This week’s fixture list always had the potential to have a huge effect on the race for the title in the Furness and District Bowling League (sponsored by John Sharples Letting Agents) and it didn’t disappoint.

The biggest game was undoubtedly at the Red River green, where Police took on King Alfred.

In a game that ebbed and flowed as much as the River itself, it was the Police that came away with a 9-5 victory to have them daydreaming of a first title in their history.

Kevin Toal was awesome in his 21-7 victory whilst Dave Jones led the King Alfred charge, although special mention to Lee Barnard who bowled amazingly to take his game 21-19.

At the same time, the other title challengers, Lindal, were dropping five points to the Co-op on their fortress home green, Ian France and Dave Dickinson showing top form for the villagers as did Paul Clark for Co-op.

The next night saw all three teams again in action, with the Police playing their landlords Red River and King Alfred and Lindal facing off on Walney.

As expected, this game was a close one with the home side taking it 8-6. However, this result did neither of the clubs a favour as the Police had an impressive 13-2 victory to open up a 13-point gap with six games to go.

At the other end of the table, Hawcoat Park A and King Alfred A are looking up at the rest of the table and it will take a monumental effort for either to find an escape route and beat the drop.

This was in part to a brilliant week for Walney Park, who picked up 22 points with excellent wins at home to Dalton CC and away at Askam.

Division Two leaders Roose also had a tremendous week and now look firm favourites to go up as champions as they defeated Police A 13-1 before visiting Hawcoat B and returning with a 10-5 victory.

Their only challengers, West Shore, fell on hard times as they were defeated 10-4 by Dalton CC A and although they bounced back with an 11-3 win against Askam A, they are now reliant on Roose slipping up in the closing weeks.

At the other end of the table, Walney Park A are the current ankle biters, but with them not having a game this week they do have a game in hand over their rivals and it looks to be a three-horse race between them, Hawcoat B and Roose A.

A lot of games in Division Three fell foul of the weather. As expected at the start of the season, Lindal A are away and gone at the top of the table, currently holding a 26-point gap over North Scale in second.

At first glance, North Scale look comfortable in second place until you see how many games in hand some of their rivals have.

West Mount A sit 16 points behind but have two games in hand which could easily see them jump into the second promotion spot.

Results

Division One

Police 9 King Alfred 5, Lindal 9 Co-op 5, King Alfred A 7, Red River 8, Hawcoat Park A 4 Askam 11, Post Office 5 Hawcoat Park 10, Glaxo 4 Salthouse 10, King Alfred 8 Lindal 6, Dalton CC 9 Post Office 5, Askam 4 Walney Park 11, Co-op 7 Glaxo 8, Red River 2 Police 13, Hawcoat 11 King Alfred A 3, Salthouse 11 Hawcoat Park A 3, Walney Park 11 Dalton CC 3.

Division Two

Roose 13 Police A 1, Salthouse A 11 Kirkby 3, Dalton CC A 10 West Shore 4, Barrow Island 10 Roose A 4, Co-op A 10 Hawcoat Park B 4, West Shore 11 Askam A 3, Kirkby A 9 Salthouse A 5, Barrow Island 4 Police A 11, Hawcoat Park B 5 Roose 10, King Alfred B 10 Kirkby A 4, Roose A 4 Dalton CC A 10.

Division Three

North Scale 10 West Mount 4, West Mount A 10 Roose B 4, Hawcoat Park C 3 Glaxo A 12, Walney Park B 4 Lindal A 11, Lindal A 13 West Shore A 1, Salthouse B 13 Hawcoat Park C 1, Roose B 6 Co-op B 9, West Shore A 2 North Scale 13.