FRENCHWOOD TAMED IF NOT PERFECTED

Thursday 28th May 2026

Leyland & District League Div-1: Frenchwood SC (200) 9-3 Eagle & Child Blue (146).

v BARRY SIMM W 21-20

As a team and individually, we didn't expect much from a trip to Frenchwood. It's what's called a good home green and they've got a very decent squad too. I've yet to experience much joy there in various guises of competition and wasn't exactly bubbling with confidence.
We were without our star player and captain Aaron this week too, who would be our strongest fancy to get us on the scoreboard here. With only two winners last year, low expectations were very realistic and so three winners this year was an improvement and we would have taken that before the start.
Stand-in captain Steve Wilson mixed things up and chucked me on at number eight rather than my usual first four slot. I'd been wondering all week and right up to and including practice time if I was going to be playing at all after two defeats in this league and brutal ones at that. Early on I scored Phil Bradshaw's match against Mark Simpson and despite not doing too much wrong, our Phil lost to twelve. It certainly set me up mentally for how tough it is here.
This notorious sloping green had been baked by hot and dry weather and was running, much quicker than I'd experienced here before. That seemed to work better for me though as I ended up playing quite well at times and getting myself in to the match against Barry Simm.
I went four down, got a few back and went behind again. But I was bowling steadily and only conceding ones. When that happens, even when on the back foot in a match, you know it's close and just hope you can turn the tide at some point.
Turn the tide I did, enjoying a good spell which gave me a bit of belief and I went 12-10 I think at one point. But Barry came back and had me scratching my head on a dropping mark across the bottom of the slope. I was finding the road in but couldn't nail the pace. Short one side, playing through on the other and getting rather frustrated. Barry was upping the pace and I felt he was fancying his chances of seeing me off down here, but thankfully I landed one eventually, won the next end and asked for the scores. I was 14-18. A good time to put a bloody good two up, then on to seventeen... before Barry stole back in with a great bowl and then led perfectly to reach twenty and we were back along that bottom end again. But Barry's lead left me with hope this time and with previous experience of this mark now, I got my length right. Having had joy with some quite ridiculous round pegging marks over the crown towards the edge of the green against the social club from this corner, I thought what a good time to be brave and do it again. My first bowl was wide but I tightened up and sent a belting second one to go nineteen across with jack in hand. Flashbacks from three nights earlier in a similar position - let's get it right tonight. Although sending the jack a little too near the edge than I intended, my two bowls a yard short were good ones actually. There wasn't much land to get past them without running off in to the gutter and they were spaced apart nicely as blockers. Barry's first bowl went off, so I was thinking he must surely have a go to hit something - anything - to save the game. He drew instead and couldn't believe he bowled just short of mine and that was it. I'd got over the line and registered my first win at Frenchwood.
Harry Derbyshire and Steve Marginson scored our other victories on the night. Colin Proctor played ever so well to rescue a large deficit and score seventeen. A better start and Col might have turned a good night in to a very good one.
Eagle Blues have now dropped off the pace to fifth as expected with this run of three extremely difficult matches. Penwortham Sports occupy sixth spot and are next game up for us at home. A big game and another tough game to test if we really have top six credentials. 

THIS IS NOW A STICKY PATCH

Monday 25th May 2026

Chorley & District League Div-2: Bretherton 'B' (130) 2-9 Eagle & Child 'A' (154)

v JOAN BULLEN L 19-21

This is becoming a bit of a sticky patch now after a few mistakes at key moments contributed to my first defeat in the Chorley League this season.

Joan Bullen was never going to be a walk in the park and especially on her home green. So before I start slating myself, I should put on record that Joan played well and absolutely won the game on merit.

From my point of view though, close game as it was, I let a good position slip quickly. I got myself in trouble, got out of it again and then cocked up when the match was up for grabs. 

Most ends were pretty close and the measures were out more than average. Every point had to be fought for, Joan was rarely far away but I'd kept my nose in front. At 15-10 though, a mini-capitulation as Joan finds a mark along a ridge that I just didn't fathom and three twos were punched back at me. Particularly disappointed with the third of those twos, for there was ample space to save one at the very least but I ran through a bit too long. I did save next end, got the scores back straight at 18 across, then played a good winner that I frustratingly couldn't quite make two of to nudge back in front 

Bowling for the match then, I make a real mess. My lead bowls flies off the green in to the gutter and my second is horribly short. Easy pickings for Joan and we're 19-20. 

