A CURTAILED fixture list due to wet weather means that plenty of teams will be playing catch up in the next couple of weeks, muddying the promotion and relegation waters even more in the John Sharples (Letting agents) sponsored Furness and District Bowling League.

In Division One, league leaders Police extended their lead to 23 points after an impressive 11-3 victory against Hawcoat Park, compounded by the cancellation of their nearest rivals’ fixtures.

Matty Clegg, Liam Howard and Mark Johnson all won 21-10 to lead the charge with Paul Cain, Roger Barrow and Roy Moxham bowling excellently to score Hawcoat’s points.

Near neighbours in mid-table, Salthouse and Co-op met at the Raglan Street green and as form suggested it was the tightest game of the weekend. Geoff Carlisle came in at bottom man for Salthouse and had an excellent 21-8 victory, however Paul Clark’s 21-3 win for the Co-op meant they took the aggregate points and the game 9-6.

King Alfred A entertained Dalton CC and recorded an excellent 9-5 victory. The damage was done at the bottom of the sheet with Peter Harris, John Kolbe and Matt Wall all gaining single-figure wins.

In Division Two, only three games beat the weather. League leaders Roose extended their lead at the top although they were taken to the wire by Kirkby at home before winning 8-6.

Bill Bowes found the wet conditions to his liking by wining 21-1 with top man Mike Hool keeping his merit hopes alive with a 21-12 victory.

Two of the teams battling relegation managed to fulfil their fixtures, with Hawcoat Park B managing to take five points away at Barrow Island, George Dodd’s 21-8 win being their best result.

Roose A went one better as they lost 8-6 away at Askam A. Kenny Delves was unstoppable as he cruised to a 21-6 victory for Roose, a score matched by both John Lindsay and Norman Milburn for Askam.

Friday saw Third Division leaders Lindal A travel to West Mount and they suffered their fifth defeat of the season as they went down 9-5. Steve Hocknell’s 21-4 win helped the home side take the aggregate points by just three chalks.

Unusually, West Mount then played the next day, this time against Barrow Island A with the result once again being a 9-5 victory. Bob Ward, making a return to the team, hit the ground running by winning 21-8, with Tom Elliot and Peter Minnis winning well for the Islanders 21-12.

North Scale currently sit in second place in the table but suffered defeat away at Red River A, who themselves still have one eye on the promotion race. Mike Bell was brilliant in his 21-1 victory with Ray Hayes backing him up 21-9. Jack Mitchell led the way for North Scale, winning 21-11.

Results

Division One

Police 11 Hawcoat Park 3, King Alfred A 9 Dalton CC 5, Salthouse 6 Co-op 9, Hawcoat Park A 5 Walney Park 10.

Division Two

Roose 8 Kirkby 6, Barrow Island 9 Hawcoat Park B 5, Askam A 8 Roose A 6.

Division Three

West Mount 9 Lindal A 5, Red River A 9 North Scale 5, West Mount 9 Barrow Island A 5, West Shore A 6 Glaxo A 9.