HESKETH ARMS BOWLING CLUB
SEASON REVIEW – 2022
INTRODUCTION
The 2022 league season saw the Club enter a record number of twelve teams into the various local bowling leagues. This included a new team which was formed to play in the Southport & District Ladies’ Afternoon League. Our teams were again very successful, with four finishing as champions and two as runners-up in their divisions. In addition, three of our teams reached knockout cup finals.
Below is a review summarising our teams’ performances in the various leagues. The full tables can be found on each league’s own website but if anyone would like to receive a printed copy of this review, including the league tables featuring our teams, please contact Mike Milne : –michaelmilne66@outlook.com
The merit winner for each of our teams has been included and for those new to league bowling at the Hesketh Arms it may be worth clarifying that the winner of the award for each team is the player who has won the most games during the course of the regular league season (cup games aren’t counted). Where two or more players have won the same number games, the next deciding criteria is the best aggregate i.e. chalks for minus chalks against. The Leagues themselves use different methods for deciding the winners of their merit awards but at the Hesketh we have always used the same system across all of our teams, even though this could result in a player winning the league merit but not our club award, which has happened in the past.
SOUTHPORT LV LEAGUE
The Club continued to run two teams in the Southport LV League, with both sides playing in the Premier Division in 2022 following the Falcons’ promotion to the top flight as 2021 1st Division Champions.
The Eagles, captained by Chris Harding, again competed well and finished as runners-up to a strong Scarisbrick NSC ‘A’ team. Having been champions in 2018, 2019 and 2021, the Eagles will be looking to regain their title in 2023. The Knockout Cup saw the team reach the final, where they played London Lions at Scarisbrick Bowling Club. Following a 5 all draw, they unluckily lost a play-off 2-1.
Jeff Brown’s Falcons were back in the Premier Division for the first time since 2018 and finished in 6th place to retain their Premier Division status for 2023.
Eagles Merit Winner – Jim Halsall
Falcons Merit Winner – Dave Bedford
BURSCOUGH & LATHOM LEAGUE
The Club enjoyed a remarkable season in the Burscough League, with both our teams winning their respective divisions.
In the 1st Division, the Vultures impressively won 16 games out of the 18 played to finish 19 points clear of runners-up Banks St. Stephen’s, who had won this title in 2021. It is the first time in the Club’s history that we have won this league, which is regarded as one of the strongest in the area. Well done to captain Chris Harding and all the players.
Under the captaincy of Mark Rowlinson, the Ospreys have been steadily improving over the last few seasons and the addition of a couple of good signings helped the Ospreys to end the season as 2nd Division Champions, finishing 6 points ahead of runners-up Holmeswood ‘B’. Well done to Mark and all the team, we can now look forward to a couple of Friday Night derby games in 2023 !!
Vultures Merit Winner – Darren Edgerley
Ospreys Merit Winner – Terry Corfield
SOUTHPORT PARKS LEAGUE
Having finished in 3rd place in three out of the last four completed league seasons, the Kites, under the captaincy of John Unsworth, finally gained promotion to the Premier Division. Needing 8 points in the final game of the season, the team achieved the 6-4 win they required to finish one point ahead of runners-up Scarisbrick B.C. ‘A’. The team also did well in the Knockout Cup to reach the final, played at the Zetland Hotel, in which the Falkland Road team gained revenge by winning an exciting match by a single chalk.
Kites Merit Winner – Mike Milne
MAGHULL LEAGUE
The Club continued to run two teams in the Maghull League and the Owls (“A” team) were again placed in the 1st Division, which was this season expanded to ten teams. In a tough division, the team put in a strong performance to finish in 4th place.
The Sparrowhawks (“B” team), were again captained by Sue Davies and competed in the 2nd Division. They won eight games to finish in 6th position, just ten points behind 2nd placed Brownmoor Brooke ‘B’.
Owls Merit Winner – Andy Draper
Sparrowhawks Merit Winner – Tony Wakefield
AUGHTON SENIOR CITIZENS’ LEAGUE
The Club continued to run two teams in the Aughton League on a Wednesday afternoon, with George Hitchmough captaining the Hawks and the Kestrels being led by Mike Burrill.
The league was formed into two divisions for the 2022 season and both our teams had performed well enough last year to earn places in the strong 1st Division. The Kestrels put in a creditable performance to finish the season in 4th position, while the Hawks finished in 8th place, to comfortably retain their top division status if the league keeps the same format for next season.
Kestrels Merit Winner – Jim Halsall
Hawks Merit Winner – Peter Smith
SOUTHPORT VETERANS’ LEAGUE
Congratulations to captain George Hitchmough and his Merlins team on finishing as runners-up in the 2nd Division of the Southport Veterans’ League. They won an impressive 18 games and ended the season just nine points behind champions Freshfield ‘A’. The team also had a good run to the final of the Dick Wareing Trophy, in which they played Freshfield ‘A’ at Fleetwood Hesketh but unfortunately lost out to the divisional champions.
The Hobbies were again led by Roger Van Beever and they also enjoyed a good season, winning twelve games to finish in the top half of the table.
Merlins Merit Winner – Jim Halsall
Hobbies Merit Winner – Jeff Brown
SOUTHPORT LADIES’ AFTERNOON LEAGUE
The Committee was delighted that for the first time in the Club’s history, we were able to enter a team into the Southport and District Ladies’ Afternoon League. Playing in Division 2 and captained by Debbie Barnes, the Buzzards enjoyed an exceptional debut season to win ten games out of fourteen to claim the 2nd Division Championship.
It was particularly pleasing that this team attracted new members to the Club and several in the team were playing league bowling for the first time. We hope they enjoyed their season and congratulate them on their success.
Buzzards Merit Winner – Pat McArthur
