Furness played their opening match in the Dennis Mowers-sponsored Federation of Crown Green Bowls Division Four Championship against Bradford on Sunday, April 27, going down 18-14.

After taking the home leg 11-3. Furness then lost by the same scoreline in the return game, but losing the overall aggregate 437-416 meant Bradford took the extra four points.

Playing the home leg at North Scale, Furness made a good start winning three of the opening four games.

Barry Lowden trailed 1-10 and 6-13 against Paul Wilczynski before brilliant hauling himself back into contention and eventually winning 21-19, with Chris Irvine also victorious bt the same score. Tony Whitehouse had no answer in losing 21-6.

In a close game Roger Barrow had to withstand his opponent’s comeback before earning a 21-19 victory. Adam Miller gained a 21-18 success, while Peter Harris was always in control winning to 11.

Despite playing with a chest infection, John Reilly only let his opponent score four more points from 10-3 adrift in his fine 21-11 game. Seventeen-year-old Callum Sharples won brilliantly 21-13, while David Jones made a ten-point break to emerge victorious 21-18.

Martin Barrow lost by a single point and Paul Thompson went down 21-16 to visiting captain Chris Ellis. Danny Rogers then showed his class to run out from 11 across to seal a good home victory.

At the Pudsey Bowling Green in Bradford, Graham Rigg got Furness off to a great start by fully controlling his game to beat his opponent 21-14.

Paul Clark (21-14), Stuart Aspinall (21-12) and Matthew Ryder (21-13) were all in games that were nip-and-tuck but were eventually beaten,

Steve Fullard lost 21-18, while Danny Edmonds produced a brave fightback from 16-3 down before being defeated 21-19.

Colin Knight, Andy Rigg and Ryan Smith couldn’t match their opponents and lost 21-10, 21-13 and 21-7 respectively. Jeff Hinde used the crown and his years of experience to totally out bowl his opponent and win 21-11. Furness’ man-of-the-match performance was provided by Ben Wright, who had to come back from 7-13 down and grind out a 21-17 win.

Kieren Clark fought back from 18-8 down against a highly experienced opponent to trail 19-16 before finally succumbing 21-16