Two more Pairs KO qualifiers

Winter League

It was turn of the Division 5 bowlers on Friday to compete down to the two pairs of bowlers that would go through to the Round of the Last 20. The heavy rain of the previous day had passed over leaving a cloudy but dry start to the proceedings at a Thorpe Green green that had recovered remarkably well to leave no surface water at all and running surprisingly well.

Only six pairs entered the Division 5 qualifying competition, providing two byes in the Preliminary Round. There were two home pairs bowling and that cost them a -3 handicap for the opening round.

The format is that games are of 15-ends or 21-Up whichever comes first. The best game I saw on the day was a Preliminary Round encounter between the Mirfield A pair of Mick Addy and Michael Wood taking on the Milnsbridge C pair of Graham's Sykes and Parr. The Mirfield reps went into the 15th end with a 12-9 lead with their opponents needing to win 3-points from that end to extend the match into a 16th end play-off. With the last wood to be played the Milnsbridge Pair were laying three-on which would have produced a 12-12 score after 15-ends. However Michael Wood had a different idea and took the jack through to make it a 1-point end and take the tie 13-9 in favour of the Mirfield pair who go through to the next stage of the competition. They are joined by the home bowlers' pairing of Brian Maxwell and Nigel Kain.

The rain returned for the last 10 minutes of the final match on the green but after the drenching of the Thursday fixture programme this was nothing to worry about. Another good day at Thorpe Green and the beef stew went down really well to complete a good day out.

Preliminary Round Mick Boyles & Gareth Morris (Kirkheaton C&BC A) bye Brian Maxwell & Nigel Kain (Thorpe Green B) bye

Mark Prideaux & Andrew Asquith (Mirfield A) 10

Ian Shackcloth & Peter Meadows (Thorpe Green B) 5

Mick Addy & Michael Wood (Mirfield A) 13

Graham Sykes & Graham Parr (Milnsbridge C) 9

Round 1 Mick Boyles & Gareth Morris (Kirkheaton C&BC A) 9

Brian Maxwell & Nigel Kain (Thorpe Green B) 12

Mark Prideaux & Andrew Asquith (Mirfield A) 5

Mick Addy & Michael Wood (Mirfield A) 12