Memories
Another extract from the HUDDERSFIELD & DISTRICT VETERANS BOWLING ASSOCIATION, as it was known in 2018, monthly newsletter. This was Newsletter Number 20 published in August 2018 and provided an update on all the League's team and individual competitions. This will prompt some team memories of good times as well as remembering some individuals no longer with us. Your complete copy of this monthly newsletter is also here for you to read in full.
COMPETITIONS UPDATE The first Knock-Out competition of the season is the Rose Bowl which takes place at Netherton Con on Thursday 26 July. This is our top individual competition and amongst the eight qualifiers is just one previous winner, Eddie Haigh of Lockwood Con. He will be trying to lift the trophy for the third time. In the line-up there are two representatives from three different clubs – Lockwood Con, Waterloo and Golcar Lib (who meet each other in the quarter-final) along with representatives from Almondbury BC and Meltham.
Time to take stock of where we are with all of our KO competitions as we reach the business end of the season and some big finals coming up in August. Let’s start with the team competitions.
Bistro – down to the last eight with defending Champions, Lockwood Con A, still in contention although they have to meet old adversaries Milnsbridge in the Quarter-Finals. An intriguing all-Netherton Con tie will be staged at New Mill as the A team declined the offer to hold the match on their own green. Seems a 24 point handicap deficit and home green knowledge was just too much for them to take on. Wise move. Sections 2 and 3 are represented in the Lindley BC A v Kirkheaton Con tie with the all-Section 1 pairing of Marsh Utd A and Cowcliffe finalising the line-up.
Team KO – the Semi-Finals take place in mid-August and neither of last year’s finalists remain in the competition. Neither do Lockwood Con A who succumbed to Section 2 mid-tablers Broad Oak 134-117 in the Quarter-Finals so not requiring their 15 point handicap advantage to progress. Marsh Utd A (again), and an in-form Waterloo side plus Milnsbridge A make up the last four.
Sub-Team KO – Netherton Con B continue to defy expectations in KO competitions for as well as their success in the Bistro they are now in the last eight of the Sub-Team KO. Despite sitting in a Section 4 relegation place they have beaten two Section 3 teams to reach this stage and now face Denby Dale for a place in the Semi-Finals. There are two Section 3 teams still in contention along with five from Section 4 and just Thongsbridge B from Section 5 in what looks to be a wide-open competition.
Julie Fuller Trophy – there is the distinct possibility of an all-Skel Windmill Final with both their teams through to the Semi-Finals to be played on the last Monday in July. The A team will meet Clayton West who just squeezed past Milnsbridge 59-57 to reach this stage whilst the B team confront Section 2 leaders Lindley Lib convincing winners over Brockholes B. Two teams from both Sections with none of the top three teams from Section A are still in the hunt.
Now on to the Individual KO competitions and looking forward to one of the most enjoyable days in the Veterans Calendar when we have a double-finals day on the Kirkheaton C&BC green on Friday 17 August. Either side of the Julie Fuller Trophy Final is the Sem-Finals and then the Final of the Over-80s KO. It will have a new name on the trophy this year with no previous winners in the final four. Inter-District Home Team Captain, Frank Greenwood, forewent his annual trip to the Isle of Man bowling week to compete in the opening round of this competition and that sacrifice seems justified now being just one game away from a place in the Final. He has however to give a seven-point start to John Cocking from Hemplow who knocked out last year’s losing finalist, Geoff Rollinson, in the Quarter Final. In the other Sem-Final current Lower Division Trophy holder Derek Sykes from Marsden Park meets M Pejica from Netherton Con who has a one-point handicap advantage. It’s a good double-header of a day and hopefully the weather will be kinder to these bowlers than has been the case in recent years.
Over-70’s KO – there was 61 names in to the hat for the Preliminary Round and we are now down to the final 32 and both of last year’s finalists have failed to reach that stage. Holder Eddie Haigh of Lockwood Con went out to your Newsletter Editor and Frank Greenwood will not be in the Final again this year after losing 14-21 to Geoff Price from Milnsbridge. In fact there are just two scratch bowlers left in the hunt and they are Roy Sutton of Meltham and Roger Stopford from Rastrick.
Lower Divisions Trophy – we had a rerun of the 2017 Final in the Preliminary Round of this year’s competition when Derek Marsden of Marsden Park confirmed last year’s Final result when beating Phil Hunter of Lowerhouses once again. Lowerhouses still have another four contenders left in the final 16 of this competition as do Marsden Park and they will all be congregating at Golcar C&BC on Tuesday 7 August bowling down to the last eight who will then progress to Finals Day on Friday 24 August.
Pairs KO – the Lindley Lib pairing of Hopkinson and Morgan have already eliminated both of last year’s finalists as well as a pair of fellow club members to reach the Quarter-Finals which will start Finals Day at Almondbury Lib on Friday 30 August. Eight different clubs are represented in the final eight but with their track record to date and only one other scratch pairing left in contention, it is difficult to raise a case for anything other than a Lindley Lib win.
FINALS DAYS (all 1.30pm start)
Rose Bowl - Thursday 26 July at Netherton Con
Over-80’s – Friday 17 August at Kirkheaton C&BC
Over-70’s – Friday 7 September at Lockwood Con
LD Trophy – Friday 24 August at Lowerhouses
Pairs KO – Friday 30 August at Almondbury Lib
You can read all eight pages of the August 2018 Newsletter by downloading your own copy below. As well as the Competition Update there were other articles including planning for the League's 50th Anniversary, news of a League member in the final stages of a national competition, an update on the Inter-District competition, the monthly bowling diary and lots more.
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