The 2018 Ladies County matches got underway on Sunday 20 May. Wales played Mid Cheshire with the Home venue at Min Y Don Bowling Club and the Away venue, Rudheath Sports and Social Club, Cheshire.

The Referee for the afternoon was Stan Warburton. Past President Dusia Price, EGB Member Peter Higham, WCGBA Secretary Pauline Lindley and Patron John Percy all came to support the match.

The Wales squad fielded eleven players from the previous days’ Welsh Ladies Merit and at the Home venue, one player was to mark her debut for the senior side.

Amanda Nicholas ( Gresford Collier) led the team at number one, an unusual spot for Amanda, who admitted to a shaky start. However, undaunted she played some excellent bowls to chalk up the first win for Wales at Home 21-11. It was a ‘win two and lose two’ situation in the first four. Miriam Forder ( Conwy) beating Pat Newhouse 21-16 and Abigail Wyn-Jones (Denbigh ) and Linda Kirkham ( Coed Talon) lost to 16 and 12 respectively. In the middle four there was only one winner, Marilyn Lea ( Eirias Park) who won to 21-15. Wales had better fortune in the final four with three winners, Nia Jones ( Coed Talon) , Jane Bowler ( Conwy) and Sarah Nicholas ( Gresford Colliery ) all scoring 21-11.

For Nia Jones, this was an extra special day. She is already a steady player with the Wales Junior Squad and, today, made her first appearance with the Senior side. She didn’t show any nerves and received a lot of support from her Captain and team mates. Her 21-11 win in the number 9 spot earned her the Player of the Match award.

The final score at Home was Wales 205 and Mid-Cheshire 201.

 

For the Away side, fortunes were also mixed. President Brenda Jones travelled with the team to Rudheath. In the first, four Emily Gowan ( Broughton) was our only winner 21-16, Ashley Zepeda ( Nercwys) ended her game with a close 21-20 loss. The middle four had better luck with three out of four wins. Chris Hey ( Sychdyn ) won 21-18, Aileen Coleman ( Oakenholt ) won 21-11 and Kelly Fleet ( Parciau ) won 21 -14. We had to wait some time for the result of the final Away game. Two excellent lady players, who have met each other on more than one occasion battled it out for their counties. Eventually Nicola Boulton beat Linda Williams 21-18. Final score Away –  Wales 191, Mid Cheshire 227.