As we head towards the half way mark in the Walney Bowling League an interesting battle is taking shape.

King Alfred and King Alfred A have both been in scintillating form of late, collecting 9 and 10 points with regularity and are now just separated by a solitary point at the top of the table.

Taking the top spot is the first team , although they were made to battle all the way this week by their own B Team, with the games being tied 4 apiece and just 3 points in the aggregate. Wendy Holmes has been in fine individual form and her 21-9 victory this week was her 6th on the bounce. Steve Atkinson (right) backed Wendy up for the league leaders with a 21-15 victory which sees him extend his unbeaten run to 9 games. The B team’s top man Jeff Hinde was in great form defeating Keith Mills 21-12, although rumour has it that Keith was just happy to turn up with two identical bowls after last week.

King Alfred A took advantage of their rivals dropping of points with a 10-0 whitewash of North Scale. Mike Hool made it ten out of ten for the season with a comfortable 21-9 victory although he was overshadowed by wife Tina who had a brilliant 21-6 win. Ces Turnbull backed up the pair with a single figure win of his own.

West Shore may be 15 points behind the top two but have a game in hand and they kept themselves in the hunt with a brilliant 10-1 victory when they traveled to Barrow Island to take on the A team. The scoreline certainly was a tough one to take for the Islanders who lost 3 games to 20 and one each to 19,18 and 17. The only comfortable winner of the night was Zach Walker who ran out a comfortable 21-10 victor. Roy Davies was Barrow Island A’s lone point scorer after his 21-15 win.

Barrow Island’s first string currently find themselves fourth in the table, not withstanding this weeks surprise defeat at the hands of Walney Park A. The Park drafted in the experienced Dougie Milburn at bottom man who repaid them with a great 21-10 win whilst the family pairing of Callum and John Sharples (left) both continued their good form at the top of their sheet. Barbara Low (21-17), Eddie Harkins (21-18) and Kian Gould (21-20) were Barrow Island’s points scorers.

It was a close game at the Caravan Park where South End entertained Walney Park. Although the away side took 5 of the games just 5 points separated the teams in the aggregate. The home side’s points were scored by Elaine Ryland (21-16), Tommy Holden (21-12) and Paul Holmes whose 21-16 victory was his third on the trot to keep his unbeaten season going. Walney Park’s Ian Worthington stopped the rot after 3 defeats to take his game 21-12, whilst at the other end of the sheet Paul Hewitson continued his good form 21-16 a score matched by Daniel Davey.

RESULTS

South End 3 Walney Park 8, Barrow Island A 1 West Shore 10, King Alfred A 10 North Scale 0, Walney Park A 7 Barrow Island 3. King Alfred B 4 King Alfred 4 KIng Alfred 7.

TABLES