tratford with three possibles could not have started the first leg of this inter league match any better. Gareth Morris probably achieving the best of them due to the intense pressure he felt stepping up after Jamie Clarke and Andy Smith. That pressure was passed on to James Wilby, who was extremely unlucky as every shot was on target but three shots clipped the bull but did not ringing the bell. He deserved better than his score of 32. Michelle Dale suffered similarly also scoring 32. Stratford’s remaining shooters kept their shots tight with 33 from Alan Brookes and Andy Morris. Will Cemis, Stratford’s last shooter required 29 to win the match and he got there to give Stratford a 3 shot lead going into the second leg in January but he was disappointed with his 31.

Redditch upped their game with pretty much the same team as in previous matches. They all just shot better scoring high down the card with a great possible from captain Iain Marshall to claw points back from Stratford’s early seven point lead. It was the closest Redditch have ever come to beating Stratford at home. The second leg will be shot according to Redditch rules - 10 shooters having 5 shots each. Stratford will need a strong team to secure the non existent trophy for another season.

For the second time this season six shooters shot possibles in last week’s league matches. Three were shot in the match between Avenue and Avon with Paul Lowe, Alison McMillan and Steve Ray all getting maximum points. Avon kept their shots tight with no threes and the whole team scoring over 30. Avenue were less consistent with two loose threes on the target but it was the possibles which put pay to any hope Avenue had of winning this match. The final score Avenue 219 Avon 223.

Binton A had an easy win over Binton B with Andy Smith back on top form scoring his eighth possible this season and Will Cemis only missing one bull for 34 points. Binton B generally had too many loose shots for high scores but Joe Powell 32 and Chris Green and Bill Gately stayed out of the threes for 30s. With 227 points Binton A were clear winners.

Clifford had two A N Other scores against a team of eight from Home Guard. They struggled to find the bull on their home target but the visiting Home Guard team did better with 35 from anchor man Andy Morris and 34 from Katie Barrett. With only bulls and fours counting Home Guard coasted home with 223 points to Clifford’s 201. Having lost only one match this season Home Guard are joint leaders with 20 points from eleven matches.

MEB were able to muster seven shooters this week with Paul Onions getting the best score of 33 and 32 from Kath Williams they finished on 206 points. Wilmcote got off to a good start with 35 from Adam Clarke. Jamie Clarke started with a four but went on to shoot six bulls for 34. John Maycock also did well with 33. Captain Paul Clingan stepped back for another new young shooter, Max Langford who got a very satisfactory 30 in his debut fixture. Wilmcote again had the highest team score this week with 228 points and stay top of the league table with an average of 229 points from eleven matches.

League representatives went to Badsey Club on Monday for an inter league match against Evesham. Results can be viewed on our website www.sagl.co.uk.

Matches this week see Avon vs Binton A; Binton B vs Wilmcote; Home Guard vs Avenue and MEB vs Clifford.

Report by Juana Everett, to be published on 26th November 2015