WY 'B' 20 NY A '20' 7-10-19
In a season which has been tipped to be a close run thing in BOTH divisions West Yorkshire 'B' simply had to get off to a flyer at home to near rivals North Yorkshire 'A'.
Arthur Jackson's team obviously turned up with intentions of getting a good result and Arthur will rightly feel the far more satisfied of the two come 5pm. Where as the singles and the triples did their part in securing close to maximum points, 3 points from a possible 20 from the pairs and fours is simply not good enough at even B team level anymore. Granted, between the pairs and fours 4 games from 8 were lost by 3 points or less but it still amounts to a loss unfortunately. Other teams around West Yorkshire 'B' have put the competitive practise in, working on their respective weaknesses no doubt.
The newer players to the side will think 20 points out of 40 is a good return for a day's work, the more experienced campaigner will know the visiting side will be ecstatic.
Tony Farrar will justifiably feel his team should of got more from the match. 26-28 points was definitely on the cards for this match.
Sunday 20 October
West Yorkshire B looked to build on their disappointing 20 points won against North Yorkshire A as Durham piled off the coach today.
Durham on the other hand, who had previously beaten Stockport 'B' 32-8, were looking for back to back wins. Paul Williamson, Tom Morris & Steve Briggs were included in the squad from the un-starred A side players for today's match.
SINGLES
A full house for the home team in the singles, although Helen Jarvis for Durham provided stern opposition for Tony & Glen but experience told for Tony & Glen as they won the aggregate by 14 points. 10/10
PAIRS
Tom & Steve B won 2 from 2 including a 28-3 hammering against Alan "Macca" and Paula McCallum, Paul Williamson and, still the most potent lead in WY, Peter Pullan combined very well too though, winning 1 and losing the other by 1 shot. 8/10
TRIPLES
A win and a loss for each in this discipline with the aggregate going to the home team by just 4 shots. Trevor Burns' trips grabbing a rare 5 on the last end in their 1st game to steal a win. 8/10
FOURS
A win and a draw for Ron Lavan's squad who played well through out as Dennis's 4 registered a win in 4 good games, especially the last 1 when Dennis's 4 came within a whisker of trailing the jack into the ditch for the game but narrowly lost 6-8. 5/10
A special mention has to go to Mitch Moody from Durham, this chap has come on leaps and bounds in the years I've known him and he him self stopped 8 shots in 2 ends in the last game. His un-orthodox but so precise bowling action works for him a treat.
OVERALL
Tony will be a very happy cappy tonight, this result is a big step in the right direction and with 3 more home games before Christmas to come, this will be a result Tony would love replicating in upcoming games. He will welcome a whisky tonight having won by 2 in each of his matches too, .... I always knew he'd win them both of course. What odds a West Yorkshire derby game in 2020/21 now?
West Yorkshire 'B' played North Yorkshire 'B' today at Armley, after a small pep talk from captain Tony the team were up for the challenge after drawing at home to North Yorkshire 'A'.
The team set off well with Glen winning his single's, Ron Lavan's four winning well with some outstanding shots from Alan Byers and a narrow lose from Margaret Jones' pair only losing by 2 points. The second games were better still with a cracking example set by Tony who won 18/7, Kathryn and Maveen won 15/6, Jeff's trip winning 15/10 despite NY's skips best effort to knock Elaine's good lead bowls off and Shirley Bromley putting in well needed back bowls, David's four won 10/2. Which made the Half time score 12/4 in favour of WY 'B'.
The winning form West Yorkshire had in the first session was still going strong after lunch, winning 3 out of the next 4 games with a narrow lose from Glen losing 13/10. The last session was split winning 2 disciplines each WY getting singles with another win from Tony and Jeff's trips winning comfortably again leaving NY pairs and fours.
All was not lost as WY gained the average in 3/4 disciplines putting the overall shots WY 188 and NY 154. WY 22 shots NY 10. Aggregate points WY 6 NY 2 giving WY a fantastic win 28/12.
Well done everyone, I think WY 'B' will have a very happy captain again this week and lets hope to get another winning performance next week when we play Stockport at Home.
Kathryn Jones
NO MERCY FROM WEST YORKSHIRE. Derby (H) 13-10-19
West Yorkshire A's campaign is off and running with a comprehensive victory over Derbyshire in a match which marked Derbyshire's return to the top flight after their surprising relegation in 2018-19 and this result will serve as a warning shot for them, but it could of been even worse but for their pairs salvaging them their points.
A blistering start from the home side and a decent 2nd section saw West Yorkshire A go into lunch at a very promising 14-2 lead. The 2nd half continued in much the same way as the 1st, West Yorkshire dominating all but the pairs discipline as the final section yielded another 6 points from 8 for West Yorkshire A.
SINGLES
For my money, the 2 most consistent single players were back for West Yorkshire and possibly in the NESMBA league itself this season and it was fantastic to see. Steve Packer and Kevin Siddle out everything against Ivan Lunn and Phil Wright, true England quality bowling from the likely lads.... Expected? Yes, but no match against Ivan Lunn especially is ever going to be easy, however, It was probably Phil Wright who looked the more likely of their 2 to sneak anything but more on that later. 10/10
PAIRS
Darren Cookson and Steve Briggs closed out the 1st game in a tough 16-11 win but will rue their chances in their 2nd game and a lack of a slice of luck too. Not to be unkind to Derbyshire's pairs, they looked very dangerous throughout the day's play. Tom Barnes and Matthew Leaf tried to suppress the tide in the other pairs matches after their heavy, 1st match loss and did make a better fist of it in the second game but David Dowling and Rachel Cooper were ultimately too strong. 2/10
TRIPLES
Paul King's return to the squad was obvious, he brings a lot to the game as an all round player and has become a very very good bowler and today underlined that. His conversion rate was very high. 2s became 3s and 3s became 4s and his positional bowling was on point. Walter Stockhill skipped to his now usual flawless standard in the other triples as well of course, still such a formidable bowler after all these years. Dave, Hazel, Paul Williamson and Dennis Walters all played some good woods too and largely mastered the pace of the mat. 10/10
FOURS
On the face of it, it was perhaps more of a challenge for our newer bowlers to come to terms with the requirements as well as the threat from Derbyshire's 4s. John, Tom Morris, Melissa and Andy Miles won both their games with some good woods going down all day from them,
In my 4, I couldn't of asked anymore from any of the 3. In particular Tony Farrar, he and Paul King played the best of the day for me, everything I asked Tony to do, he did, he bowled some incredible woods and made my life a lot easier than it could of been when needed. Joanne and Steve Caley played very well and Joanne is emerging as a good lead now, Steve bolstered things with some good touchers as well. Tony was in his element all day and, without a hint of sarcasm from me, it was a pleasure to play alongside him. He's not too shabby for a B teamer really. (I couldn't resist....) and I helped here and there too. 10/10
OVERALL
30 at home, 14 to 18 away is the mantra we go by at WY. And today was job done. Possibly could of been 34 points if I'm being picky. But 32 is a great result. There are players to come back in for the next match and changes are to be made. But with a squad of ours, needs must.
Derbyshire are still a strong outfit, especially at home and they have some new bowlers themselves who will get more experience as the campaign goes on.
Final thoughts are however to 1 of the nicest lady bowler's in the NESMBA, Derbyshire's Ellen Lunn, who is in a very bad way without going into specifics as its not my place, and Ivan can be excused for having his mind elsewhere today, Ellen, if you read this at all, we at West Yorkshire miss you and hope to see you at you're place or Barnard Castle and we all wish you the most comfortable time possible. A lovely lady and a fantastic bowler.
Keep fighting.