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
HUMBERSIDE!
West Yorkshire v Humberside
The first match after Christmas would see us take on near rivals Humberside at Armley. Andrea Chiverton was taken poorly the night before the match so Glennys Ash stepped into play in her stead.
Humberside, although missing a few players from yester-year can still mix it and are far from a push over.
Session 1 saw Dave Coultas beat our Andy Jones in the singles (4-21), myself and Glen edging out Dave and Gavin Smith in the pairs (13-11) Andy Miles' trips list narrowly (10-13) and Kathryn Jones' 4 winning (13-7)
Session 2 would see Humberside winning the majority, Tom Morris', survived a late onslaught from Steve Danby's practise partner in Ian Batton, 13-5 up became 13-13 within 4 ends before Tom held his nerve to win (16-14) Darren's last gasp wood saw our pairs draw (8-8) Dave Fletchers trips were edged out (10-11) as our "mixed bag" four of Glennys Ash, Dennis Walters, Steve Caley and Ian Chiverton were unlucky in hunting down a 1-12 deficit after 4 ends to lose (10-15) but made inroads into keeping the aggregate in our favour.
Half time and we were trailing 7-9. Not going to script...
West Yorskhire being West Yorkshire however invariably find a way of turning it round... we were going to find our straps at some point and this was to be our catalyst..
Performances were sketchy at best up until half way, but fight we did and although not quite the repeat of Derbyshire from a few years ago where we won all 8 mats in the second half... this was close to it and we came out swinging hard..,
Session 3
Andy Jones', clearly unwell gave it his all but lost again to Ian Batton (7-22) but that aside everyone else won, quite how myself and Glen kept Eva Dayes and Val Smith out however, is a mystery, counting back on the card.. Eva Dayes single handly saved 12 (TWELVE!) shots on her own by drawing in and cutting the count or just bowling a ludicrous wood to get shot in what is the most consistent bowler I've seen at Armley over 30 ends this season, flawless stuff and still a credit to Humberside after all these years. We won (14-13) in a humdinger!! Andy Miles' trio snapped into gear as they beat John Borrill's trips (12-6) and Kathryn's 4, trailing 5-7 on end 9, scored a beautiful conversion shot of 2 down into 5 up to sicken Humberside and win (10-7).... and I was quite pleased!!!
Session 4
More of the same please....? Any victory over David Coultas is to be congratulated and Tom Morris did just that in fine style (15-13), Darren and Steve Briggs beat Gavin & Dave Smith (13-9) and with it secured the aggregate aswell, Dave Fletcher's trips game was a nervous watch... +2 on the aggregate looked vulnerable against Mark Breames' trips but although we lost the match (11-12) we secured the aggregate, albeit by just 1 shot!! The fours was quite something else. Glennys, Dennis, Steve Caley and Ian bowled superbly this time around, I don't know what they had for lunch but it worked wonders as they trounced home brilliantly (12-1)
ANALYSIS
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The 1st half was a C+, the 2nd half a B+, there was just a sense we were fired up, especially after the 3rd session to go on and put the final nails in the coffin.
This was an improved performance from the North Yorkshire B match overall, Humberside asked questions from their experienced bowlers in Mark Breame but we stood firm. The resilience of the final trips of Tony, Joanne and Dave Fletcher stood us in good stead as we clung on for the aggregate in a losing cause. Andy Jones, still unwell, played on through the spluttering but even by his own admission didn't bowl as good as what he can which is an area of concern although Tom Morris battled hard in both his singles games which he won. Ian Chiverton's makeshift four with Steve Caley, Dennis and Glennys worked out with a win aswell. That 2nd game was brilliant to watch.
Eva Dayes' in the pairs for Humberside will long be a thorn in the side for many a bowler.
Yep, Happy Cappy!!
Final score from Armley..
West Yorkshire 25
Humberside 15
Now to the championships....