Warwickshire began life in the Premier Division of the newly founded UKDA National League with an outstanding performance playing away against the mighty Yorkshire and returning with a memorable 20-16 victory.
Both ladies teams finished with resounding 5-1 wins, the ‘A’ team’s win was supplied by Sue Gulliver, Angela Jones, Natalie Gilbert, Nina Bolt and Tammy Montgomery with Natalie Gilbert their top player with a superb 25.05 average in her straight 3-0 win over Rachel Brooks. For the ‘B’ team there were wins for Melanie Jones, Wendy Adams, Denise Keyte and Chloe McKivett before Marian Conway rounded off the 5-1 result with her lady of the match 3-0 win over Lyn Horne which giving her an award winning average of 18.33.
Saturday was not a good day at all with the men’s ‘B’ side losing out 8-4, Tom Martin taking the match award honours with his 4-1 victory over Paul Toulmin giving him a 27.35 average.
The men’s ‘A’ looked all set for victory as they romped to a huge 6-1 lead, only to see the hosts fight back and earn a 6-6 draw. Top player for the ‘A’ was Jamie Atkins, a 4-2 win over John Walton giving him a 29.41 average.
A promising start to the new season for the Bears, 20-16 away to Yorkshire is no mean feat.
Warwickshire have their next fixture this coming weekend, a home tie at Hen Lane Social Club, 6 Beacon Road, Coventry, CV6 4DS against Essex and lining up for the hosts are Men’s ‘A’:- Tommy Aldridge, Jamie Atkins, Kevin Dowling, Noel Grant, Nigel Heydon, Steve Hine, Jamie Hughes, Prakash Jiwa, Tom Martin, Ian McFarlane, Ian Shaw, Mark Strong, Men’s ‘B’:- Gareth Braham, Mark Carter, Simon Fairbrother, Steve Giddings, Carl Green, Dave Hill, Dave Honey, Wayne Mynard, Karl Reynolds, Martin Tonks, Jack Wareing, Matty Washbrooke, Reserves:- Luke Kennedy, Mark Martin, Tommy McGlone, Dean Stewart, Mark Tomlinson snr, Women’s ‘A’:- Nina Bolt, Natalie Gilbert, Sue Gulliver, Angela Jones, Tammy Montgomery, Donna Pinch, Women’s ‘B’:- Wendy Adams, Marian Conway, Melanie Jones, Denise Keyte, Chloe McKivett, Caroline Pike, Reserves:- Lucy Keyte, Rosie O’Connor.
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