Mens Over 55 stage One report

Mens O55 – Division 1

A strong team enhanced by the arrival of Ronnie Freeman to the squad travelled to Manchester for the 1^st stage matches against Derbyshire and Lancashire at the Fairways Lodge Hotel 20^th October.

With the late withdrawal of Lincolnshire, our task of achieving promotion and finishing in the top 2 was made a lot easier. The draw was also very kind to us as Lancashire played Derbyshire in the early match which resulted in a 4-1 win for Lancs and more important, drained some of the energy from the Derby legs!

Squad – Ronnie Freeman, Derek Collins, John Thompson, Steve Blake, Colin McNestrie and Alan Coates

I travelled with the squad to ensure someone could referee and only play in a real emergency.

Playing our top 5 in the 1^st match and ignoring calls for a Ferguson style rotation policy, we raced out of the blocks and secured a comfortable 5-0 victory (20-4). Needing only 3 points from the 2^nd match, we pushed Lancashire the full distance and only just lost 3-2 (14-8). So promotion and a long trip guaranteed for the 2^nd Half!

Northumbria v Derbyshire

Ronnie v Neil Nightingale 3-0 (9-5, 9-1, 9-4)

Derek v Rob Lathbury 3-1 (10-9, 8-10, 9-1, 9-5)

John v John Pearson 3-1 (9-6, 9-4, 2-9, 9-0)

Steve v Tony Robinson 3-1 (9-0, 2-9, 9-7, 9-2)

Colin v Phil Howe 3-1 (8-10, 10-8, 9-5,9-6)

Northumbria v Lancashire

Ronnie v Doug Smith 3-0 (9-2, 9-2, 9-0)

Derek v Alan Connor 1-3 (9-1, 7-9, 1-9, 4-9)

John v Rob Houldsworth 3-0 (9-3, 9-6, 9-3)

Steve v Geoff Wilcox 1-3 (9-7, 7-9, 5-9, 7-9)

Alan v Gary Biggins 0-3 (8-10, 4-9, 0-9)