Welcome to (very) wet winter bowling

Winter League

After misleading new bowlers to the Winter League into thinking that every matchday would be like last Monday, the weather struck back with a vengeance at Netherton Con on Wednesday.

In stark contrast to the sunshine and blue skies welcome to the new bowlers at Lindley Lib on Monday the Netherton Con greeting demanded the need for full waterproofs and brollies. On the morning of the first matchday at Netherton Con the heavens opened prior to start of play and deposited a week's worth of rain over the next five hours only easing off as the bowlers drove home. The green was quite remarkable in that it was only in the final hour that any surface water appeared at all but inevitably it became a bit of a chucking matchday with a number of bowlers limited to distances by the soggy green.

This in turn distorted the results which cannot provide a worthy guide to the chances of any of the teams over the coming season. The all-ladies team from Golcar C&BC were particularly affected although it failed to dampen their spirits as they set up basecamp in the stand opposite the clubhouse. The Golcar C&BC team were one of the very first to put forward their application to join the League for the 2022-23 season. They were regular spectators right through last season at Thorpe Green matchdays and after all that it seems very unfair that they were subjected to such a wet welcome to winter bowling. However, that is Winter League bowling and the 8-0 defeat to Thorpe Green 'C' leaves them looking upwards as we move on.

There were a number of close encounters in matches with the closest game, and our Division 5 Card of the Day, lighting up the Brockholes 'B' v Springwood 'C' match as John Crosland and Dave Cooper endured and enjoyed a 30-end 20-21 game.

It was not just the final scoreline that catches the eye as there were two great comebacks in the game, one to each bowler. Dave Cooper for Springwood set off at a great pace opening up a 10-1 lead after 8 ends. That spurred John on to produce a great fightback which saw him completely turn the game around to go 20-15 in front and seemingly on course for a great comeback win.

However the drama hadn't finished then as Dave fought back to 19-20 and laying 2 on but with gaps and with John having the final wood in his hand. Then typical of the day he fell short with his attempt to log the one point he needed for a win and enabling Dave to run out the very damp, but relieved, victor. Great game which rewarded the die-hard spectators who stayed back to watch the conclusion of the day's bowling.

That win ensured that the Springwood team claimed the points with a 6-2 scoreline which sees them go second in the opening day table.

The weather nullified any home advantage but the Netherton Con 'B' team still opened their home programme with a 6-2 win over the Almondbury BC 'B' side to end the opening day in the top half of the table. A strong-looking Milnsbridge 'C' team also opened their account with a comprehensive win overcoming fellow newcomers from Huddersfield RUBC by 6-2 and as previously stated that outcome cannot be measured as full guidance on performances still to come.

I am sure that better weather days are ahead and if that is coupled with better bowling action then we are going to be treated over the coming months. A full set of action photographs from the day will be added online tomorrow.