West Finchley played one of there top fixtures of the season over the weekend against Garston BC from Hertfordshire, both clubs get on very well and have a similar attitude to bowls. The fixture is a friendly match but both clubs always look for a win!
The game started off close but by teatime Garston had taken a large lead mainly due to their captain’s rink which held a 12 shot advantage over the West Finchley rink.
After tea West Finchley rallied with the Club Captain managing to win by 6, one other rink also won by 3 and one lost by 6, leaving the game in the balance.
On the final end of the game on the last rink to play West Finchley needed 2 to draw the match overall. With both teams watching on, West Finchley holding 1 and John Murphy skipping, John drew the second shot with his final bowl. Garston’s captain failed to change the head with his last bowl and West Finchley secured the draw. This sets up the away fixture at Garston BC for another close game.
Captain Allister Frankland lost in the first round of the Tudor Cup this year to Ron Norton of Mansfield 21-18. Allister was disapointed with the result because he was hoping to emmulate John McBride who had won the competition the previous year.
West Finchley finally lost the Rose Bowl this year after holding it for 8 years in a row. In the first leg at Finchley BC, West Finchley lost by 25 Shots, the second leg was held at West Finchley and was also a Middlesex league fixture. The game started pretty evenly but Finchley were really up for the game, and by the end of the match West Finchley had lost on all rinks and also lost the Rose Bowl. After two games in the Middlesex League West Finchley are on 10 points, with their next fixture against City of London.
West Finchley had a busy winter making several large changes to the club, most notably the far end of the green where a new bank, shed and surrounds have been put in.
The season is almost halfway through already, and West Finchley have so far not shown the same form as last year, in the Bertie Joel competition had started badly losing there first three games, but yesterday 27th June West Finchley turned it round with a victory against Brondesbury BC.
West Finchley have also started poorly in the Prentice Cup campaign, with two losses and one win, but the Captain Allister Frankland feels that if they can gain maximum points from there last four fixtures they could still have a chance of winning their league and progressing to the semi-finals.
John Mcbride has reached the final of the Finchley & District Tudor Cup, this competition is for the winners of Club Championships, John who has had a very successful season will play Robbie French of Brondesbury. The game will take place on 23rd of Aug at Finchley Bowls Club.
West Finchley faced Bounds Green this afternoon needing 2 points to ensure their passage in to the semi-finals of the Newly formed Middx league! West Finchley won 10 points to nil and have cruised into the semi’s which will be held at Bounds Green on the 21st of Sept.
Last week saw the start of the Finchley and district open week, several West Finchley members entered and had varied success! The best of our players where Dennis Nicholls and Jeff Turner who manages to get to the final of the open week pairs narrowly losing to a pair from Barnet BC.
On Sunday 10th August West Finchley play Bounds Green in their final Middlesex League game, West Finchley have already secured a place in the semi finals of the Middlesex League which is running for the first time this year. This is a fantastic achievement for the club and they are now looking forward to the semi-finals on the 21st September at Bounds Green BC.
West Finchley bowlers Andy Docker and Allister Frankland faced each other in the Middlesex Officers Cup Semi-final on Sun 3rd August. In a very close game Allister came out on top 21-19. The final was in the afternoon and in another very close game Allister beat Peter Hicks of Edmonton 21-20 in the final to become the Middlesex Officers champion!
West Finchley got off to a flying start in the Prentice Cup against Hendon BC, winning at home and losing away by less to win the tie 4 points to 2. On the same night Denis Nicholls, John McBride and Jeff Turner progressed to the Quarter finals of the Middlsex triples, beating a strong team from Broomfield.
