Pudsey Bowls Club celebrate sensational Yorkshire Cup victory

2:40pm Tuesday 31st August 2010

By John Preston

The 118th Yorkshire Cup Final will be remembered as one of crown green bowling’s greatest ever finals.

In Pudsey Bowling Club’s centenary year, it could not have been scripted better as they faced five-times winners Lower Hopton.

In glorious sunshine at Lockwood Park, Huddersfield, the match kicked off with the country’s No 1 player, Graeme Wilson, facing Pudsey’s James Hanson.

After a tense start from both players, Wilson started to find some form and built up a commanding 14-8 lead.

James showed little signs of nerves though and dug in to score some vital points for the team as he reached 15.

Gary Wike was a 21-11 winner for Pudsey against Craig Newton and Liam Griffin battled to 13 against in-form Clive Austin at jack three.

Hopton’s Graham Higgins led 13-5 against Mick Smith, who completed a brilliant comeback in winning to 17 and making the overall scores level.

Into the middle four and Tom Hanson lost 21-12 to Roy Nicholson and Paul Cousins went down 21-19 to Gary Smith.

Stuart Hanson came from 15-8 down to beat Dave Scott 21-18 and Dave Hilliam showed tremendous character to turn a 13-5 deficit into a 21-16 win. So after eight blocks it was four winners apiece and Hopton in front by three.

The two No 9s, Jon Edmondson and Gareth Nicholson, knew their game would have a big impact on the result.

With the other three games on the green all showing Hopton in front, Edmondson got stuck in and carded a useful 16 to leave Pudsey trailing overall by eight points.

Pudsey skipper Paul Bowes was first to start the revival as he was dead-locked with Lee Lawton at 19-19. With his final effort, he played a superb bowl to run the jack and count a pair to win 21-19.

Now with just six points in the match, Darren Crawley was 17-12 down against Steve Pinfield and Ian Kemp 16-15 up against Robert Hitchen.

If Pinfield won at this stage it would be all over but Crawley found some wonder bowls to win 21-17 while Kemp took a 20-18 lead to level the match scores.

You could hear a pin drop as Hitchen prepared his decisive final bowl. As it rolled across the quick surface towards the end, it looked to have a chance, only to run into the back of Ian’s bowl, giving hero Kemp a 21-18 win and meaning Pudsey had won the Yorkshire Cup by a solitary point.

The Pudsey players and spectators poured onto the green in celebration at the end of a day that will never be forgotten.

Yorkshire Cup final scores (Pudsey names first): James Hanson 15, Graeme Wilson 21; Gary Wike 21, Craig Newton 11; Liam Griffin 13, Clive Austin 21; Mick Smith 21, Graham Higgins 17; Thomas Hanson 12, Roy Nicholson 21; Paul Cousins 19, Gary Smith 21; Stuart Hanson 21, Dave Scott 18; David Hilliam 21, Ian Booth 16; Jon Edmondson 16, Gareth Nicholson 21; Darren Crawley 21, Steve Pinfield 17; Ian Kemp 21, Robert Hitchen 18; Paul Bowes 21, Lee Lawton 19. Pudsey BC 222, Lower Hopton 221.

Saturday sees the final of the Spen Masters 2010 at Spen Victoria CB & AC. Total prize money of £4,750 is available on the night with the winner receiving £1,100. Practice commences 4.45pm, matchplay at 5.30pm.

Local interest features 2009 Yorkshire Merit finalist Richard Bentley (Cleck-Heaton Sports), 2007 Waterloo champion, Chris Mordue (Brighouse Sports), 2010 county player Danny Metcalfe (Shipley Club) and young up and coming bowler Jonathan Wilcox (Crossgates).

Draw in full: Robbie Fitzpatrick (Wirral) v Richard Jackson (Sheffield), Jim Derby (Radcliffe) v Robert Hitchen (Halifax), Danny Metcalfe (Shipley Club) v David Watters (Preston), Simon Coupe (Preston) v Kevin Nixon (Doncaster), Carl Armitage (Warrington) v Richard Bentley (Cleckheaton Sports), Kerry Morris (Basford) v Chris Mordue (Brighouse Sports), Hugh Hornby (Preston) v Jonathan Wilcox (Crossgates), Andrew Farmer (Thongsbridge) v Gary Smith (Leeds).

Peter Consterdine (Bolton) and Andy Mailer (Meersbrook) were the latest qualifiers of the Coors Pudsey Classic. Consterdine came through with a 21-10 success over Roger Crowther (Longwood), while Mailer beat Mick O’Brien (Doncaster) 21-13 to make it to finals night.

Qualifying takes a two-week break now, with week seven of qualifying on Friday, September 17.

Mick Sweeney (Hanging Heaton) and Mick Robinson (Morton House) were the latest qualifiers in the Graham Wood Memorial Trophy at Pudsey Littlemoor. Sweeney defeated Matt Beever (Sheffield) 21-14 in the final qualifying game, while Robinson defeated Gary Wike (Pudsey) 21-19 in a tense final game. The action continues on Friday at 7pm, with practice from 6.30pm, with many local bowlers in action.

Draw: David Scott (Lower Hopton) v Alan Thompson (Mirfield Old Bank), Chris Hill (Bradfield) v Bob Whitfield (Brighouse Sports), Mark Hughes (Crossgates) v Chris Firth (Eccleshill), Liam Griffin (Pudsey) v Paul Rooks (Eccleshill), Andrew Sykes (Mirfield Old Bank) v Graham Hickey (Lower Hopton), Andy Whittaker (Meersbrook) v Harry Seehra (Spen Victoria), Dave Smith (Garforth Rec) v Tony Green (Crossgates), Warren Wilson (Crossgates) v Phil Hill (Meanwood).

Andrew Cairns (Rossendale) and Baz Lowden (Barrow) were the latest qualifiers in the £5,000 Brighouse Classic.

Cairns defeated Harry Seehra (Spen Victoria) 21-16 and Lowden left Scott Fisher (Morton House) on 9 in the final games. The action continues on Friday.

Draw (6.30pm start): John Richardson (Doncaster) v Nigel Cranston (Wakefield), Ryan Clark (Sheffield) v James Fitzpatrick (Wirral), Dean Ferris (Stoke) v Mark Smith (Drighlington), Ernie Wearing (Sheffield) v Dave McDermott (Wirral), John Spinks (Pudsey) v Chris Brown (Woodlands), Robbie Fitzpatrick (Wirral) v Josh Gamble (Drighlington), Mick O’Brien (Doncaster) v Mark Ferris (Stoke), Chris Kelly (Sheffield) v Gerald Merry (Tarporley).

The venue for the Ben Ramsden Merit, which takes place on Sunday with a start and scratch of 10.30am, has changed from Peel Park to Harold Club. Entries are still being taken. Anyone interested should contact Norman Lickley on 01943-884323.

Clayton defeated Asa Briggs A 76-56 in the semi-final of the Pairs Knock-out and will now face Shipley Club, who defeated Asa Briggs B 75-58 in the other semi-final. The final will be played on Sunday, September 12, with a venue yet to be confirmed.