ilmcote won their match against Avon with a great team score of 231 points which included a possible from Jamie Clarke, 34 from Adam Clarke, and career best almost possibles, 34 from Ashleigh Clarke and Lester Langford. Avon scored well with counting scores all in the 30s but just did not find the bull as often as Wilmcote. Richard Groom and Alison McMillan both narrowly missing out with six bulls and a four. Chris Adams and Steve Ray shot 33s.

Clifford who seem to shoot better when away from home, won their match against Binton B with their highest score this season 220 points which included 33s from Jay Morris and Rachael Brookes. Binton’s Benn Chamberlain shot 33 and Chris Green 32 but with a few loose threes finished with 213 points.

Home Guard and Binton A both kept their shots tight, shooting only bulls and fours. Binton took an early lead with 34s from Chris Reed and Andy Smith. It was consolidated with 33s from Wayne Harris and Michelle Dale and 32s from Gary Hooper, John Parrott and Alan Dyer sealed Home Guard’s fate. Guard’s shot consistently well but not quite good enough with 33s from Katie Barrett, Chantelle Norman, and Tom Morris. The team were left needing 37 from their final shooter Andy Morris, an impossibility but a valiant effort saw him score 35, his fifth this season. The final score Home Guard 228 Binton A 230 points.

MEB who have struggled all season to get enough shooters managed to field eight in their match against Avenue. The match started on an even keel and after three shooters the score was level. MEB took the lead with 31 from Tim Onions but seasoned shooters Paul Lowe 33 and Steve Parrack 34 pulled it back for Avenue. However MEB had a better finish with 31 from Marc Anderton, 29 from Derek Powers and 32 from Fred Williams. Avenue lost by three points scoring 208 to MEB’s 211.

The league has now finished with Wilmcote retaining the L C Docker Cup for the second successive year but unlike the previous year they did not have a clear run and had to stave off strong challenges from Home Guard who were runners up and Binton A who ended up third in the table. The competition for the Webley Shield starts on January 7 in which teams are handicapped according to their league performance. Tonight there is a Christmas Shoot taking place at Wilmcote for the Bill Amos Cup, when shooters revert to the old style open sight rifles.

Report by Juana Everett, to be published on 17th December 2015