It's Senior service

Jun 14 2008 by Linzi Nicholson, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

THERE was disappointment for Huddersfield bowlers in the final of the Dearne and Don Merit when Ashley Daykin (New Mill) and Chris Kelly (Thongsbridge) were knocked out at the semi-final stage.

Vince Senior (Works) claimed top honours, and a £100 pay-out, in a one-sided final with a 21-7 victory against Albert Rodgers, of Thurgoland, in the Holme Valley Bathroom Designs sponsored event.

Daykin and Kelly were joined in the eight-man final by Ashley Tattersley (Almondbury Lib) and Yorkshire Merit champion Nicky White (Thongsbridge) but the latter pair failed to get beyond the first round.

In a fluctuating game, Tattersley struggled against Rodgers trailing 6-1, 11-4, 14-11, 18-16 and 19-16 before the Thurgoland bowler was laying two for game.

Tattersley, who captained Almondbury Lib to Henry Taylor Cup glory last season, went in off a wide bowl to snatch the end then levelled at 19-19 before Rodgers got a pair to go through.

In the semi-final Rodgers destroyed Kelly 21-8 while Daykin was level-pegging with Senior at 10-10 before the champion found a mark at the side of the green to build a 17-10 lead which he was never to relinquish and went on to win 21-13.

Senior carried his excellent form at Hoylandswaine BC into the final, where he found his length straight away and made big in-roads to carve out leads of 7-0, 11-2 and 15-6.

And his victory was never in doubt as he took it 21-7.

Sponsor Mr A Hufton, of Holme Valley Bathroom Designs, presented the prizes and he revealed he would double the prizemoney to £200 for next year’s event.

First round: M Greenall (Clayton West) 14 V Senior (Works) 21, N White (Thongsbridge) 16 A Daykin (New Mill) 21, P Sykes (Brockholes) 9 C Kelly (Thongsbridge) 21, A Rodgers (Thurgoland) 21 A Tattersley (Almondbury Lib) 19.

Semi-final: Senior 21 Daykin 13, Kelly 8 Rodgers 21.

Final: Senior 21 Rodgers 7.