Penultimate fixture and a somewhat cloudy day on the west coast, nice surroundings and a wonderful pub just next door, where the gentleman from Bilton Dragon tucked into lamb kebabs and the gents from Low Harrogate sampled the local tea, proper Harrogate style, no booze in sight, well not yet anyway. The boys meant business today as we needed a win to stand any chance of staying in Division 6 next season.
Game 1
Chris England v Fergal Wright
Tough ask for Chris going on first and despite some great bowling found himself always playing catch up, after 5 ends 4-2 down and 7-4 down after ten. Fergal accelerated to 13-5, but Chris had a purple patch with a 5 break clawing his way back into the game 10-13 down.
Unfortunately this is where the game disappeared from Chris, leaking three pairs on the bounce at the end to lose out. 21-11 to Fergal. The score didn't do justice because Chris did bowl rather well, very unlucky.
Game 2
David Spilsbury v Derek Ainsworth
David makes a habit of having great games and this was another, Derek flew out of the blocks early on going 6-1 up after five ends, back came David to level up 7 across after ten. A break of seven for Derek and away he went again only to see David digging deep to get back within 3 after twenty ends, 15-12 to Derek.
One more for Derek on the next end, but David turned on the style with a fantastic break of 6 to get his nose in front 18-16, two singles had them tied at 18 across, anybodies game, single each at the next two ends, 19 across, great leads out from David on the last two ends to the relief of not just David, but Harrogate had their first point on the board. 21-19. Well done Spillers!
Game 3
Chris Sunter v Ray Atkinson
Both players got off to a reasonable start with Chris getting a deserved lead, 5-4 after seven ends, Ray stepped up a gear with a seven break and putting the pressure on, but Chris responded well and got back within three, 8-11 down and back in the game so you would have thought, but Ray had other ideas, placing his leads rather too close for Chris's liking and despite striking and getting unlucky on a few occasions, he could not stop the Southport train rolling on to all but 8.
Chris made him wait for a further end, but Ray was just to good on the day, 21-9 to Ray.
Game 4
David Singleton v Ray Webster (Captain)
Debutant David might have wished for an easier start than this, because the way Roy bowled it was a long way to come for very little, fortunately for David the beer was in hand well before 3pm. Good start from Roy leading 5-0 after as many ends. David finally with jack in hand reduced this to just one, 4-5 down, and that was that!
It's precious the little round thing going away from home and if you throw it off, you just might not get it back. To be fair, if you bowl near touches with your lead bowl. you are not going to loose many, 21-4 to Roy, well bowled sir!
Harrogate 1 ( 45) Southport 3 (82)
Game 5
Tom Beecroft v Dave Pritchard
In form Tom struggled to find some consistency from the off, as did Dave from Southport and the game moved onto the fifteenth end with Dave having a narrow lead 10-7.
Tom managed a single at the next end and unfortunately Dave produced three good singles to pile on more pressure to the Harrogate man, 13-8.
As i said previously, Tom was in good form and has already bagged two wins away from home this season, he wasn't going down without a fight, producing some great leading and stunning the home crowd. No stopping Tom as he raced away with the game, 13 unanswered points, what a performance! 21-13
Game 6
Ian Jarrett v Sharon Rigden
Another tough start for the Harrogate bowler Ian who just didn't find a length early on, but after 9 ends, he was still in the game at only 6-4 down, a break of eight and Harrogate were soon looking at another loss, a fine pair from Ian stopped the rot on the fifteenth end,
Sharon bounced back with two good pairs of her own to stretch her lead to 18-6, a further single from Ian and again Sharon returned the favour with two singles of her own finding her on all but, Ian got another point on the board, but at the next end they were shaking hands, 21-8 to Sharon.
Game 7
Greg Johnstone v Steve McCall
Positive start from the Harrogate man to get off with a pair and a single, however Steve responded with the same and more to move into a good lead 9-3. Greg chipped in with a couple of good points only to see Steve run away with a further 5 break.
Greg hung in with a pair and a single, again Steve fought back, 16-8 to Steve, another game going the way of the Southport team, Greg managed another point, but the shaking of hands signaled another win for the team in Dark Blue, 21-9 to Steve.
Game 8
Richard Hughes v Andrew Lund
This is what happens when you go out with the young ones the night before, Richard quite clearly feeling the effects of being up till the early hours, 9-0 down, ouch!
First points on the board with a pair, progress, back came Andrew 12-2, Richard collected another good pair and he was just starting to feel his way into the game, two further singles from Andrew, Richard needed to do something quick, 3 to Richard but Andrew responded with the same 17-7 to Andrew. it's at this point I think Richard's head started to clear, 3 further singles, but Andrew grabbed a single to be just 3 away.
Two, one, one, two went up the hands of Richard, what a come back!16-18, one more followed by a pair and Richard had the lead, disbelief on the Southport lads face, good lead out and Andrew was searching, in for game, could Andrew find anything...….nope. 21-18 What a result!
Harrogate 3 (104) Southport 5 (155)
Game 9
Lee Singleton (Captain) v Neil Rigden
I tried to keep it simple from the off with some good leads to go 3-0 up, but I gave away a silly pair on the fourth end, fortunately Neil didn't lead well and I got in again with a further break of 6 to go 9-2 up. Having got my lead it was all about keeping a little distance, but despite me having a comfortable 17-12 lead, I let him back in with a good 5 break (I won't mention the referee) with the game tied at 17 across and one down, I played up and got lucky just knocking my bowl in, much to the disappointment of Neil.
Two further good bowls in front of the clubhouse had me back where I played ok earlier and with Jack in hand, needing two, I put two within 3 feet, Neil was short with his first, played up with his second and needed to hit something, fortunately for me he sailed by.
21-17 Relief.
Game 10
Tony Derrick v Ali Adams
Good start from Ali going 4-1 up in as many ends,
Tony fought back to take the lead on the eighth end,
5-4, however Ali had a six break, but Tony was just keeping him scoring in singles, big effort required now from Tony and he duly obliged with a fantastic break of 11 consisting of four pairs and three singles, 16-10.
Lots of noise coming from the Southport lad as he stepped up his game and bounced back with 8 without reply to take the lead 18-16, great game!
Two good leads from Tony and the game was level, Ali snatched a single at the next end, tony responded with his own, 19 across, Tony with Jack in hand bowled two within 2 feet laying game, Ali short with his first, played up with his second, Just caught the jack and stayed in for one, Tony gutted.
Back into the corner, poor lead out from Ali and the same for Tony :( not much improvement from Ali, but tony did not find his way in, 21-19 to Ali. Hard to take that one.
Game 11
Adan Varley v Darren Edgerley
Not the best starts from Adam 5-1 in as many ends, lots of jack swapping over the next 10 end or so and with Darren scoring with two's to Adam's singles, the game was quickly getting away from him.
10th end Adam was 8-5 down soon to be 13-7 by the fifteenth, best part of the game from Adam ends 17 to 21 as he scored 5 points, but it wasn't to be his day, Darren finished the stronger with a 6 break to take the game comfortably 21-12
Game 12
Steve Webster v Tom Wright
Not much went right for Steve in this one i'm afraid, Steve started with a good pair, but unfortunately Tom scored 11 in total either side of this, a couple of singles stopped the rot, but a fine break of 5 soon had Tom 16-4 to the good.
Despite Steve's best efforts, Tom took confidence from what had gone before and soon rattled off the required points to wrap up the game 21-6.
Harrogate 4 (162) Southport 10 (235)
Photographer
Jed Singleton
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