The race for the Division Two title in the John Sharples (Letting Agents) sponsored Furness and District Bowling League is going down to the wire as the top two continue to trade blows week after week.

In their local derby, leaders Roose took on their A team and kept up the pressure by winning 13-2. Bill Burgess continues to regain his form as he ran out a 21-6 winner, with Derek Yates, Ron Rhodes and Billy Bowes also winning to single figures. Tony Gooding and Garry Waterworth will be delighted to have won for the A team against their more illustrious counterparts.

Nearest and only challengers to the title, West Shore made sure the gap remained at just three points as they won 12-2 at home to Barrow Island. Top man Steve Hunter continued his relentless pursuit of the merit as he cruised to a 21-9 win. Brian Chelton and Dougie Day also had good single-figure wins themselves. Elder statesmen Ron Barclay and Dave Leece were the Island’s winners.

At the other end of the table, it’s anyone from four for the relegation spots.

Hawcoat Park B are now five points adrift at the bottom after an 11-4 home defeat to Salthouse A. Hawcoat’s Mike Kittley was their best winner with his 21-10 victory with Ian McBride not far behind with his 21-12 win. Salthouse’s top man Martin Carpenter continued his fine season by winning 21-7, with Mike Singleton and Scott Barrow also winning well.

Salthouse A now find themselves one point behind Kirkby A, who showed their superiority over their first team, defeating them 10-5 to push themselves into fourth place. Mark Fell led the way for the A team, winning 21-9, along with Stephen Hurst (21-11). The first teamers' Peter Tyson and Malcolm Cleasby both won 21-9 in a match where only three points separated the teams at the end.

Fifth in the table are Police A, who have really moved on this year and have been on a great run of late. In a close game, they defeated a decent Co-op A team 8-6. Captain Nigel Burns was never in danger, winning 21-11, with Mike Simpson also winning well 21-13. As usual, the Co-op had a plethora of Dave’s to thank as all four won for them with Dave’s Phizacklea and Benn being the best of them, both winning 21-12.

In a week where Walney Park A played two games at home, they will have been delighted to have won both 8-6, giving them a fighting chance of beating the drop. Their first victims were Dalton CC A, for whom Robin Griffiths was in fine form winning 21-6. The second game saw them defeat King Alfred B, where Cliff Callister also won 21-6 to be the Alfred’s star man. Walney Park’s double winners over the two games were Lee Smith, Geoff Stubbs and Dougie Milburn.

Taking on the Alfred B for their second game of the week were Askam A, who hosted the Islanders and would have been happy with the 11-3 score line. Askam’s top two of Derek Porter and Colin Howarth won by seven and six, respectively, to lead from the front, while Cliff Callister continued his good week by winning 21-8, a score matched by Keith Sewell for the Alfred.

Results

Division One

Dalton CC 11 Askam 3, Co-op 3 Police 12, Glaxo 11 Hawcoat Park A 3, Red River 5 Post Office 10, Salthouse 5 Lindal 10, King Alfred 13 King Alfred A 1, Hawcoat Park 10 Walney Park 4.

Division Two

Police A 8 Co-op A 6, Walney Park A 8 King Alfred B 6, West Shore 12 Barrow Island 2, Kirkby 5 Kirkby A 10, Hawcoat Park B 4 Salthouse A 11, Walney Park A 8 Dalton CC A 6, Roose A 2 Roose 13, Askam A 11 King Alfred B 3.

Division Three

Lindal A 13 Glaxo A 1, West Mount A 9 West Mount 5, Salthouse B 4 Roose B 11, North Scale 12 Walney Park B 2, Co-op B 4 Red River A 11, Barrow Island A 11 West Shore A 3.