Facing a challenging Inter-County Pool fixture against a strong Cheshire side, the Cumbria Ladies showed real determination and togetherness throughout.
They were delighted to field a full squad of 11, welcoming Naomi Armstrong to her first county appearance and celebrating the return of Sarah Armstrong.
There were some excellent individual frames, though the final score didn’t fall Cumbria’s way, finishing with 10 frames won.
A special mention goes to Naomi Armstrong, who showed real composure and integrity when confidently calling a foul under pressure — outstanding professionalism on debut.
Strong performances came from: Linda Wade – 2/4; Corina Nicholson – 2/4; Lenni Brunclicova – 2/4; Sally Holden – 2/4. Player of the match: Lenni, for holding her nerve superbly in the final frame.
It proved to be a fantastic day for the Cumbria Senior team who delivered a strong and composed performance to secure a 29–15 victory.
After a difficult start, losing the first four frames, the team rallied brilliantly to take the opening set 6–5.
Momentum continued with a 7–4 win in the second set, another 7–4 in the third, and an outstanding 9–2 finish to close out the match.
Notable performances: Paul Kipling – Full house; Rob Shepherd – Full house; Jack Potts – 3 wins; John Burns – 3 wins; Shaun Ayre – 3 wins and Phil Leary – 3 wins.
A special nod to John Howarth, who played superbly despite some cruel rolls — inches away from two 8‑ball finishes.
The seniors showed excellent team spirit and were rewarded with a well‑deserved win.
A strong and disciplined performance from the Cumbria A Team, secured a 24–20 victory.
Cumbria led 6–5 and 13–9 at the halfway point, setting a solid platform. The third quarter was outstanding, taking it 8–3 to move into a commanding 21–12 lead.
Cheshire fought back late on, but a composed clearance from Garry Southern steadied the ship, followed by another key frame from John Howarth to seal the win.
Every player contributed with at least one frame to produce a great team effort.
Standout performers with 3/3 were Garry Southern, Aaron Dixon, John Howarth,Tom Wren Jr – Man of the Match.
That was a superb step up from Tom Wren Jr, who delivered a brilliant performance and was unlucky not to secure a full house.
There was also praise for Martin Bell and Craig Ungless for stepping up and contributing strongly.
In the B team clash Cumbria were beaten 28-16 by Cheshire in what was a tough match against a side whose main tactic was to unsettle the opposition.
After a difficult start, the team regrouped well and produced a much-improved second half.
Cumbria fully expect to turn this result around in the return fixture.
There were solid performances from: Steve Hoggarth, Benjamin Scott, Rob Shepherd, Dave Sanderson who all finished with 2/2 in a difficult match so all told it was an excellent effort.
Man of the Match: Ewan Mitchinson – three out of four, playing with his trademark fluid, attacking style and took the game to Cheshire throughout. A fully deserved award.
