he
early rounds of the Pairs Competition took place on 21 January at Snitterfield
Sports Club when seventeen pairs turned out. Joe Powell and Chris Green with 44
points and Alan Dyer and Neil Beningfield with 46.1 points won preliminary
rounds. Unfortunately both went out at the next hurdle to Paul Clingan who shot
a mini possible and John Maycock who scored 47.2 points and Adam Clarke and
Colin Fulford who shot 48.5 respectively. Michelle Dale and Alan Brookes got
through the first round with 44.1 points as did Andy Smith and Will Cemis who
shot 48.4 points and Derek Powers and James Matthews with 45.1 points. Three
pairs, Graham East and Andrew Clingan and Alison McMillan and Steve Ray and Gary
Hooper and John Parrott got into the quarter finals without having to fire a
shot as their opponents failed to appear.Three of the four quarter final matches were played. Gary Hooper and John Parrott shot only bulls and fours to score 47.2 to beat Derek Powers and James Matthews who did not shoot as well as in their previous match. The match between Alison McMillan and Steve Ray who won the competition in 2011/12 and Andy Smith and Will Cemis who won it last year, was very close with all four shooting with considerable accuracy. Both pairs shot nine bulls out of ten and a single four with Alison McMillan and Andy Smith both shooting mini possibles. It was clean bulls which won this match McMillan and Ray shot three of them to score 49.3 but Andy Smith and Will Cemis shot five for 49.5 points to win through to the semi final. Graham East and Andrew Clingan shot well with Andrew Clingan hitting four bulls towards their total of 45.3 points. Their opponents Paul Clingan and John Maycock went one better with Paul Clingan shooting a second mini possible for 25.4. John Maycock was only able to hit fours but with 45.4 points they won through to the second semi final. The competition will be shot to its conclusion on 18 March.
The first round of the Thompson Cup was shot last Thursday when both teams based at Binton Social Club shot against each other. Binton B lifted their game with seven out of eight shooters scoring only bulls and fours for 212 points which included a 33 from Steve Hodges and is their highest team score this season. However Binton A who also had eight shooters, scored more bulls and with three shooters shooting 34, Andy Smith, Alan Dyer and Will Cemis scored 229 points to win the match.
The two teams shooting at the Avenue Social Club were drawn against each other for the second week running. Both teams were short of a full team and had to rely on A N Other scores. Matthew Clarke and Andrew Radbourne both stayed out of the threes for scores of 31 but the other Avenue B team members were less fortunate and had to settle for lower scores. Avenue A started well with 33 from Paul Nixon-Barron, 34 from Jamie Clarke and 31 from Steve Everett which gave them a good lead of eleven points after three shooters. Jo Everett and Dee Green both had a loose three but shot 29 and 28 respectively. Avenue B’s six shooters scored 169 points and took 28 points from the other side for 197 points at the end of the game. Avenue A though having only five shooters who had lifted their game and scored 155 points took 24 and 27 A N Other scores and came out winners with 206 points.
Wilmcote’s two teams also shot against each other. Wilmcote took an early lead with 33 from Andrea Norris. Michael Clarke and Andrew Clingan both shot 32 and John Maycock shot 31. James Matthews and Graham East both shot 30 and Derek Powers shot a par 28. The MEB team had four loose shots but Paul Onions had the highest score on the night with 34. Kath and Fred Williams both shot 30. Paul Workman who has not shot since last year scored 29. Their seven shooters scored 206 points but Wilmcote came out winners with 216 points.
Clifford were at home to Avon and both teams had seven shooters. Avon’s Bill Fleming was the first to shoot and scored 31 but Trevor Morris put Clifford in front when he shot 33. Adam Clarke who is shooting to a very high standard this season, shot his third possible to put his team in front. Clifford saw the match get away from them as Colin Fulford and Steve Ray notched up 34 each and Sam Goodman and Alison McMillan shot 33 each. The final score line was Clifford 209 Avon 231. The next round of the Competition will take place on 6 March at neutral venues.
This week shooters whose average score from at least 2 matches is 30 or below will take part in the competition for the Norman Dale Cup at Wilmcote Social Club. There will also be an inter league match between representatives from our league and the Redditch league at ENTACO.