LEIGH & DISTRICT

2012 saw the inclusion of a good number of debutants to the competition and with them came the inevitable “big comp” nerves. Out of a field of 26 players there were 14 making their first appearance. Quite a remarkable situation which can only be good for the game in general.

Newcomers Paul Garnet (Jordan Dowbekin to 11), Doreen Prescott (Terry Greenhalgh to 19) and Ian Pendlebury (John Taylor to 18) made it through the preliminary round.

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Regular finalists started to make their presence felt in the next round with Phil Boydell, John McCaul and  John Hayes all  making it through to the quarter finals. They were joined by 5 of the first timer to make up the last 8, with Ian Pendlebury being the most impressive of these by far.

Boydell put paid to the ever present McCaul (13), John Hayes was again finishing strong beating Don Hitchen (8), John Massey  wrapped up like Nanook of the North, cleared away Peter Lindley (16) but once again Ian Pendlebury had an impressive win the steady David Norris (17).

John Hayes continued his push for a final spot beating John Massey(13) in a game where the score didn’t reflect the quality of Massey’s bowling. Ian Pendlebury put an end to Phil Boydell’s (17) hopes with a solid performance.

The final was a tremendous game of bowls. It was nip and tuck all the way with John Hayes eventually getting his hands on the trophy with Ian Pendlebury(15) left wondering about the infamous “prelim jinx”.