My opponent leads brilliantly, my first bowl nicks Joan's but doesn't change things and my second just whistles by on the outside. A good hit there and it could have been game to me, but that's how it goes and it was that flurry of twos that did the damage. Joan came back well and I got what I deserved in the end. 

My own issues aside, it was a cracking win for our team who cemented second place in the table with more security after bagging six winners.

BLOWN AWAY

Thursday 21st May 2026

Leyland & District League Div-1: Eagle Blues (159) 2-11 Lostock Cons 'A' (202)

v ANDY GRAHAM L 5-21

Stunned in to submission after just eight ends as Andy Graham soared in to a 15-0 lead on my own green. It was uncomplicated brilliance from the Lostock player who played short and straight on the same mark and was relentlessly good at it.

Conceding two on the first two ends brought about a wry smile, for that's par for the course at home this season. But two or three ends later and still no nearer breaking Andy's spell, the shock set in. Eyes became squinted and flickering, my right arm felt heavy and disconnected to instructions from upstairs in the cranium. I was getting a battering.

I didn't play well but I didn't get chance to. My opponent came with a plan and exploited it to perfection. I don't think it was nonchalant to think I had a chance against this chap, especially at home. But this was a stark reminder to always expect the unexpected in this game. Form is only temporary as I touched on a few weeks ago and tonight was like dropping off a cliff after what's been a brilliant season so far.

On the few occasions I got hold of the jack, either Andy put up a cracker or I cocked up. When I did break for the first time, I stupidly sent the jack off and on a massive opportunity to drag some points back in front of the pavillion I once again misplaced the jack and then sent two wearily short bowls.

I'd gone. One spark of a positive was that I didn't react and start kicking bowls in the gutter like my former self. Sure, I felt like launching the bloody things over the fence, but thankfully I kept it together.

Andy played a superbly tight game and if playing to his strengths away from home, inadvertently exposed my weaknesses. I mainly practice round pegging, specifically finding difficult marks and this has naturally developed in to my matchplay.

But despite this being a more creative and generally beneficial style to the development of my bowling skills, I've overlooked that it's also one-dimensional. 

So back to the drawing board and if I get a practice this Sunday I'm going to mix it up a bit. I just couldn't cope with the twenty metre straight peg game and against a player who executed it very well indeed 

It wasn't just a bad night at the office for me, up against league champions Lostock Cons who are aiming to win it for a third successive year, Eagle Blues suffered our first - if inevitable - sore defeat with only two winners. Lostock came here with serious game faces on and I think our early season form had earned a little bit of their respect. 

Our captain Aaron was keen to remind us all that individually or as a team, this result should not define our season and he's right. Lostock Cons are a damn good side stacked with real quality bowlers.

PLENTY OF GRIT AND A BIT OF LUCK IS JUST ENOUGH

Monday 18th May 2026

Chorley & District League Div-2: Eagle & Child 'A' (139) 6-4 Hoghton (136)

v RICHARD LATHAM W 21-20

My goodness me, what another tough game this turned out to be. Richard is one of Hoghton's finest and a quality bowler. I felt he was the better player - he is the better player - but eventually I ground out a victory to restore confidence as well as belief after last Thursday's pasting.

I was off the land for my first four bowls and Richard needed no encouragement. Four down straight away against this chap was a serious wound. But I settled down after some early nerves and began to compete at the level required. I might have briefly nudged ahead before we went in to double figures, but then Richard just kept squeezing and generally I was chasing, managing to cap the deficit to four but unable bridge a gap of less than two. 

I was putting some really good bowls up that Richard often bloody well beat with pure class. But equally I was like a pesky insect that could still smell something palpable and wouldn't go away. 

Finally, Richard's intensity just lapsed for a couple of successive ends and I got within one point until dipping back again to 17-19. I should have accepted Steve Wilson's call on the sidelines to return the jack after my lead bowl got hit... but the daredevil within had taken over, which didn't pay off as I missed the land twice and was lucky not to concede two.

Next end though I finished off with a two myself from a cheeky turnover of peg which brought us to nineteen across and at that moment, I thought I've got to be pleased with the way I'm playing here. Not everything had gone to plan, but here I was and very much still in it. 

