Whale is West Sussex short mat champ

After the round-robin games the semi-finals matched Lavant’s Peter Whale against Horley’s Graham Seldon and The Martlets’ Marc Lancaster against Mannings Heath’s Ken Williams.

In the first semi-final Peter Whale dominated, rushing to a 7-0 lead and going on to win 18-2. The second semi-final was close for half the game until Ken Williams took control over the final ends to run out the winner, 10-3.

Whale continued his dominating form in the final where he took control after the early ends and ran out winner 8-2 to take the title for a fourth time.

The county’s premier and A teams were also in action in the inter-county championship.

The Premier team visited Hampshire looking to improve on their narrow loss at home a few weeks ago and to overtake Hampshire at the top of the table.

They started competently taking four points in the first session but then failed to take any points in the second session to trail 12-4. The afternoon saw West Sussex win three of the four games in the third session and take the bonus points in the singles.

The good form continued in the final session with three wins and a narrow defeat by one shot in the fourth game. Unfortunately they narrowly missed out on the bonus points in the triples to end up with a 22-18 loss and remain second in the group – but qualify for the main KO stages of the championship.

In the singles Infinity’s Chris Page lost 17-11 and won 13-9 while club-mate Jack Rollings won 26-5 and 12-10. In the pairs Southbourne’s Robin Armstrong and Lavant’s Peter Whale lost 20-9 and 17-7 while The Martlets’ pairing of Chris Blackman and Malcolm Rollings won 12-9 and 12-7.

In the triples Crablands’ Joyce Abel with Lavant’s Peter Winter lost 12-7 and won 16-11 while the Southbourne combination of Audrey Bull, Andy Smith and Dave Alner lost 10-5 and won 10-8.

In the fours Lavant’s Jackie Lee lost 16-4 and 10-11 while Southbourne’s Karen Alner with Infinity’s Denise Kirby, Steve Jeffery and Charlotte Rollings lost 12-8 and won 13-9.

The A team visited Kent looking to consolidate their position at the top of the table. They started slowly, winning one game in the first session but improving with two wins and a draw in the second to trail 9-7.

The afternoon brought two wins and a draw in the third session and two wins in the final session plus bonus points in the singles and fours for a final defeat by 22-18, enough to retain top spot.

In the singles Bognor’s Brian Mills won 16-10 and 14-10 while club-mate Clive Andrews lost 13-10 and 9-11. In the pairs Bognor’s Pam Andrews lost 15-14 and 24-7.

In the triples Bognor’s David Stansmore with Crablands’ Mollie Back and Fittleworth’s Bernard Adsett drew 10-10 and won 17-9. In the fours Bognor’s Peter Watters with Lavant’s Terry Haigh won 13-6 and lost 10-8 while Bognor’s Marlene Steel with The Martlets’ Monica Enticknap and Fittleworth’s Dave Herbert won 14-5 and 12-10.

ARUN

Arun travelled to Camberley and won 115-95.

Scores: J Boucher, S Simmonds, R Wiedenheoft, M Phillips won 26-7; L Curtis, L Carthew, L Hathaway, C Bowles won 27-11; E Keywood, E Fitch, M Potter, D Latter won 21-16; P Terry, J Whitfield, P Jones, W Adams lost 15-21; C Hillier, S Jones, C Horsley, B Jones lost 13-20; O Fidgeon, J Hamilton, S Stocker, G Conley lost 13-20.

In the Masons Trophy, Arun’s A team scraped through by one shot after losing heavily away but winning well at home.

Scores: I Brooker, P Terry, M Phillips, A Janman won 26-12; L Curtis, S Jones, S Stocker, D Latter lost 21-8.

CRABLANDS

Crablands Avocets continued their winning streak by taking all six points from club-mates Bitterns.

On mat one Avocets made their mark from the start, taking three shots on the first end, and never looked back. By the 12th end Elaine Sadler, Peter Latchford, Celia Foot and Alan Foot were 21-2 ahead. Bitterns’ Les Howland, Eddie Willcocks, Trevor Wilson and Jim Saunders took seven of the remaining nine ends but Avocets had a comfortable win by 24-17.

On mat two, for skip Bill Merritt and his team of Sheila Plaistow, Trevor Plaistow and Denis Caiger it was a very different story with a nip-and-tuck game until the 14th end.

Gaining five shots on the third end, Bitterns’ Doe Berry, Geoff Brown, Brian Berry and Lil Tuck had a 7-2 lead but the Avocets were not to be outdone and pecked away at the Bitterns’ lead.

By the ninth end Avocets had drawn level 10-10 and winning three shots on the next end they went into the lead for the first time. Having an outstanding game, Bitterns’ Doe Berry kept them in the game and they regained the lead on the 13th end 16-13.

It was time for Avocets to fight back and they did it in style taking six of the remaining ends and triumphed 25-17.

This result now puts Avocets at the top of their division with Cormorants and Bitterns second and third.

“This is the first time the club have had three teams in the same division of the league and to be in positions one, two and three is incredible,” said Avocets captain Alan Foot. “However, we are only halfway through the season so there’s many more changes ahead I’m sure.”

ALDINGBOURNE

Aldingbourne Bowls Club entertained Arun short mat bowlers in the first of their two home matches, losing on both rinks and going down 44-31.

Scores: J Cordingly, N Boxall, M Gray, B Varney lost 28-16; D Meakins, K Scot, T Smith, N Hudson lost 16-15.

Against Norfolk BC, Aldingbourne had a more favourable result with a 50-25 win.

Scores: D Meakins, M Gray, V Garhard, G Arnold lost 21-20; J Cordingly, T Booker, T Smith, DB Kibble won 30-4.

DONNINGTON

Donnington SMBC had an eagerly-anticipated home fixture against Fittleworth.

Mat one for Donnington comprised Marion Corbett, Peter Skinner, Wendy Dean and skip Brian Taylor. Lorraine Berry and Marilyn Knight shared playing as lead bowler for Fittleworth. Their other players were Alex Herert, Richard Burden and skip Dave Herbert. Fittleworth won 19-17.

On mat two, Donnington’s Maggie Maggs, Doug Seely, Mike Beal and skip Colin Hulbert played Carol Herbert, Simon Herbert, Alvar Etherington and skip Sonia Burden and won 30-12. Overall, Donnington won 47-31.

The return match is at Fittleworth just before Christmas.

HUNSTON

After losing their past two matches, Hunston had an enjoyable but unexcepted win by 44-32 over Arundel.

Scores: J Smith, J Stubbs, A Harle, C Butler lost 23-17; D Greenfield, D Regan, E Whiting, R Stevens won 27-9.

MIDHURST

Midhurst Eagles had a great league and friendly game against Nyetimber Lions, winning on all three mats.

A close friendly was won by four shots while the two league teams had great wins – one by 20 shots, the other by 16, picking up all six points.

Scores: D Morgan, D Berry, B Fallows, T Berry won 28-8; S Tussler, C Dixon, C Morgan, R Weeks won 27-11; (friendly): A Knight, S Trussler, I Frost J Etheridge-Barns won 18-14.