WAYNE MOSELEY celebrated his Yorkshire County call-up by landing the Spring Handicap title and £200 first prize.
Twice a loser in the final, the current Champion of Champions gave a masterclass at Linthwaite Cricket and Bowling Club to justify his mark as 2/1 favourite for the event sponsored by Roebuck & Holmes Joinery and Shopfitting Contractors.
The Lockwood Con stalwart defeated Neil Slattery (Longwood) 21-10 in the final after coasting past Ross Mallinson (Milnsbridge BC) 21-12 in the semis.
On any other day, Mallinson and Slattery played well enough to win – but this time they ran into Moseley at the very top of his game and he proved untouchable.
“I’m having a bit of a purple patch and I just played it well,” said Moseley, who picked up the Huddersfield Merit last summer en route to the ‘big one’.
“My motto has always been to win the first game and then take it from there, and it went well.
“I played very consistently, getting both the line and the length well, and I can’t say that I ever really struggled at any point.
“I felt quite comfortable against some very good players – it was just one of those days for me when everything went right – and I was very happy with my game.”
That’s great news for the county selectors, who have got him in their team for the clash with Shropshire a week on Sunday – the home team are at Meltham.
“I couldn’t have started the season much better,” added Moseley.
“I’ve been doing well for Lockwood Con on a Saturday and a Tuesday and I’m back in the County side which is great, so it’s onwards and upwards as they say.
“I’m also pleased the sun is starting to come out, because that will make the greens a lot faster and that’s how I like them.”
Watch out the rest of Huddersfield bowling, because all parts of his game are in top order already and, at Linthwaite, his leading was superb on his favoured short marks but, when he wasn’t on after his first bowl, he hardly missed playing out his opponent.
When people took him on long marks to try and take him out of his comfort zone, it didn’t faze him a bit and he just carried on.
First round – Stephen Gledhill (5, Longwood) 17 Danny Beeby (2, Canalside) 21, Ross Mallinson (3, Milnsbridge BC) 21 Darren Smith (4, Lindley BC) 15, Roy Sutton (3, Meltham) 21 Damian Jones (3, Moldgreen Con) 19, Wayne Moseley (2, Lockwood Con) 21 Ray Whitwam (3, Longwood) 8, Mark Bramall (2, Longwood) 15 Neil Slattery (3, Longwood) 21, Ian Briggs (3, Longwood) 13 Mark Sykes (3, Lindley Lib) 21, Darren Hallas (3 Milnsbridge BC) 15 Peter Kain (2, Lockwood Con) 21, Billy Shaw (4, Milnsbridge Lib) 21 Colin Lloyd (3, Netherton Con) 17.
Quarter-finals – Beeby 13 Mallinson 21, Sutton 11 Moseley 21, Slattery 21 Sykes 14, Kain 21 Shaw 18.
Semi-finals – Mallinson 12 Moseley 21, Slattery 21 Kain 16.
Final – Moseley 21 Slattery 10.
