THE season continued with local bowls teams doing battle with their counterparts from across the Summit in the Rochdale Men’s Vets League.
Royton Cricket finished fifth in division ‘A’, bolstered by Neil Collinge leading the averages with 10 wins from 16 matches.
Royton’s best team results were achieved on the Paddock green with eight wins and six victories at Ladybarn – their best away performance.
Milnrow Memorial Park had a poor season by their standards, finishing ninth in division ‘A’ and relegated to division ‘B’.
They won only five from the 18 matches though Geoff Ball was a shining light in the gloom. Geoff won 12 of his 16 matches to finish ninth in the league merits. Graham Brooks had 11 wins from 15 matches.
Ladybarn will join Milnrow in division ‘B’ as they finished bottom. Only four wins told its own story. They won their first two games of the season but were unable to maintain that fine start.
In division ‘B’, High Crompton Con Club enjoyed a very satisfactory campaign finishing fourth with 12 wins from 18 matches. Victories against Queens Park and Norden Reserves Eight were their outstanding achievement.
Bob Horrocks won 11 of 13 matches to finish fifth in the league merits.
In division ‘C’, Ladybarn Reserves finished sixth after winning seven matches and drawing one of their 16 matches.
Ken Davies won all nine of his matches while Daryl McMunn and Tommy Croston both won 10 matches from 15 and 14 respectively.
There were some successes for local sides in the Oldham Ladies Bowling League.
Crompton BC won the fourth division title by a 30-point margin over their nearest challengers.
Ann Tudor achieved 19 of her 20 matches to claim the league merit award. Anthea Stenton won 17 of her 20 matches to finish third in the league merits.
During their title-winning season, Crompton had all eight winners in matches against Uppermill ‘B’ and at home to Stamford Park ‘C.’
Back in division one and Royton Cricket ‘A’ finished third, winning 13 of their 18 matches.
Diane Fish had 15 wins from 18 matches to finish second in the league merit.
Dunwood ran Royton close, finishing fourth in division one, dropping just six of their 18 games.
Sue Kitson with 14 wins from 18 matches and Sue Nelson with 14 wins from 17 matches were the mainstays of the campaign.
In division two, Royton Park and Shaw Comrades ‘B’ will be looking to push for promotion in 2019 after a nearly but not quite season.
Royton Park won eight of their 18 outings to place fifth with Pam Pemberton the leading lady with 13 wins from 16 games to finish fourth in
Shaw Comrades ‘B’ finished seventh after nine wins, Carol Wore was their leading bowler winning 13 of her 17 matches to finish third in the league merits.
High Crompton ‘B’ gained promotion from division three by finishing runners-up.
In an incredibly tight division, they finished on the same number of points as Springbank ‘B’ but finished above their Chadderton rivals by virtue of scoring more chalks. Bernie Keenan led the way winning 12 of her 15 matches.
Shaw Comrades ‘A’ finished fourth in division three with Marion Clayton the leading bowler with 16 wins from her 18 matches to finish second in the league merits.
Four points behind Shaw in fifth were the ladies from Royton Cricket ‘B’ who also had 10 victories. Gwenda Rushton won 10 of her 14 matches.
High Crompton ‘A’ couldn’t live with their near neighbours in division four but finished a creditable fifth after 13 wins from 20 matches. Carol Greenwood was the spearhead winning 16 of her 20 games.
In the InBev Winter League, Shaw Comrades are currently third in division two just ahead of the Royton-based Latics Fanatics. The two teams meet twice on Sunday, February 10.
I wonder if you could help me trace a very dear friend called Daryl McMunn from Shaw.
He has always been very active in the bowling fraternity in Oldham area .
He seems to have vanished without a trace . I have tried every contact I have to track him down and I’m worried about him.
My name – Brian Deane
Email: brideane@yahoo.com