GRAHAM RADCLIFFE leads the Yorkshire Junior home team at Netherton Conservative tomorrow and told supporters: “Come and get behind the lads!”
The passionate plea comes as his side bid for a place in the semi-finals of the Drakes Pride British Junior Inter-County Championship (2.00).
Radcliffe’s home team take on Shropshire at Netherton while the away team travel to Coddon BC, Telford.
Yorkshire are the current British champions but face a crucial and testing showdown to qualify for the semis in this year’s competition.
Both teams are tied precisely on points and aggregate scores, so it is a winner-takes-all decider.
Radcliffe said: “With both teams sharing identical records, we have only to beat Shropshire by a single point to make the semis – but we don’t want it to be as close as that.
“We’ve had two good wins (454-274 v Greater Manchester and 489-285 v Lancashire) so far, but we don’t take any opponents lightly.
“I said at the start of the campaign that Shropshire would be our toughest opponents. In fact, I think that whoever wins tomorrow will go on and claim the title.
“So, it would be great for a big crowd to get behind the lads because it is a bit like a final really, so come to Netherton and cheer us on.”
Making a joyful return to Netherton Con is Yorkshire No1 player Neil Ewart, who won the senior Yorkshire Handicap at the same venue a fortnight ago.
Ewart is also the Yorkshire Junior Merit winner and takes on Mike Beer, the Shropshire junior champion, in the opening match.
At Netherton Con: Neil Ewart (Lower Hopton) v Mike Beer, Joe Bray (Cleckheaton Spts) v Jack Jones, Ashley Southwell (Asa Briggs) v Jamie Edwards, Robert Hopper (Blakeborough Alb) v Graham Wall, Michael Higgins (Almondbury Lib) v Kiah Roberts, Danny Radcliffe (Bradley and Colnebridge) v Simon Good, Guy Beaumont (Newsome WMC) v George Williams, David Spencer (Brockholes) v Ashley Wellings, Ryan Wall (Almondbury BC) v Dan Williams, Connor McGowan (Blakeborough Alb) v Anthony Price, Craig Walsh (Blakeborough Alb) v Ben James, Andrew Craven (Skelmanthorpe Central) v Ben Talbot. Yorkshire reserves: Rob Wainwright (Sandal), Jason Booth (Bradley and Colnebridge), Aiden Fox (Lower Hopton).
At Coddon BC, Telford: Stuart King (Asa Briggs) v Robert Roden, David Telford (Tadcaster) v Cheryl Aswell, Connor Davis (Pudsey BC) v Jamie King, Ashley Wilcock (Chapel St) v Michael Wainwright, Ryan Exley (Wibsey Pk) v Kristian Lewis, Neil Wood (Chapel St) v Ayden Smith, Matthew Gil (Sandal BC) v Michael Gaut, Ben Smith (Chapel St) v Ashley Hammond, Jonathan Peacock (Overthorpe Spts) v John Potter, Scott Sigsworth (Holbeck Ltd) v Rob Fuller, John Wood (Crossgates) v Josh Bradburn, Simon Wood (Chapel St) v Tom Roden. Yorkshire reserves: Jack Summers (Asa Briggs), Paul Wilczynski (Wibsey Pk), Cory McCleod (Knaresborough).
Greens Park Homes Waterloo World Bowling Championships:
Second round: M Britton (Scholes) 21 N Webster (Normanton) 12, P Wilson (Staining) 21 M Sweeney (Dewsbury) 9, R Helliwell (Hebden Br) 21 K Wainwright (Warrington) 17, G Pilkington (Leyland) 21 M O’Brien (Doncaster) 16, R Dandy (Birmingham) 21 A Delooze (Wrexham) 12, A Buckley (Chadderton) 21 J Richardson (Doncaster) 14, G Wallis (Chesterfield) 21 P Thorpe (Wilmslow) 14, C Wraight (Shrewsbury) 21 M Simms (Poynton) 6.
Third round: M Britton (Scholes) 21 P Wilson (Staining) 15, R Helliwell (Hebden Br) 21 G Pilkington (Leyland) 8, A Buckley (Chadderton) 21 R Dandy (Birmingham) 10, C Wraight (Shrewsbury) 21 G Wallis (Chesterfield) 11.