One down next end after a poor lead, I then saved the match when Richard had left some room but it was still a pressure bowl and had to get the length pretty much nailed. 

Down to the last deciding end then and this one was scrappy too as a bit of tension had clearly set in. Keeping it simple I thought, playing a fairly short and straight mark I found the length but shockingly missed the line. This sort of end had been bread and butter for Richard all evening but was amazed as he bowled his first short. My second is on the road this time, but wouldn't stop. Just missing tapping the jack up, I run a few feet over. I was convinced Richard would  mop up now, but he adjusted too strongly and also trickled too long.

I thought I was maybe on until my leaning bowl toppled over the wrong way with comedy timing and then I was convinced it was Richard's. I almost conceded, but thankfully talked myself in to asking for a measure and I was in by less than an inch. A bit of luck but some gritty determination and somehow I got to twenty-one first.

A properly firm handshake from my opponent, but very brief as he darted away in probably utter frustration and disappointment at not managing to shake me off at some point. In the end it was a bad game for Richard to lose and a great one for me to win.

The team picture was equally close. Four wins each against league leaders Hoghton, we won the aggregate by three chalks to take the match and strengthen our position. Not quite enough to take top spot, but with another big game next week on the cards away to third placed Bretherton a chance to further establish top two credentials.

TOO MARROW-MINDED

Thursday 14th May 2026

Leyland & District League Div-1: Chorley St Joseph's 'A' (181) 7-5 Eagle & Child Blue (158)

v JACK MARROW L 6-21

All good things come to an end, but much more than the result here I was disappointed with the way I played. A bit patchy with poor leads when I did get the odd opportunity and yet in fairness, even a continuation of great form wasn't going to cut the mustard against this fella on his own turf. 

This was a repeat draw of last season's visit to St Joseph's against this double merit winning county player and if I'm entirely honest, I think the name of Jack Marrow put the shits up me before we went on. I didn't fancy it, I would have preferred anyone else on their team sheet. Anyone but Jack.

Three nights earlier I couldn't put a lead bowl wrong, tonight I couldn't get one near. The very first end went skew-whiff and psychologically, this burrowed any remnants of belief. Without a good start against the likes of Jack, you are never going to test their mettle and only fuel their confidence to play like it's an exhibition match. I remember last year Jack slacked a little on the odd end, but not tonight. He's a brilliant player and obviously getting better.
Aside from a lucky one on a tight end when Jack was being greedy for two and tapped me in, my other five points were - and had to be - absolute belting bowls to better Jack's.
St Joe's isn't a happy hunting ground for me and I struggled tonight with the changing pace of the green. A bit of surface water from a heavy shower quickly drained away and it quickened as our game went on. A few times it was frustrating to get the land bob-on but end up playing through.
So my tenure as the big pretender at the top of the merit table comes to a crashing end, but against last year's winner who absolutely showed me how good you need to be to stay there.
Enough of my shortcomings though... let's get on to team exploits and Eagle Blues once again surpassed expectation to take five winners from ten against league leaders St Joe's. It was very nearly six. Another fantastic result from this team and based on tonight's results, remain third in the table absolutely on merit. Phil, Matt, Nigel, Aaron and Geoff all winning to notch five points when only two or three wouldn't have been a disaster.
Unfortunately towards the end of the last match on, loud heckling towards our number ten Chris Thompson started up and I was surprised to look across and find the source being one of crown green's illustrious elite, Wayne Ditchfield.

Whether this was just a bit of banter, given the two are teammates at New Longton in the Preston League, I don't know - but goading our player for the slightest error did seem rather unsportsmanlike to the unbeknown visiting player such as myself when stakes were high over the winner of this match with Mick Prescott. 
Probably water off a duck's back to Mr Thompson, but whether Wayne's noise affected this nip and tuck game - in which Chris got his nose in front in the closing stages only to lose on the deciding final end - we will never truly know. Had he won, we would have drawn the match which would have been incredible. 

WINNING RUN CONTINUES (FOR NOW)

Monday 11th May 2026

Chorley & District League Div-2: Westhoughton (134) 3-8 Eagle & Chiild 'A' (148)   (At Horwich Public Halls)

v JAMES BRACEGIRDLE W 21-1

With Westhoughton's green recovering from extensive repairs, their home games are currently played at the little known Horwich Public Halls. Only Shell Anderton in our team vaguely recalls playing here at any time, whilst the rest of us didn't know much about it at all.

