Emphatic win for Welch’s rink helps Lillington to a first-ever Jacob Trophy

Trailing by six shots after the opening encounter, Lillington recorded a resounding 135-107 home win to claim the trophy, which is played for in honour of Jacob Hornsby, by 22 shots.

Malcolm Welch led John Buggins, Mike Brayne and Mick Russell to a 21-8 success to claim the highest winning rink, with Dennis Lee (29-22), Mike Kelly (20-19), Nigel Roach (21-15) and John Henfrey (27-19) also victorious.

Earlier in the week, Lillington had suffered a comprehensive 96-65 defeat at Avenue in a four-rink friendly.

John Buggins prevented the whitewash, picking up six shots in the final three ends to draw his rink 22-22.

In a match restricted to 15 ends due to the heat, Leamington’s women lost 59-48 to Banbury.

Three of the four rinks were evenly matched but a 26-8 defeat for Vi Palmer’s rink proved the difference.

Wyn Jackson (14-9) and Sonia Stranks (15-11) picked up the Leamington wins, with Jean Brian suffering a two-shot defeat.

WCC Staff claimed a convincing 60-39 win over Home Guard at Victoria Park in a four-rink men’s friendly.

A stunning 23-3 success for Mike Higgins’ rink laid the platform, with Gordon McClean edging to a 12-8 win and Barry Grant tying his rink 13-13.

Grant was again involved in a tight tussle when Staff took on Stratford two days later, claiming a 19-18 success.

However, despite a further victory for Les Collins (17-9), losses for Higgins (18-9) and Andy McKowen (23-9) saw Staff slump to a 68-54 defeat.

Warwickshire made the long trip down to a stifling Long Ashton BC to take on Somerset but saw the hosts enjoy a 126-112 victory in a good spirited encounter.

Royal Leamington Spa’s Peter Higgins joined senior vice-president Graham O’Donohue, Jack McPhun (Blossomfield), and Fred Bastock (Thornfield) for a 29-16 victory, while past president Ian Wilkins skipped Bob Page (Grange), Pete Lewis (Rugby) and John Harris (Wellesbourne) to Bears’ only other rink win.

However, they had to do it the hard way as at the half-way stage, Somerset led 9-7, an advantage they still held with three ends to play.

Restricting the hosts to a single shot, the Bears then fired off five of their own to snatch a 23-21 win.

Avenue Leamington’s Colin Baldwin was a part of county president Mike Brayne’s rink, who were unable to turn around an early six -shot deficit, eventually going down to a 17-11 defeat.

Members of the Welsh Private Greens Bowls Association travelled to Stratford Bowls Club to play Warwickshire Vice Presidents Bowls Association.

Warwickshire VPs came out on top 102- 83, with Barry Mace, Terry Wilder, Peter Vale-Humphreys and Keith Francis making up their highest winning rink.