W.Y.S.M.B.A
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The 2025 Annual NEMSBA Championships commenced over the weekend for everyone in the NESMBA zone at the York Indoor Bowls Centre.
Report as follows from a West Yorkshire perspective:
SATURDAY MORNING [FOURS]
Of the 5 fours that made it through to York, only 2 unfortunately made it through the group phase, Mel, Tom, Royston & Darren as 1 four, and John, Andy Miles, Joanne and Dave the other four. John Packer's four made it through the 1st KO round but fell to Martin Grange's Staffordshire 4 In the next round.
Darren's four faired better by getting right to the final before coming unstuck to Martin Simcock's Staffordshire's team.
SATURDAY AFTERNOON [SINGLES]
Darren, Royston, Daniel Sands and Matthew would qualify from the group phase with John Packer just missing out. Royston was then narrowly beat by Dave Newsome in the next round which also saw Daniel Sands bow out too. Darren and Matthew would go onto the QF phase before both eventually losing. Peter Roberts would beat Adam Lamb in the final in a repeat of last year's finale too.
SUNDAY MORNING [PAIRS]
All 4 of our participants made it through the groups in this one. In the next round Dave & Matthew and Royston & Darren were beaten. Daniel Sands & Robyn fell in the next round leaving just Tom Morris & John Packer remaining, cue a great run... cutting through Peter & Steve Roberts, then Chris and June Crowther in the semis to win the whole damn thing against Darren Kerr and Janice of Staffordshire to a rapturous WY ovation! Excellent
SUNDAY AFTERNOON [TRIPLES]
4 from 5 of our entrants qualified with Angie, Mel and Hannah unfortunately not making it through.
Daniel Sands, Tom and Steve Briggs were beaten in the QF stage, as too were Joanne, Royston and Darren. An all (and only one all weekend) WY Clash in one of the semi finals saw Andy Miles, Dave Fletcher and Matthew Leaf pip Kathryn Jones, Andy Jones and John Packer on the last end for a spot in the final. Despite a great effort throughout, a costly 5 count cost WY dear as Clint and Chris Crowther with Gary Williamson would go onto win the triples for Stockport.
3 participants from the 4 final disciplines is superb and how the results unfolded just shows how we've done as both a squad and some fantastic individual performances, The pairs was a standout, John and Tom couldn't really of gone through many more tougher opponents to record what will be a famous win for these guys and a memory that they'll keep for a lifetime and how they did it too which made picking up the county shield as West Yorkshire captain a proud moment for me too.
I think it goes (rather undeservedly) that we are sometimes overlooked compared to Staffs and Stockport's firepower but as results have shown over this weekend, we can still match them and can have our way with them too. So a huge thankyou and well done to all those that gave as good as they got!! Exceptional!
The County shield winners were WEST YORKSHIRE for their combined performances from the Knock Out stage onwards too!!!
[1]WY 17pts
[2]Staffs 16pts
[3]Stockport 14pts
Humbling at
Humberside!
Humberside v West Yorkshire.
(29-1-23)
Our last away game was upon us and to North Cave we went, the game against the Humberside crew is always played in good spirits.
SINGLES
Andy Jones took on pairs NESMBA champ Josh Burrow in the 1st game, and despite a narrow loss for Andy, trailing 2-8 after 9 ends was testament to Andy's willingness to stick in there losing 13-16. Tom Morris beat David Coultas in a gripping match with David well up before Tom came roaring back in typical fashion and carved out a win! Josh v Tom after lunch was a topsy-turvy game with 4 dead ends (I think) as Josh beat Tom 16-8. Andy Jones again coming up just short in the last game as David Coultas won 13-11.
2 POINTS
PAIRS
Matthew and Andy kicked things off with a gripping drawn game v Val Smith and Eva Dayes 10-10, myself and Glen won 14 -11 against Dave and Gavin Smith and then 16 - 6... although the 2nd game, Eva again bowled in to save 2s and 3s or the score would of been a lot more. Matthew and Andy lost on the last end 10-12 against Dave and Gavin. Although Andy MIles played amazing all day....!
7 POINTS
TRIPLES
A win and a loss for Daniel Sands' and Dave Fletcher' trips but the aggregate was secured for WY by 1 solitary shot.
6 POINTS
FOURS
All games lost in the 4s which was disappointing to see, I'd hoped we'd sneak a win across the day but not to be.
0 POINTS
OVERALL
It's easy to be annoyed with the result, a few years ago we came here and got 32 points but with a much changed side. But times have changed and so have the personnel involved. The negatives from today was nothing in the fours unfortunately and still a lot of short woods on the slower pace mats, not just in the fours though i might add. The singles battled hard, Andy Jones was worthy of at least a win today but wasn't to be. Pairs picked up 7/10 points.
Next game v North Yorkshire A on February 12 will be from Armley in our penultimate match of the season.
Final score from North Cave;
Humberside 25
West Yorkshire 15