It must have been a grand venue at one time. Set behind the impressive Halls building of local brickwork and conical slated towers, the shelf of Rivington Moor in the distance and a lovely greenside which these days perhaps receives more TLC than the actual playing surface itself. 

A smallish green with a big crown, there are some fairly aggressive lumps and bumps in places, but you take every away green as it comes and despite running a bit stiff and it's rough nature in places, I adapted to it quickly. 

This was a game in which I dominated as every lead bowl was close to the target, sometimes even bettering it with my second and this put James under the cosh from the off. 

The very first end could have planted a different story, I was fortunate that the jack stayed on near the edge, but boldy landed my first bowl right next to it. James came a very close second and third which initially made me think there was a tough contest ahead. Yet I was pretty much relentless from thereon, confidently round pegging all over the green wherever was available and seemed to land winner after winner. It was the most consistent session of lead bowling I've produced. 

At nineteen I sent another strong lead which James finally bettered, although I was a whisker off knocking him out again with my second. Part of me was pleased he'd got on the scoresheet. It's horrible being on the wrong end of a game like this, but James took his plight in good nature and was relieved and delighted to get on the board - "I've never been nilled before and never want to be either!".

Next end was awful, James pinged long to the opposite corner, was short with his first bowl and ran his second one off. I was even shorter with my first, my second wasn't though and despite going narrow again, cannoned of my first bowl for both to count. James didn't get much luck either.

Suffice to say this was the biggest margin of victory I've had to date and it's now nine wins from nine in league competition this season, more than doubling my previous best sequence. Time to ground myself again and keep calm before the big challenge ahead on Thursday in the Leyland League when this winning run is most likely to break. 

For Westhoughton, a return to their own green can't come quick enough and particularly my opponent who has now suffered two hefty defeats at their temporary home 

Another good win on the road for our Chorley League team places us second after three matches, with leaders Hoghton coming to our place next week for an early season banger. Just now we are looking in good shape and I'm pleased for our captain Margy after last season's scrap for squad numbers.

THE EAGLES ARE SOARING

Thursday 7th May 2026

Leyland & District League Div-1: Eagle Blues (183) 9-3 Bretherton 'B' (146)

v GRAHAM WHITTLE W 21-11

In terms of league position at least, this might well be the pinnacle of the Eagle Blues season after a fantastic win against a very strong Bretherton side. Once again we surpassed our pre-match expectations with seven winners and chalks to sit third place in the table with a quarter of the term now behind us. The most difficult two quarters now await us, but let's see what we can pick up during this period. It's now perfectly reasonable to reset our sights on the mid-table comfort zone having already amassed a twenty-eight point cushion over the bottom four. 

Harry Derbyshire was our man of the match, with a remarkable 21-3 win over classy local bowler Neil Ridgen who was fresh from winning both Southport Champion of Champions and a doubles competition last weekend. Hell of a performance from Harry. Excellent wins also for young Henry and his old man Matt Hoyles, Steve Marginson, also unbeaten Aaron Hayhurst and Chris Thompson maintaining their unblemished records with hard fought victories. It was another great result for myself too, which I will get around to reviewing a little further down eventually, but even on these pages of utter self indulgent musings I thought our team's endeavours should get priority billing.

So this prolonged block of the most difficult fixtures are now upon us, starting with a visit to league leaders Chorley St Joseph's next week. On paper, we are just four points behind them after six games which is an incredible statistic, but the reality is we are massive underdogs there next week. This game could turn out be a brutal reality check for both myself and the team, but whilst we continue to surprise and with no pressure or expectations to deal with, we have grounds to be believe we can go there and snatch a few points. 

On to my game then, so with confidence sky high - bordering the danger of crossing in to the realms of cockiness - in advance of facing whichever of Bretherton's big hitters I was going to face, I decided to take a mental raincheck. An exercise in keeping myself grounded. So whilst commending a great start to the season, shoving that away in a drawer for now and remembering my humble place in crown green society to start all over again.  Form is only temporary, which runs true in any sport and when things are going well is also a time when you are most vulnerable. The ladder above becomes shorter and more difficult to climb, whilst the slippery slope beneath expands in anticipation of a mighty fall.

