick Boat Club 37 (1pt); Lillington 3rds 60 (4pts) FISSC 53 (4pts).