In Division Two of the John Sharples (Letting Agents) Sponsored Furness and District Bowling League, it is the battle for survival that is looking like being the real race this season.

Only nine points separate the bottom five sides, with Barrow Island currently finding themselves at the foot of the table. Their cause wasn’t helped this week as they sunk to a 13-2 home defeat at the hands of third-place Salthouse A.

Ken Howarth, Scott Barrow and Ray Smith were all in fine form for the Salthouse, as they romped to single-figure victories. Frank McKechnie and Mike Jones scored the Island’s points.

Walney Park A will be delighted as they leapfrogged their opponents out of the drop zone, disposing of Hawcoat Park B 11-3. A strong top three of Keith Dixon, Kristian Ogilvie and Alan McMurray all won to single figures for Walney with Jimmy Tongue, Mike Bowyer and Mike Kittley replying for Hawcoat.

At the other end of the table, Roose and West Shore are putting daylight between themselves and the rest of the field.

Roose this week took on a Co-op A ream struggling for consistently and ran out easy 11-3 winners. Mike Hool at the top was in fine form, winning 21-6, a scoreline matched by Mike Watt. Dave and Peter Phizacklea kept it in the family for the Co-op as they both managed to hit 21.

West Shore were involved in a tighter game as they entertained the Police A, finally running out 9-5 victors. Lol Wilson (21-10) was top performer for the Shore with Jonny Richardson beginning to find his form as he won 21-11. Richard Allen matched Lol’s score for the Police, with Lee Story making a return to their team and winning 21-14.

Roose’s A team could find themselves embroiled in the relegation battle and this week fell to a 10-4 defeat away at King Alfred B.

Two of their elder statesmen turned it on, however, as Kenny Delves (21-7) and Terry Fitzsimmons (21-5) both had excellent wins. The Alfred had four 21-10 wins in their line-up with Ian Gomersall, Gary Hogg, Barney Cleasby and Jimmy Johnson winning by that scoreline .

Kirkby had one of their shorter travels as they made the dash down to Askam to play their A team. Askam were comfortable 10-4 victors thanks to Richard and Barry Wearing winning 21-6 and 21-7, respectively, with Ron Kitchen also weighing in with a 21-6 victory.

Kirkby’s second string continue to outperform their first team and this week had a brilliant 10-5 away win at Dalton CC A. Mark Fell and Phil Park led the way with 21-9 victories although Richard Sharples had the best win of the match (21-6) for the home side, with Colin Norman weighing in with his own 21-9 victory.

Results

Division One

Lindal 13 Askam 1, Police 13 Walney Park 1, Glaxo 3 Dalton CC 12, King Alfred A 6 Post Office 9, Salthouse 12 Hawcoat Park 2, Co-op 8 Red River 6, Hawcoat Park A 2 King Alfred 13.

Division Two

West Shore 9 Police A 5, Dalton CC A 5 Kirkby A 10, Roose 11 Co-op A 3, Askam A 10 Kirkby 4, Walney Park A 11 Hawcoat Park B 3, King Alfred B 10 Roose A 4, Barrow Island 2 Salthouse A 13.

Division Three

Salthouse B 6 North Scale 9, Roose B 8 Glaxo A 6, Co-op B 4 Barrow Island A 11, West Mount 11 West Shore A 3, Red River A 11 Walney Park B 3, Hawcoat Park C 7 West Mount A 7.