A cool, dry evening to welcome Church A on their return to a first division fixture against us. With Pete Bishop and John Thompson missing, Church were down to their remaining ten regulars to take on a side that on paper could well be our strongest.
Steve Blaymire faced a steady block in Bill Hamson and so it proved. After four ends, Steve had crafted a 4-0 lead. The next six ends were shared with the scores moving to 8-4. Bill got two chalks back before Steve hit a mark that saw him take ten of the next thirteen chalks to go 18-9 up. A sprited fightback from Bill saw him rack up a five break before Steve closed out the game. SB 21 WH 14
A battle of the captains saw Stuart Cameron face my old billiards team mate Don Black. Stuart got off to a slow start, losing seven of the first eight ends. Fortunately for Stuart, he managed to restrict Don to singles throughout. Getting in with a two seemed like a change of gear for Stuart but it wasn’t to be and three more from Don put pressure on skip at 10-3 down and struggling. He then hit a length and a six break to get right back in it. Another six saw Stuart go 16-12 up from which he managed to hold Don off sufficiently. SC 21 DB 15
Third up was Dave Palmer against the seasoned campaigner John Raffo. Dave’s been on form this season but was matched in the early exchanges and it was nip and tuck until Dave upped it a couple of gears to put in a quick eight break to go 18-9 up. One from John followed two from Dave, which left John in his own words holding back the tide. He made a decent fist of it too, clawing five back before finally succumbing. DP 21 JR 15
Dean Richardson got a flying start against Ron Goldie, bowling well to take a 9-3 lead. That was soon extended to 12-6 then 15-8. At that point, Dean decided to take a break from bowling, letting Ron score 4 pairs on the bounce to lose the lead. Dean responded well though, taking the lead back at the next end. Ron replied to draw level before Deano closed the game out in only two further ends. DR 21 RG 17
Last up in the first half was Dave Bellis against Ian Thompson. A slow, sure start from both players saw mat-carrying duties shared as they made their way to 8-8 after 12 ends. Two more from Dave was countered by 3 from Ian before Dave put in an excellent 8 break to go 18-11 up. Two singles from Ian were again met with a reply, this time sufficient to take Dave over the line. DB 21 IT 13
So, a clean sweep of the first half, with a handsome aggregate lead built up too.
On at six was Graham Harrison against the irrepressible (H)adge Tress. Things looked to be going the same way asthe other games after 5 ends, being as it was 3-3. ‘adge had other ideas, though, winning eight of the next nine ends to surge into a 13-4 lead. Graham’s getting used to the green now, so a reply to draw level was great to see. Three more from ‘adge put him back clear but he’d only score one more as Graham hit a length and pushed for home. GH 21 HT 17
Game seven saw Chad Sproston taking on Terry Porter. From 3-1 down after 3 ends, Chad put on an exhibition, racking up a 17 break and killing the game off as a contest. Terry had a short un back that had been hit and put it on the block, unsettling Chad in the process. Two singles from Chad saw him lie allbut-six before Terry scored his third trio of the night only to see Chad close the game out at the next end. CS 21 TP 9
At eight was the first of our two unbeaten players, Colin Palmer, facing Phillip Porter. After ten ends, it was looking like Porter senior’s card, albeit in the visitor’s favour, being 12-3 up. Colin rallied well, though, clawing the game back to 10-13. Unfortunately it would prove to be Colin’s penultimate point as he was left to lick his wounds. CP 11 PP 21
Would block 9’s unbeaten run end against Phillip’s brother Dominic? Not if Geoff Hilton had anything to do with it and he certainly did. Another steady performance from Geoff saw him not carry the mat for more than two ends on the trot, scoring heavily on the twos front (7 of em), while mostly restricting Dominic to singles to run out a comfortable winner GH 21 DP 12
Last on was the vice captain Mark Prosser against Joe Airey. Having arrived late, it was no surprise that I went two down at the first end, but the rot was soon stopped with a seven break. Joe fought back and matched the scoring to take it to 10-5 before a six break pushed me well clear. Three touchers at the next end saw Joe take two by nudging mine off the block, scoring three more in the break but only one more in the game as a mini tour of the green sealed Joe’s fate. MP 21 JA 11
Final score Prestwich BC A 12 (200) Church Institute A 1.5 (144)
