Pavilion Bears become champions of West Sussex Bowls League

Worthing Pavilion became champions of the West Sussex Bowls League for the first time since 2017 when the Bears team defeated East Preston A by 98 shots to 55. Wins on all four rinks at Pavilion Road earned the Bears a maximum 10 points from their 14th and final match of the season, putting them beyond the reach of Tarring Priory, whose last game is on Saturday. [AUGUST 26] Having been runners-up three times in four seasons, Pavilion seized an early advantage and never let up against East Preston, who were fighting for survival in Division One. Top rink went to Dave Thomas, Simon Ritter, John Frew and skip Mick Patching, who won 27-10. Jim Walmsley, Barrie Evans, Arthur White and Alan Vidler won 24-13. George Davey, John Winkley, Francis Fahey and Jamie Dunk won 22-14. Bennie Bennett, Charlie Ward, Ken Chapman and Mark Strong won 25-18. The Bears were without six regulars; team manager Simon Davey, Colin Davey, Danny Minter and Vinnie Minter were playing an Edward Rowland Cup semi-final against Buxted Park, while Jeremy Simpson and Paul Ward were competing on finals day at the Lindfield Open. Buxted Park were leading 13-17 against Pavilion after 11 ends but the defending champions responded superbly, eventually running out 22-17 winners to reach the final for the third consecutive season. Worthing Pavilion Bulls preserved their Division One status in the West Sussex League with a 94-68 victory against Bognor A. When the Bulls started their season on May 21 with a whitewash of Southbourne, a potential relegation decider was the last thing on their minds. But a series of setbacks dragged them down the table and left them needing a big result in their penultimate match. They duly responded, winning on three rinks and drawing on the fourth to take nine points. The top rink of George Rhodes, Colin Johnson, Richard Calvert and skip Andy Clarke won 26-10. Tony Beale, Simon Rusbridge, Richard Krupa and Warwick Davis won 24-19. Keith Lyons, Graham Morrey, Keith Wadhams and Gavin Beven won 23-18. Roger Dutton, Bill Muir, Tim Baldwin and Simon Warr drew 21-21. Pavilion's two rinks had mixed fortunes in their latest GS&M League game at Witterings. Pat Edmonds, Helen Beale, Teresa McLaughlin and skip Kath Byrnes won 22-13, boosted by scoring seven shots on the final two ends. Julie Woods, Sue Bryan, Ann Button and skip June Lewis lost 26-11. They dropped seven on the final two ends, with Witterings winning the Division One game on aggregate by 39-33.