epresentatives
of the Stratford and District Air Gun League travelled to Studley Sports &
Social Club last Thursday to take part in a new inter league match against
representatives of the Redditch Air Gun League. The format, which was decided by
the host team, was somewhat strange to local shooters in that five shooters from
Stratford shot, then five from Redditch, then a second five from Stratford and
finally the last five from Redditch. Shooters had an optional sighter and five
scoring pellets which could score a maximum of 25 points. This format made it
difficult to gauge how the match was going until the second fives from each team
took their places before the target.Stratford had a strong start from Andy Smith 24, Paul Clingan 23, Colin Fulford 24, and finish from Richard Groom 24 and Will Cemis 24 but Redditch shooters were more consistent throughout the whole match with 24‘s from Martin Handy, Jeremy Handy and John Cope and 23’s from Gareth Morris, who used to shoot for Wilmcote, Keith Lobb, Rob Dyer and Mark Dunn. Both teams kept their shots tight with just one three on each side but Redditch were the more consistent in hitting the bull. The final score was Redditch 229 Stratford 221. The return match will be held in February at Wilmcote when teams will shoot the more familiar format of eight shooters each having seven counting shots.
Another inter league match was shot on Monday against Evesham at Wilmcote Social Club, the first leg of the annual two leg Avon Challenge tournament. In this match each of the eight shooters had seven counting pellets and Paul Clingan for Stratford made each of them count scoring the only possible (35) in the match and his first this season.
Evesham got off to good start with 33 from Rob Pitcher followed by 34’s from Amy Lewis and Adie Lewis who missed her last shot for a possible and they kept the pressure on Stratford shooters throughout the match consolidating their lead with 31 from Dean Baglin and 32 from Craig Roberts which gave them a seven point lead after five shooters. Richard Groom for Stratford could not dent Evesham’s lead though he scored 33 as John Richards went one better shooting 34! Paul Lewis and Jamie Beadle were the final shooters for Evesham both scored 30 points which brought the total to 258. Will Cemis, Stratford’s anchor man finished the match with a solid 33 which brought Stratford’s total to 252 leaving them 6 points behind as they go forward to the second leg which will be shot at Evesham in the new year.
League matches tonight Avenue SSC vs Wilmcote; Binton B vs Avon SC; Home Guard vs Binton A and MEB vs Clifford WMC.