As we continue to edge back towards normal life, it was great to see the Mirfield Bowls League return with plenty of interest in Ossett, Horbury and surrounding villages.
To the uninitiated the Mirfield League is regarded by many as the best in the country, pitting top Yorkshire bowlers against eachother as well as travelling stars from further afield.
The season started with a local derby up the hill in Overton, with newly promoted Denby Grange entertaining Ossett Flying Horse. After a tense and tight encounter Denby more than edged it in the end, running out 9-3 winners. Top scorer for the visitors from the Fly with 21-10 was Darren ‘Eagle’ Atkinson, whereas local publican Danny Walker starred with a 21-9 win for the home team. The beers were flowing outside the Black Swan later on.
Down in South Yorkshire the points were shared, Dearne Sports winning 7-5 after a close battle with Lower Hopton. South Yorkshire county man Rob Wiltshire top-scored for Dearne with an impressive 21-11. Of the Hopton lads Yorkshire’s Liam Griffin found the green most to his liking, with a 21-16 victory.
In the Leeds derby Crossgates came out on top, recording a 9-3 home win against Pudsey Littlemoor. Jonny Wood starred with a 21-9 for the ‘Gates. Littlemoor’s top performer was the experienced Mark Allman with 21-11. After a few years out Allers must feel he is banging on the Yorkshire door to get his county place back.
Over in Huddersfield Crosland Moor edged Pudsey BC 7-5, with Liam Fallas recording a 21-7 for the ‘Moor. Of the Pudsey players, Yorkshire starlet Josh Mordue and Jonny ‘The Pink’ Edmondson both carded impressive 21-11 wins. Jon’s story is worth telling. After a successful and colourful county career, illness struck. Unable to use his right hand to bowl, Jon switched to playing left-handed and has battled his way back to the top division.
Lower Hopton is a strong enough club to field two sides in the top-flight. It was a tough opener for Hopton B, though, going down 3-9 at home to current title-holders Thongsbridge. Graham ‘Flicker’ Hickey shot out of the traps with a 21-10 for Hopton. Thongsbridge and South Yorkshire’s Mr Reliable, Richard Jackson, replied with a 21-10 of his own for Thongs.
Standings after week 1:
Crossgates BC 9
Thongsbridge C & BC 9
Denby Grange BC 9
Dearne Sports 7
Crosland Moor 7
Lower Hopton WMC ‘A’ 5
Pudsey BC 5
Ossett Flying Horse 3
Littlemoor 3
Lower Hopton WMC ‘B’ 3
Division 3 started with a bang and a red-hot local derby, with Ossett C&AC hosting Horbury WMC in the opening fixture. It was a real statement of intent from a very strong looking Ossett Cricket, running out 12-0 winners in a one-sided contest.
I’m sure Horbury will recover when they get onto home turf, but last Tuesday the spoils were all Ossett’s, with the excellent local player Rob Dunford scoring a 21-6 victory, Stuart Daniel then joining him in the winners’ enclosure with the same result.
Over at the Fly there was yet another local derby in contest, this time in Division 4 with Ossett Flying Horse B beating Denby Grange’s new B team 9-3 Simon Anderson starred with a 21-3 for Fly, whose B team is peppered with ex-Yorkshire players. Your scribe top-scored with a 21-8 for the Grange.
Subscribe to the Horbury & Ossett Community News to get your weekly round-up from the top division, plus reports on our local sides playing further down the very competitive Mirfield ladder.
