West Mids bowls latest

The second weekend of the Antony Pagett Open had organiser Mandy Pagett complaining of the “freezing conditions”.

But wasn’t a problem for Windmill bowler Glyn Storer, who eased through to the finals with a couple of quality performances, including the defeat of last season’s semi-finalist Richard Howson.

In the qualifying round Storer had faced Neil Harrell, who earlier had scraped past Ben Lynch 21-19.

Joining Storer on Sunday is Dudley Dell’s Pete Withey, who defeated Mark Street 21-17, Michael Lynch 21-13 and David Hallam 21-6. 

Like Richard Dandy on the first weekend, Paul Rolls stepped in at the last minute and 

bowled superbly to qualify for the final stages.

Wayne Phillips from Meole Brace had looked set fair for qualification as he just crept past top Warwick and Worcester bowler Mick McGuinness 21-20 and then sailed past Woodfield’s Nick Newey 21-9.

But in the qualifying round he  fell to Rolls 21-16. The final weekend qualifier was Moor Lane’s Matt Hocknull, who defeated last year’s champion Ray Broadfield 21-15 in the second round.

The opening weekend of the Tipton and Coseley Centenary Trophy at West Bromwich Supporters Club has produced a real story when deaf-and-dumb bowler Jamie Fitzpatrick from Merseyside produced an excellent display to qualify for the final stages.

His passage was far from easy, as he faced Steve Wallace from the Greville in his opening encounter and defeated him 21-18.

He followed with another quality display to ease past Potteries county bowler Nick Tideswell 21-13. In the qualifier he defeated D. Dowling from Kings Heath Park 21-16. 

He was joined by the durable Cheshire bowler Gerald Merry, who qualified for the first time since losing in the final seven years ago.

Richard Dandy’s early-season form continued with qualification for  another final day. In his first game he faced former BCGBA Merit Winner Darren Smith, whom he despatched

Dandy also looked comfortable in his second game as his diagonal mark across the green saw him race into a 17-4 lead.

However, Derbyshire’s Ian Johnson pulled the game back before just losing 21-17. In the qualifier Dandy had again produced flawless bowls to lead 16-1, but again his opponent M Andrews clawed his way back to 19-18, but like Dandy’s previous opponent he succumbed at the end. 

The final qualifier was pre-tournament favourite Kerry Morris. 

The £1020 Oaklands Spring Open gets underway at the Oaklands Club in Lea Road, Wolverhampton on Monday. Details can be obtained from Colin Birch (01902) 423910. 

The Wolverhampton Works League’s Chronicle Cup First Round is tomorrow and the draw is:

Codsall Ex Service v Rubery Owen, Springvale B v Baggersidge A, Sedgley WM v Newhampton Tettenhall, 44 Club Ts v Goodrich, Kingswinford Cons v Springvale A, 

Pennfields B v Chubb Safes, White Horse v DCA, Sedgley Ex Service v Rushall Labour, Bilston v Springvale Ts, Fordhouses CC A v Wednesfield Cons, Coombs Wood v Barhale, Baggeridge B v Fordhouses CC B, ECC v Stile, Parkfields v Essington A, Essington B v Yale, Willenhall Trinity v Hammerwich.