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
West Yorkshire v Staffordshire
23-10-22
The 1st home game for West Yorkshire and a baptism of fire for the home side against last year's title winners. Staffordshire were at full strength for this match as West Yorkshire have to make do with the players available game to game yet again. The first session was split, West Yorkshire's fours getting home 10-6 and the triples 11-8 as Kevin in singles narrowly lost (14-18) and Tom and Dave Lost in the pairs 12-18.
The second session saw Staffordshire step up the gear as Adam Lamb beat me by 1 shot (13-14) Darren's trips lost by 3 shots and Kathryn's four lost by 10. Steve Briggs and Daniel Sands sparing a clean sweep by winning brilliantly 19-11.
6-10 at half time.
Kevin's singles win against Adam Lamb (16-12) was the only points scored in session 3 as Staffs again pressed in the pairs (9-23) triples (10-11) and fours (3-7).
Despite everyone's best efforts session 4 wasn't our friend either, I threw everything at Gareth Stanway in the singles but my weighted shots are shocking and that was my undoing and eventually losing 11-14 where I was always 2 or 3 shots adrift.
Daniel and Steve had a run at the pairs aggregate -12 before game 4 but couldn't pull it off but won 15-7. Darren's trips lost by 5 shots (8-13) and Kathryn's four lost narrowly (9-12)
I was wanting double figures today but seeing we lost 4 games by 3 shots or less we could of squeezed out 12 or 14 (2 of them mine!!) Could of been an even better day,
but... coulda, woulda, shoulda doesn't win matches though, but it's not for the lack of effort, Steve Briggs and Daniel Sands have won 4 games on the spin in the pairs, and as I've said before, our fight is for 4th spot, not with Staffs, Stockport or
NY A, it just could of been a little better that's all today,
The games don't get easier as we travel to our Stockport friends next Sunday in what is normally a tricky day.
Final score from Armley
West Yorkshire 10
Staffordshire 30