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
Season Opener 2022-23
North Yorkshire C v West Yorkshire 9/10/22
PRELUDE
Hello, so here we go with the new campaign as 8 times winners West Yorkshire made the trip to Rod Dawson's EX-ICC North Yorkshire 'C' side... Not that 'C' aspect means a lot... A very new looking West Yorkshire side shorn of no fewer than 18 County bowlers and minus the West Yorkshire 'B' side for the foreseeable future took to the Easingwold mats who themselves were in very good spirits with plenty of talent on show... And 1 very familiar face too... North Yorkshire's side, for me, could challenge for top spot but for a couple of chinks in the armour that could be bolstered with ample bowlers at their choosing. West Yorkshire however, the huge losses of raw talent in Andy, Neil and Gary Birks and Johnny Orbell that were so very very good in Paul Kings trips who just attacked on the front foot from game 1 and the fours last year have gone, the experience and skip of David Johnson gone, John Packer, only a bit player, but still helped out also gone along with Ann and Alan Taylor and now the likely lengthy abscense of Walter Stockhill due to health issues have all made this season, nothing short of a nightmare to assemble a team. The shortage of skips is at crisis point, again. But we have to keep going!
TO THE GAME...
Steve Packer, the git he is, (Hehe) now dons the North Yorkshire colours for geographical reasons didn't waste any time in bowling how he does so often against me and played brilliantly in the singles, (11-23) and still for me the best bowler to pull on a WY jersey, everyone still thinks of him as 1 of our own, and he is, and always will be at heart. Glen and Dave lost their pairs (6-23) Matthew's trips played well of Dennis Walter's and returning Steve Caley and won (14-6) and Kathryn's 4 of Andrea & Ian Chiverton and Melissa Morris drew 5-5.Second session was a sucker punch with NY clean sweeping us across the board to lead 13-3 at half time. Andy Jones' 4 of Tim and Janet Pearson and Joanne spared our blushes with a fine 11-4 win in the 4s and that was all for session 3, Final session and with it West Yorkshire's best session. Dave and Glen nearly got over the line but just fell short to Simon Holtby and Rose Hayes (9-16) Matthew's trips drew 8-8, Kathryn's 4 won very well against Joe Newsomes 4 (11-7) and with it the 4s discipline aggregate by 8 shots. And me, well I couldn't do anything wrong against Ben Render, if I could bottle how I lead against Ben and open it at Staffs, believe me I would (!) as I won by 20, but the aggregate was North Yorkshire's... By 1 point!!!
POST MATCH
Analysing it, of the losses we incurred, 2 games were lost by 3 shots or less for us, Darren's game v Steve Packer and Andy Miles 2nd trips game. Other positives were Kathryn's 4 of Andrea and Ian and Melissa and Matthews trio all finding ways not to lose a match all day. We have a side with a host of B teamers who won't of played against this standard but everyone who played today stood upto it and gave it their all. Which is all I can ask, or any captain for that matter. No bias, but Kathryn is underrated, normally by herself, but she can definitely play. The fours is the hardest discipline to play in I assure you. Andy Jones is another good skip for us. We just have very little resources to plunder now, but try we will do!
RESULT======North Yorkshire C 28
West Yorkshire 12