After 2020’s enforced haitus, last weekend saw the return of The Furness and District Bowling League sponsored by John Sharples Letting Agents.

Changes to the format have been made with the usual 12 man teams reduced to 8 and the league split into 4 divisions from 3 with no promotion or relegation. As the most important thing is to get competitive bowls back to the greens. Putting these temporary measures in place has enabled clubs and players to make choices on whether they wish to take part in the truncated season, hopefully in preparation for a return to normality next season and the league committee are to be congratulated on managing this in trying circumstances.

In Division 1 Lindal have clearly been making good use of their preseason friendlies tour, hitting the ground running with a brilliant 11-0 whitewash on their visit to Walney Park. Paul Kissock (right) loves an early season chuck and used that to his advantage winning 21-3. Another player to transfer to the village side Jonny Richardson also made a promising start 21-4 whilst Andy Armstrong continued the symmetry with his own 21-5 win.

The fixtures threw up a clash between the last two champions as King Alfred entertained the Police. David Jones (left) was star man for the Alfred, comfortably taking his game 21-9, Whilst Graham Wood replied for the reigning champs 21-14. All the other games went to the wire, with three 21-20’s a 21,19 and two 21-18’s showing how little there is between the teams. The home side did enough to take the win 7-3 and set themselves up for the rest of the season.

West Shore are this year fielding a hybrid team of themselves and their tennant’s Post Office. This new look side visited Salthouse and managed to take 3 games, falling to a 7-3 defeat. John Mason was the Saltshakers best winner with a 21-10 scoreline, supported by Derek Mountford and his 21-13 win. West Shore’s Zack Walker (21-9) and Martin Lavender (21-8) showed why they are regular top men for the Post Office with outstanding wins.

Hawcoat Park hosted near neighbours Coop, who sprang a surprise as they took the game 8-3. Dave Irvine’s 21-8 victory set them up well, with new to the game Dave Dawes contributing with a fine 21-13 win. Hawcoat youngsters Bob Stewart, Roy Moxham and Tony Kneale being the home teams point scorers.

Askam and Dalton Cricket fought out a great game on Askam’s home patch. Dalton took 5 of the games, with Keith ‘The Iceman’ Alexander being the best of those 21-10. After a couple of years in the wilderness, John Reilly (pictured right) seems to have benefited from a change of stables and backed Keith up with an excellent 21-13 win. However thanks to excellent single wins from Colin Taylor (21-5), Mike Askew (21-7) and Kenny Knowles (21-9) the home side took the aggregate, tying the game 5-5.

In Division 2, Red RIver took to their temporary home green at Barrow Park and will be hoping for better results in the future, this week falling to a 10-1 defeat. Norman McLeod was quick to gather his things for the Chemical Brothers sprinting to a 21-5 win, Steve Ashburn (21-6), Phil Viney (21-9) and Derek Bell (21-9) also recording single figure victories. The Reddie’s point was scored by Dave Dinger Bell who secured an excellent 21-7 win.

Salthouse A fielded a team almost as strong as their first team for their visit to West Shore A and saw a similar scoreline as they cruised to a 9-2 victory. Billy Thompson was awesome in his 21-3 win with Scott Barrow chasing him for the sweep with his own 21-4 victory. Brian Chelton and Dave Leach (pictured left) were the winners for the Shore.

With the changing of the league structure there will be fewer derbies this year. However Kirkby hosted the first one of the year, the First team defeating the A team 7-3. Don Marshall certainly hit the ground running, easing to a 21-6 victory, Stuart Goodwin backing him up with a 21-12 win. Noel McAlley led the fight for the A team winning 21-11, no surprise for a man who works so hard at his game, Shaun Taylor managed to keep his cool long enough to play a supporting role to Noel, winning 21-11.

Coop A replicated the first team result with a victory over Hawcoat Park A. Taking the games 5-3 and also the aggregate points, by the closest of margins 144-143 and so the game 7-3. In his first game for his new club Paul Ryan will be delighted with his 21-14 victory for the Coopermen, a result replicated by Bob Corkill. Hawcoat’s gentlemen John Gill and Bill McLaughlin were their top winners.

Roose Cons and King Alfred A fought out a real battle at the Leece Lane green. The home side winning the games 5-3 but missing out on the aggregate points by just 3 chalks, meaning the Alfred took the game 6-5. Steve’s Fullard (21-7) and Atkinson (21-8) played a big part in ensuring they took that aggregate, with Danny ‘the donkey’ Graham showing all his talents to win 21-7 for Roose.

RESULTS

DIVISION 1 – Hawcoat Park 3 Coop 8, Askam 5 Dalton CC 5, Walney Park 0 Lindal 11, King Alfred 7 Police 3, Salthouse 7 West Shore 3.

DIVISION 2 – Coop A 7 Hawcoat Park A 3, Roose 5 King Alfred A 6, Red River 1 Glaxo 10, Kirkby 7 Kirkby A 3, West Shore A 2 Salthouse A 9.

DIVISION 3 – Glaxo A 6 King Alfred B 4, Barrow Island 4 Roose Cons A 7, Dalton CC A 9 Askam A 1, Lindal A 7 Walney Park A 3, Hawcoat Park B 2 North Scale 9.

DIVISION 4 – Walney Park B 1 Coop B 10, King Alfred C 9 Salthouse C 1, Roose Cons B 7 Roose Cons C 3, Salthouse B 7 Hawcoat Park C 3, Coop C 3 Westmount 8.