Hardy bowlers undeterred by weather (From Wirral Globe)

Hardy bowlers undeterred by weather

2:50pm Tuesday 30th October 2012 in Sport By Bill Atkinson

THE constant rain and cold did not deter the hardy bunch of bowlers who regularly turn up on a Sunday in Birkenhead Park, the good turnout of players enjoyed the morning.

This week the winner was a player who travels further than most, Paul Roberts, who plays for the Bailey Hill Club in North Wales.

In the final he squeaked past Tixall's Ian Hazlehurst by the closest of margins.

At the quarter-final stage Roberts just got the better of the ever improving John Harrison of Port Sunlight Works and Village before having an easier win over last week's winner Albany's Nick Thornton.

Hazlehurst had beaten John Hignett Snr in the quarters before being too good for the Lever Club's Dougie Briscoe in the semis.

The final was always a tight game but when Hazlehurst took a 20-18 lead it looked as though he was going to clinch his first victory of this series of tournaments.

However, a weak lead gave Roberts his opportunity and he went on to to take his first win.

Results:

Quarter-finals: N Thornton 21, F Arnell 18; P Roberts 21, J Harrison 17; I Hazlehurst 21, J Hignett Snr 15; D Briscoe 21, J Hignett Jnr 20. 
Semi-finals: Roberts 21, Thornton 11; Hazlehurst 21, Briscoe 10. 
Final: Roberts 21, Hazlehurst 20.

Despite not competing this week Mick Andrews remains at the top of the point's table

In the delayed finish to the Birkenhead and Wirral Afternoon Section first Division Higher Tranmere, the champions of the 2011 season, had to win all 10 of the games in their final match with Albany to retain their title.

Agonisingly for them they 'only' won 9 and this meant that their closest rivals Heswall RBL clinched the title by just one point. Congratulations to the Heswall Team who have had an excellent season.