W.Y.S.M.B.A
.jpeg)
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
NY B v West Yorkshire 16-10-22
West Yorkshire returned to Easingwold to play North Yorkshire's B side, a.k.a
The "Terriers" the pressure was eased somewhat from North Yorkshire's A side but the points still had to be scored. Some players returned, some in a different role again.
Session 1.
New to the singles discipline Tom Morris got off to a flyer against seasoned bowler Robert Mumford and showed his aptitude in some lovely forcing shots when needed and drawing to the jack to keep Robert at arms reach winning 21-8.
The pairs saw the return of super Daniel Sands, I mean, is there anything this chap can't do?!? A superb pairing of he and brilliant Glen Scott left Pat and Heather without a chance. 27-6 winners.
The trips was the only loss, Pat Jones' trips are a good team to beat and wont lose many games at Easingwold so it proved. 3-16.
Andy Jones' 4 got a 6-6 draw in their 1st game.
Session 2.
I got past Robin Boddy in my usual way of making it difficult and playing like a plonker in the singles 14-9
Dave Fletcher and Steve Briggs, normally combine well and that was on display with a fantastic performance from them both in this game winning 25-4.
Matthews trio of Dennis Walters and Steve Caley won their 1st game in convincing style 14-4. As Kathryn's unchanged 4 won their game 10-5.
​
13-3 lead at half time.
Session 3, and both singles games were totally different in style and fluidity from our 1st games, I had a hell of a job with Robert in this game, never in front until late in the piece, 1 shot, where I elected to play Roberts Wood out to effectively win the game went wrong and gifted him 2. Giving me a 1 point lead on the last end. What should of been 17-11, was 14-13. Jack in the ditch from me, and laying 1 shot, Robert had a toucher he had to ditch to draw the game, he missed inside with his 2nd wood, missed wide with his 3rd wood, and his last wood........ smacked the toucher straight in next to the jack to tie the game up at 14-14. A game I had no right to win, and when I nearly stole it, was taken back.
The pairs was a precession of sorts as Dave and Steve Briggs won 19-10 in imperious style. Andy Miles' trips lost 5 -12 to Pat Jones side. And Kathryn's 4 made it 2 wins from 2 with a great 11-2 win in their 2nd game.
Session 4
Tom's last singles game will feature at the end of this report and should be read with a coffee as it's a humdinger of a game....
Daniel Sands and Glen hammered their pair opponents 27-5 in their last game.
Matthews trips left it until the 10th end to go in front and kept their nerve brilliantly to seal the game 8-6.
Andy Jones' completed his day in the fours with a 10-4 win, Tim, Janet and Joanne all playing very very well all day on a tricky mat...
So to Tom Morris' game,
Oh Tom Morris....
Parallels were definitely there between me and Tom in our 2nd game, we just didn't get going until about 6 ends in. Robin was playing some very good stuff all day, Tom couldn't get settled but he kept in there.. 3-7 after 6 ends became 8-9 after 11 ends and Tom was wound up and scrapping for everything he could and desperate for the win but Robin seemed unrelenting as time and again he kept his nose just in front but his lead had eroded a lot. We were tied at 11s on the 14th end with Tom leading, the jack has been hit and was perched on the left side of the mat, middle jack length to the line with Tom just holding shot, Robins 3rd wood missed the target wide, Tom's last wood was in the vicinity but not counting, Robin's last wood hit a short wood and resulted in a measure for the match. I was as nervous as Tom but when he signalled 1 up I was elated for him, 12-11 win for Mr Morris and just reward for the refusal to buckle after being 7-3 down and not bowling great. There won't be many harder fought 2 points played for than this but the fight was great to see.
Overall we couldn't of asked for a much better day really, it's OK saying we should hammer so and so but it's doing it, the pairs were outstanding, racking up 95 shots in 4 games is just astounding. Kathryn's 4 have gelled really well, the last end win from Matthew's trips was brilliant. Dorothy Phizackerley lead really well for Andy Miles, Tony played well again too,
A whole lot of positives from this weekend with a great belief. Final score from Easingwold then,
North Yorkshire "B" 8
West Yorkshire 32
Excellent.