PREMIER LEAGUE

Match Report St Josephs v Garswood

It was an exciting night for St Josephs, for me and for all the players involved in our first Premier League game. The game started with John Hodson against John Taylor for what looked like the tie of the match. John Taylor showed why he is a previous All England winner and was in superb form showing Hoddy no mercy as he rolled in 21-8 to set the trend for the first 4 blocks!

Garswood continued to assert over newcomers St Josephs, Pete Consterdine romping in 21-12, Billy Speed shading Richard Ellison 21-18 and Peter Marrow coming through a ding dong battle with Dave Bradshaw 21-17. Garswood had handed out a hard lesson to the new boys and led 4-0 and 29 chalks to the good. I think we were all a bit stunned and worried at this stage and were desperate for our first winner, what was to follow made for  Ian Rutter's Words at the end of the match " That was the most exciting and nail biting game I have ever been involved in since the start of the Premier League"

St Josephs "stung" and wounded fought back and with Stew Kenyon and Mick Prescott grabbing single figure wins 21-9 and 21-6 respectively the comeback was under way. Dave Hoyle despatching the consistent Brian Naylor 21-17 and top Panel Man Duncan Watkins consolidating with a 21-13 win. St Joes were now 4 a piece and 10 chalks to the good, a remarkable fight back. Billy Farrell meanwhile was spoiling the party for us by putting paid to Simon Ellison 21-11 thereby making it 5-4 for the visitors and unbelievably tying the aggregate. ALL EYES ON THE LAST REMAINING GAME!

John Metters had played superbly against previous St Josephs Competition Winner Neil Bithell to lead 20-10. All John had to do was win to give the newcomers a first victory 5 a piece and the aggregate 8-7.5 Bithell had a stroke of luck and winged in to save game, from then on Neil always found a bowl and the luckless Metters was now beginning to feel the pressure that comes with the Premier League. The score got to 19-20 Neil played his lead a yard past the jack and Metters at last found one replying with a 6 inch dead length bowl, at last we all sighed, but Neil had other ideas and with an excellent bowl managed to run the jack and lie 2, Metters to his credit produced a saver and it was all but across. A pity the last end was a bit sloppy but it was not to be for St Joes and Bithell had made a fantastic comeback to steal the game from us and so close the match 12-4 in Garswood's favour. A fantastic game for all involved and the many spectators that turned out. From this showing St Joes will be no push over at home as many of the Garswood lads have experience on the green, and the homesters gave an excellent first account of themselves. Congratulations to Garswood on an excellent game. 

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