Welsh visitors are on the back foot as Walton opens up in devastating fashion

Players from Royal Leamington Spa and Blaina await the final bowls of the end during their friendly encounter at Victoria Park. MHLC 31-05-13 Bowls at Victoria Jun15

Walton’s rink of Malcolm Wickens, Reg Fox and Ron Deavall raced into a commanding 21-3 lead to help Spa open up a 24-point cushion just short of the half-way stage.

And, despite their opponents fighting back to eventually lose out 27-17, further rink wins for Dick Allibon (20-14), Ivor Harris (21-14) and Mike Wilkes (24-16) ensured Leamington were always in command.

The following day, Spa claimed a 19-shot victory over visitors Whitnash after winning three of the six rinks and drawing another.

Spa’s highest winning rink was a 26-8 for Alan Taylor, Rex Fox, Trevor Briggs and skip Dick Williams.

Bill Ekins (21-8) and Andrew Woodward (21-13) also recorded victories for Leamington, with Clive Haywood (25-11) and Graham Cluff (27-11) replying for Whitnash.

Dave Gardener’s clash with Les Clarkson finished 17-17.

Home Guard came away from their tour of Kent empty-handed after losing all four games.

J Tighe claimed their only rink win in the 120-99 defeat at Folkestone, but there was more to celebrate at Gateway, with L Woodfield (18-15) and M Bailey (29-13) claiming victories in a 139-95 loss.

Tour organiser Clive Haywood claimed a 23-18 success ina hard-fought 122-101 loss at Aylesham & Social Welfare and any hopes of a positive end to the tour were dashed when poor weather forced their final match under cover against a Bedford Borough side of predominantly indoor bowlers.

A 170-73 defeat duly followed, with Haywood’s rink preventing the whitewash by claiming a 17-17 draw.

Warwick Boat Club Ladies’ friendly with St Barbara’s was curtailed after 12 ends due to heavy rain with Boat Club leading 29-26.

Boat Club’s men, meanwhile, suffered a five-shot defeat at home to Fenny Compton.