I've certainly learned this as an athlete, it's the most likely time when injury strikes. Injury management isn't quite the issue in the far more sedate activity of bowling, but mentality is paramount and this year, so far I seem to have taken control of this at last. 

It was Graham Whittle waiting for me on the mat this evening. Oddly I had a feeling I'd get Graham earlier in the day. We know each other having worked with his wife, Pat, many years ago. Retired joiner Graham did some work at my house which I can't believe is now twenty-odd years ago. I still see them regularly as customers and often end up talking a load of bowls. 

Graham had been wrapping them around the jack during practice, but as if I didn't know already I was up against a tough opponent. 

First end went to Graham with a great lead and I was pleased enough with my second bowl to save one. On the next couple of ends though, my opponent had a bit of a blip and two twos set me off on a further run with the block, putting up good leads and surviving Graham's best efforts. Surprisingly I found myself soaring away to 15-5, but just like a few nights earlier, I had a bit of a wobble on fifteen. This included a schoolboy error of mistakenly leading out with one of Graham's woods. The vastly experienced Bretherton man took five from the next three ends and was holding another two before I adjusted really well after a bonk first bowl to sneak back in.

I was then very fortunate to win a terrible end, with Graham having loads of room to win it but missing what in crown green terms was an open goal.

He later rued that moment as being the turning point that quashed hopes of a comeback. I was just starting to get a little irate at this point, unhappy with my own bad bowls despite winning the end and the nearby Lee Kershaw signals with his hands for me to keep calm. A timely reminder, for I was still in a great position to win the match. 

Nudging on to nineteen, I send two beauties in front of our pavillion, but maybe too good as it left a target for Graham who sent an excellent strike but only knocked out one. I was disappointed with myself to go a little short and narrow with both bowls next end on my bread and butter mark and Graham sent one spot on. His lead was good next end too, but I managed to pip it according to teammate Geoff Bibby and so requiring just one to win I didn't send my next bowl and carried the mat. It was close actually and Graham rightly asked for a measure, but I trusted Geoff's judgement and sure enough the tape fell a little short on Graham's bowl.

It was a good game with lots of closely contested ends and another victory that is starting to cement the belief that this is more than a flash in the pan of great form and rather a leap of improvement. There will always be doubts about that, but that's what will keep me on my toes to hopefully continue.

Still clinging on to top spot of the Division One merit table six games in, I can't believe it. Captain Aaron likes to remind me to take another screenshot with my phone (which I did!) but I expect it to be the last of it's kind going in to the lion's den next Thursday.

SMILES BETTER THIS TIME

Monday 4th May 2026

Chorley & District League Div-2: Anderton St Joseph's 'A' (132) 3-8 Eagle & Child 'A' (153)

v BERNARD ROSCOE W 21-10

It's knocking on four years since my last and only visit to this sweetly situated green behind the church. For a third successive match I was drawn a repeat opponent and I can report that Bernard's rather cantankerous demeanour on the green has not softened.
What I also remember from July 2022 was coming up against a good home bowler, much better than me and yet giving him a reasonable game on this tricky green with all sorts of interesting contours.
Enjoying my best run of form yet though, I quietly fancied my chances this time. Unlike recent routine, practice actually went well and then I even managed to get off to a good start. A very good start in fact.
I made it hard work for Bernard from the off, leading well, more often than not sending a good second bowl too and forcing him to play through which kept me down to singles, but then a few twos stacked up and I overhear the score at 15-2. This was looking like quite a turnaround. But I had got away with the last two ends a little and felt my dominance start to break. Sure enough, Bernard got in and had a run with the block but I was still there or thereabouts on most ends to let him know I wasn't going to capitulate and then found a good bowl to snuffle out a comeback. A bit of experience came in to play now. I realised I didn't have to hit the heights of earlier, but simply match my opponent end for end and twenty-one would come soon enough to see the game out.
A couple more well landed second bowls to break Bernard with the block and I was almost there at 20-8. Marginally holding one for the game, there was room to beat it so Bernard surprised me coming in with weight and fortuitously or not, knocked mine out to make two. I took my bowls out of the equation so it was clear he scored two, but on arrival he seemed confused, looked at his two bowls, shrugged his shoulders and actually spoke to me, "What's happened? You said you were on?". I said, "I was! You knocked me out and made two... good hit, it's two to you..", and like the rise of the morning sun, Bernard found a smile and there was even a little chuckle to himself. He didn't lead well next end though and I landed a great first bowl to count and that was it. As limp a handshake as I've ever experienced and we're done.
It was an excellent team performance with five winners and the aggregate here, placing us second in the table at this early stage of the Chorley & District season. 

