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Leeds sides double up for promotion success
BOTH the Leeds sides clinched promotion on the final day of the Federation of Crown Green Bowls National League.
Going into the last day, both sides knew that promotion was within their grasp and that only a heavy defeat either home or away would deny them.
Two close games later and both sides experienced the joy of moving up the league ladder for 2009.
The first team sat in second place in Division Two, three points behind leaders Furness, but on the same points total (56) as third-placed Bolton.
A slip up in the final game against North Yorkshire could have meant another season in Division two or even the risk of relegation to Division Three.
However, the team held their nerve, just, to secure an all-important 18-14 win.
With a point for every jack won, two points for the home or away aggregate and four points for the overall win, the scoreline suggests that honours were spread evenly.
In such cases the difference between promotion and relegation is not necessarily how much each bowler wins by, but the chalk margin they lose to.
Furness beat Bolton 22-10 to ensure the title, while Leeds moved up in second place and Bolton remained in Division Two for another year at least.
Warrington succumbed to their second consecutive relegation whilst North Yorkshire went backwards having been promoted in 2007.
Leeds and Furness will be joining South Derbyshire, who took the title from Fylde by just five points and Calderdale in Division One.
Things were not as straightforward in Division Four, with the Leeds A side slipping to a 20-12 defeat to Doncaster A.
At the start of the day, Leeds A were 13 points behind leaders Cannock, a side that had completed their four- game programme.
A win by any margin, similar to that experienced by their division two counterparts, would have guaranteed that Leeds A would have eased past Cannock.
Twelve points left them agonisingly short by one point – that's one chalk lost, possibly to 20, over the course of the four games.
The game started slowly at home, with defeats for the first three jacks, balanced out by positive results in the following two.
Robert King at fifth jack held his opponent to just seven, a scoreline matched later by fellow Armley Park bowler Mick Rennison.
There were to be only six home winners, with Simon Lavan, Henry Lazenby, Ian Worral and Brian Thompson winning by close margins.
But the six winners were outscored by the six winners for Doncaster A, meaning that the aggregate points went to the South Yorkshire side.
The result was matched, almost in sync in terms of the jack positions, with wins away from home.
There were successes for Jonathan Wilcox, David Lowe, Alice Pooley, Martin Lally, Colin Scorah and Mark Hughes, which again meant that it was six jacks apiece.
But again, though, it was the dominance of Doncaster A in their six wins that meant the away, and in turn the overall aggregate points, went in their favour.
With the 12 points scored, Leeds A may not have risen to first place in the division, but it did mean that they won promotion to Division three.
The margin of defeat ensured that a resurgent Doncaster A were just too far behind to overtake and the apparent no result played out between Swadlincote and Bury meant neither could challenge Leeds A and Cannock for promotion. But again, though, it was the dominance of Doncaster A in their six wins that meant the away, and in turn the overall aggregate points, went in their favour.
With the 12 points scored, Leeds A may not have risen to first place in the division, but it did mean that they won promotion to Division three.
The margin of defeat ensured that a resurgent Doncaster A were just too far behind to overtake and the apparent no result played out between Swadlincote and Bury meant neither could challenge Leeds A and Cannock for promotion.
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Weather for Leeds
Sunday 12 February 2012
Today
Light rain
Temperature: 1 C to 6 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: North west
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 4 C to 8 C
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