Webley League, 10th April 2008

In the penultimate round of the Webley Shield Competition, Binton B maintained a narrow lead over Home Guard at the top of the table. Having played all of their matches Binton B can do no more and must now sit back and watch from the sidelines as it were to see if they win the Shield or not. Home Guard still have a chance with last round matches due to take place on 24 April.

Avenue-RBL again competed with a depleted side in their match against Home Guard who were shooting with a handicap of 5pts. Jackie Mills, Irene Parsons and Bill Gately shooting for Home Guard all matched their personal best scores this season with 32, 31 and 30 respectively which showed that the team were out to get back their handicap and do all they could win the match and to strengthen their challenge for top spot. Steve Hodges and Colin Fulford both found the target to their liking with their scores of 32 and 31. Richard Mills and Sam Goodman both shot 30. Ben Goodman, the eighth man, found the target less to his liking being the only Home Guard shooter who failed to find the bull but unfortunately he did slip into the three. With the lowest of the team's scores disregarded Home Guard's total came to 216pts. Jo Everett was first shooter for Avenue-RBL but her three bulls was spoilt with a three and she settled for 30pts. Steve Everett found his best form this season and shot a well earned 33pts. Dee Green started poorly with a three but then went on to shoot an unbroken run of fours for 27. Paul Nixon Barron had to borrow Steve Everett's gun but his unfamiliarity with it did not prevent him from turning in a score of 32 which matched his personal best. Steve Ray was looking good sending his first three shots straight into the bull but this was followed with a four then a bull twice to give him 33pts. The team actually shot 155pts which it has to be said was one of their better performances. So with two A N Other scores of 28 and 5 bonus points - Home Guard's handicap the end result was a draw. The first draw in this competition this season which could prevent Home Guard from winning the Shield.

Binton B were at home to Knights who had a handicap of just a single point and who it has to be said did not shoot particularly well last Thursday. Will Troth put in the best performance with three bulls and no threes, he was the only member of his team with a score over 30pts. Lisa Edwards shot two above her Webley average and Jon Packard matched his. All the other shooters struggled to find the bull and avoid the threes. With A N Other's score of 28 the team's total score came to 194pts. Binton B did better with Bill Fleming putting in a personal best of 32, three above his Webley average and Mike Perry with 31, two above his Webley average. Rob Johnson shot a bull to start and to finish but all the rest were fours. Ben Chamberlain and Gordon O'nions both shot 29, Roy Clarke and Brian Portman both shot 27. With the bonus point from Knights the team totalled 206 and won the match.

Teams of eight were fielded when Wilmcote met Binton A who also had a handicap of just a single point. Throughout the first part of the match Binton A were trailing with Wilmcote continually shooting one or two points better than the visitors. Andy Smith, Phil Hemming and Simon Dale shot 31 each, John Parrott shot 30 and Mark Oakey 28 for Binton A. For Wilmcote, Tom Morris shot 33, Alan Brookes and John Maycock both shot 32 and Tim Stephens and Gareth Morris shot 31's. It was not until Michelle Dale shot 33 putting the pressure on Trev Skinner who could not find the bull at all that the scores were equalled. Jeff Smith also struggled to find the bull until his last pellet rang the bell. Paul Boazman had two bulls but with a three scored 29. Neil Beningfield shot three bulls for 31 then Andy Morris was the final shooter for Wilmcote. With just one four he shot a very satisfactory 34. The lowest score from each side was discounted which resulted in 223pts for Wilmcote and 215 for Binton A.

This week the final of the Thompson Knock Out Cup will take place at Knights when old rivals MEB shoot against Binton A. Then in the final round of the Webley competition on 24 April, Binton A shoot against MEB; Home Guard will meet Wilmcote and Knights will shoot against Avenue-RBL.

Captains are reminded that the Delegates Meeting will take place on Tuesday 6 May when all trophies should be returned to Brian Portman having been engraved with the winners names from the 2006/07 season, cleaned and polished in readiness for Presentation Night on 17 May.
 

Report by Juana Everett (to be published 17th April 2008)