LIVING THE HAMPDEN DREAM

Almost twelve years ago during my first visit to Hampden Park for a Diamond League athletics meeting I distinctly remember wondering if I would ever return to this famous old stadium to watch Dunfermline Athletic in a Scottish FA Cup Final.

It was a flighty thought to say the least. Finalists in 2004 and 2007, with another Hampden appearance in the League Cup in between, I might have already missed three chances of a lifetime. Certainly the probability of this happening again was becoming less and less likely through subsequent years of struggle.

By 2013 the club suffered a second successive relegation, in part due to a fifteen point deduction for going in to administration, and it would take three seasons to escape from the third tier of Scottish football. A plateau in the second tier for six years ended with another drop to the third in 2022. Whilst The Pars bounced back at the first attempt, two more dire seasons hanging on to championship status followed until the tail end of last season when new ownership succeeded in pricking the interest of Neil Lennon to become team manager. Quite a coup.
A year later and an indifferent and yet promising season has delivered a quite unbelievable climax, with good form clinching a chance of promotion in the play-offs and now a place in the Scottish Cup Final awaits.
Last month I went up to see Dunfermline play at Hampden in the semi final against Falkirk. This ticked the box. Later this month, returning to Glasgow again to see them in the final against Celtic will be living the dream.

It's been fourteen years since The Pars were in the Premier Division and fifty eight years since they last won the cup. You just wouldn't put anything past this side just now. Even if they end up empty-handed on both fronts, what a season this has turned out to be and bodes much promise for 2026-27. 

HARD GOING TO PICK UP ANOTHER WIN

Thursday 30th April 2026

Leyland & District League Div-1: Hoghton (145) 3-7 Eagle Blues (180)

v GEOFF PICKUP W 21-16

No offence to my opponent here, but this was more of a battle against the green itself. To say the surface at Hoghton was running would be quite some understatement - it was absolutely bloody screaming.
I knuckled down to practice from the clubhouse end, stroked the jack gently out of my hand towards the longer sided far end and couldn't believe it trickling on, and on and on before clunking in to the gutter. "Wow! F*ck me!!", was blurted out, and whilst my proverbial French ought to be pardoned, it was nonetheless a reasonable reaction under the circumstances.
Wild surfaces like this feel a bit too much to deal with. If greens were like this all the time, I doubt I'd be as keen. It's like the whole judgement element of the game becomes almost unattainable most of the time - or at least for the likes of me, anyway. A bowl a yard off the target is deemed a good one in these conditions and whilst I survived tonight to fight back and win the game, there was little joy in the evening other than digging out the result itself and for our fine team success on the night.
Two previous visits to Hoghton have ended in defeat and whilst I don't have a "bogey green" as such, this one has the potential to be. The green is a decent length looking out from the clubhouse, but quite narrow width ways and with a fair old bump of a crown in the middle of it. It's tricky and even more so when it's been continuously sunbaked.
I played Geoff here a couple of years ago so had an idea what to expect from my opponent, but wasn't sure what to expect from myself. I think Geoff got a good lead on me that time, although I came back and even got myself in front before distinctly remembering a frustration at not winning the match. A similar pattern evolved tonight, but with a happier ending.
Early on it was so difficult to get in to a rhythm. Both of us were struggling to keep the jack on the green, other games seemed to get in our way and whilst joking that I was going to chuck my bowls over the hedge because I'd had enough, in actual fact I stayed quite relaxed and saw the funny side. I just thought, even if I get battered here and don't send a single decent bowl all night then so what? I can't let it overshadow what's been a great start to the season so far.
At 7-11 I put two good ones up at last and asked our Lenny the score, whilst having a bit of a soul searching rant to him as well. Then Geoff plants a great bowl to cancel them out and it's 7-12. But I took some encouragement at having sent a couple of bowls I was pleased with. On a very short and curly end that I would have had measured otherwise, Geoff fails to drop off the crown and twice, unfairly blaming a nearby teammate in my opinion. But he left me with as a easy two as I was going to get all night and then I started to put some decent bowls up with more consistency, grabbing another two to draw close before keeping hold of the block for quite a few more ends to push in to the lead and put the squeeze on Geoff for a change.
As the sun dipped in to the horizon the green just started to tame slightly and this caught me out when getting myself towards the finish line with a couple of ends where I was badly short. But I didn't let it rattle me, managed to break Geoff straight away and keep picking up the singles to get me over the line. My last bowl did well to beat Geoff's good lead, pegging off the crown down the right side sloping edge. Geoff played through to hit something and only found the gap in between. It was a relief to get the win and come off. Although I tend to remember the bad ends more than the good, I'd done pretty well there to turn things around to 14-4 in my favour after that chat with Lenny.
It was tough for all the first four matches on in particular. We were all struggling. The green dampened off as the darkness set in, taking the edge off it a bit but still difficult to play. It did the home side no favours though as Eagle Blues ended up with an amazing result, taking seven wins and the aggregate. Matt Hoyles turned around a 2-12 deficit to win 21-14, but the stand-out performances that I got to watch myself later on were Aaron Hayhurst's victory over Gareth Whittle and Chris Thompson taking another notable away scalp in Chris Miller Jnr. We sit an incredible third place in the table, with all the big boys to play still, but even so, quite a feat from a side with little more pre-season ambition than keeping heads above the relegation waters again.

