Warwickshire opened their 2025 friendly season with a trip to Hay on Wye BC to take on Mid Wales BA, a close game saw the Bears just pipped as the Welshmen won 98-96.
David Burroughs (Wellesbourne), Martin Lithgo (Stratford), Paul E Smith (Royal Leamington Spa) and Past President David Wigman were five shots adrift after six ends but went on an unanswered scoring spree to reach fifteen ends fifteen shots ahead. Mid Wales added six shots over the last three ends with just one in response but couldn’t stop Wigman and co winning 23-13. Mick Sharpe (Rugby Railway), John Brindley (Wolvey), Steve Bird and Neil Crowthers (both Avenue Coventry) recovered from an early deficit to be all square after six ends but slipped seven shots down after twelve. A four, double and brace of singles took Crowthers’ rink ahead, Mid Wales levelled the game on the penultimate end but a treble saw the Bears over the line winning 17-14.
Pat Keogh (Wellesbourne), Match Secretary Mike Hall, David Vowels (Executive) and Bruce Truman (Rugby Railway) started slow but reached the eight end level. A couple of singles moved the Welsh side ahead but Truman and co replied two singles and a pair of doubles to move four clear with three ends to play. Mid Wales halved the deficit, the Bears replied with a single but a last end treble meant that Truman’s rink had to settle with a 15-15 draw. Wilf Pinfold, Martin Hockey (both Nuneaton), Ted Coupe (Executive) and Assistant Secretary Bob Allcock were five shots down after eight ends but recovered to lead by two after eleven ends. With three ends to go Allcock and co had increased their advantage to four but Mid Wales took seven shots to snatch the win 17-14.
Vice President Graham O’Donohue, Paul Smith (Royal Leamington Spa), Keith Hornsby (Three Spires) and David Blackmore (Stratford) took an early four to lead by three after six ends. Mid Wales scored two sets of five and two either side of a Warwickshire double to lead by nine after ten ends, a good run by Blackmore’s rink saw the deficit cut to two with three ends left. The sides exchanged singles before Mid Wales took a last end double to win 19-15. Michael Tansey (Three Spires), Mark Noble, Graham Farrell (both Thornfield) and Past President Geoff Moran started well but were all square after ten ends. A treble and four with just a single in response took the Welsh side six shots clear, Moran and co took a trio of singles to halve the deficit but Mid Wales closed out with a double and treble, winning 20-12.