The Furness Crown Green Bowling Association recently competed in the David Kay-sponsored Federation of Crown Green Bowls Junior Leagues at Leyland.

Playing at Fox Lane, the Furness youth team defeated Cheshire County 9-1 and 4-1 then Heavy Woollen A 8-2 and 4-1 to top the division.

Ethan Lowden, Sam Naylor, Fraser Rigg, Ryan Smith and Michael Wilson all won the three games they played, with Callum Sharples recording two wins and Jack Brannon along with Jack Last also reaching the 21 mark.

Competing in Division Two of the Junior League at Wymott Bowling Club, Furness beat Ormkirk A 7-3 and 4-1, but after sharing the games, lost the aggregate by three chalks and the match 6-4 to East Lancashire.

They did though get some consolation by beating their victors 4-1 in the four-man match.

Nine-year-old Reuben MacPake and ten-year-old sister Holly won all three games as did Shawn Fisher. Daniel Thompson, 12, and 10-year-old brother Ben won twice, with Niamh Sharples and Josh Smith getting the Cumbrians’ other points.

Remarkably, Furness players lead all three merit age groups after the first round of matches.

MacPake leads the 29-strong under-13 table, Fisher leads the 14-16 age group, ahead of 47 other bowlers, while Naylor tops the 17-21 table with a better aggregate than three other bowlers on three wins.