For me personally, the first time I have won five games in a row in one particular league and the first time I've won six league games on the spin overall. April has been quite a month. 

Meanwhile on the individual merit front - a systematic averages table which I have been a little dismissive about in the past and more so in the lower divisions - well I have to take some interest in it just now after sealing another week at the very top of the Leyland & District pile. In second place sits the lad from next door, Aaron, so our avenue is clearly a dominant force in central Lancashire crown green bowls just now! Aaron's name is meant to be there of course, he was fourth overall last season. Perhaps not so my own though and whilst it's actually quite ridiculous really, it's also still good fun while it lasts.

FORM CONTINUES IN CHORLEY LEAGUE

Monday 27th April 2026

Chorley & District League Div-2: Eagle & Child 'A' (145) 7-3 Coppull 'A' (120)
v ERIC CROMPTON W 21-8

The first drop of rain for a week or two was timed to perfection for the start of the Chorley & District League. It was only a fifteen minute sprinkle however.
The new season started at home and I was drawn against the same player I played in the opposite fixture at Coppull last year. Eric is the most senior player in this team and has been playing crown green for well over sixty years.
This game was as much about the gentlemanly way it should be played as it was about continuing to bowl well and win. I managed to maintain concentration levels whilst also respecting the friendly spirit in which Eric likes to play. I'm sure he encounters some grumpy bastard bowlers that won't converse with him, but I certainly wasn't going to be one of those. He's a grand chap and also enjoyed a natter with him after the match.
It wouldn't be normal these days if I didn't play the first end poorly and concede two and sure enough I did. Two down again next end, I found a good second bowl to break back quickly and then got in to my stride. There were very few bowls that I was dissatisfied with and the score had become unassailable for my opponent. But Eric found his length and did produce some brilliant winners to make a real game of it in the latter stages and particularly over my own favourite patch in front of the pavillion. Some belting ends that went either way, I was really enjoying this section of the match and was actually chuffed for Eric. Having started to go a bit quiet as the match quickly got away from him, he restored pride and showed what he can do. He sent two good ones on the final end too, but I still managed to get around them both with little room to spare and continue this winning run in the leagues so far.
Team wise, a slightly new look side won five from eight and the aggregate for a decent start. Ian Waring and Mick Bibby have come up from the 'B' team with both of them coming unstuck on their debuts and whilst the standard is tougher in this division for them, I'm confident they will adapt and become even better players for it. Progress isn't made in this game by staying in your comfort zone. You've got to relish playing better players, focus on the positives but take the tonkings and learn from it. I can't advocate much in my five years of bowling, but nobody can say I haven't chucked myself in at the deep end when I didn't need to. Results and performances are now starting to show the fruition of such over-ambition.