MICK COCKCROFT

 WEEKLY UPDATE 28 SEPTEMBER 2025

Both teams that lost their opening fixtures in the 6 man team competition, won their reverse fixtures this week, so Pudsey and Princeville A, who both won the aggregate point over the two fixtures, have 3 points each, while Bradford Deaf Centre and Princeville B each have two.

The Deaf Centre were aided by reserve Gerry Garland, on loan from Princeville, who turned in a fine performance from a handicap of 100, to beat Peter Allan 146-89, and Peter O'Connell who beat Sid Ash 149-89. (It's strange old game, because in a national competition last season Sid beat Gerry 98-79 in a one hour game played at Widnes). 

At Princeville there was sad news, as when Steve Gatenby went to pick up teammate Mick Cockcroft, as he had done the previous week, he discovered that Mick had died suddenly the previous day. With reserve Don Hardcastle already down to play, it was too late to summon another replacement and so Gareth Kershaw (who missed the previous week's fixture) was selected to play twice. Gareth's first game was a victory over the 'B' team's John Bedford, but going into the final two games the 'A' team had a lead of only 7. Any 'B' team thoughts of a close finish were soon dispelled however, as Gareth played exceptionally well second time round to beat Graham Bentley 152-71 and take all 3 points for the 'A' team.

In this coming week's fixtures Bradford Deaf Centre visit Princeville to play the 'A' team, while Princeville B travel to Pudsey.

This week's scores and a league table can be found on the Knock Out Competition page and the scorecards for all the matches played so far are on the Scorecards page

Stephen Kershaw

Secretary

 WEEKLY UPDATE 19 SEPTEMBER 2025

The new season got up and running this week, with the first of the round robin matches in the 6 man team competition for the Knock Out Trophy.

Bradford Deaf Centre are three times winners of this trophy, since it changed to the current format, but they got off to a disappointing start this time round, with a 138 point defeat at home to Pudsey. The Deaf Centre included Richard Bowes, who is on loan to them from Pudsey for this season, but it was his former teammate John Allan who came out on top, with a 50 point victory from a level start. I don't know the order of play but a message from Dave Howarth hinted that it could have been one of the opening games, which would have left the Deaf Centre with a mountain to climb.

It was closer at Princeville where the B team, with home advantage, won by 35.  John Bedford, Graham Bentley and Edward Lawson all performing well for them  against opponents on lower handicaps - but with scores generally lower than at the Deaf Centre Chris Jarvis's 162 for the A team was the best individual score.

John Allan's 178 was the highest score of the night over the two matches, and with Richard Bowes 128 included, provided the highest aggregate of 306. Peter Turner had the lowest score at 59 but with the highest handicap (140) it became 199, giving him and his newcomer opponent David Walker (handicap 120)  the highest score plus handicap aggregate of 389 (260 of them in handicap!!)

The scorecards can be viewed on the Scorecards page.

This coming Tuesday (23rd) sees the return fixtures, with an added point available for highest team total over the two matches

Stephen Kershaw

Secretary