WCGBA - AGM 2008 - SENIOR TEAM MANAGERS REPORTANNUAL REPORT OF THE
SENIOR TEAM MANAGER FOR THE 82nd ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING HELD AT THE
LLANDUDNO JUNCTION SPORTS & SOCIAL CLUB LLANDUDNO
JUNCTION COUNTY OF CONWY ON THE 9th FEBRUARY 2008
Re- Wales v North Midlands 6th May 2007
Fantastic
home and away result in our first game of the season, Winning
by 50
chalks at Criccieth
and by a massive 63
in
the Midlands with a overall
of 113
given
us a 46 aggregate lead going
in to the next game
Two Welsh players receiving the man of
the match awards, John Bailey at Criccieth and Jason Jones ‘again’ at the away
venue at The Haunchwood venue in the North Midlands
For those who witnessed either venue,l feel, l have to say no more other than the squad
were buzzing and playing as a team of one unit, plus understanding my
selections etc
Re- Wales v
Staffordshire 3rd June 2007
Wales win at Betws-yn-Rhos venue by 62 chalks Wales loose by only 12 chalks at Cannock (overall win by 50 chalks.)
Very difficult with selections again for
this Staffordshire game with the home venue at Betws-yn-Rhos, but yet,
understandable with previous year’s performances! In which again meant, l
had to leave out winners from the first game, all players took my
decisions on board and are accepting my methods.
Fantastic home result, top commitment
from all and yet another fine win on the Betws-yn-Rhos venue with the man of the match award going to a
Staffordshire player in which I have to say, the best County to date to play
the surface so well! All though it was still the best result on the surface
Wales have gained in the last four years
Roger
Morgan receiving the Man of The Match award in the away game and from what l
gather, was a top performance along with many
others.
Tremendous support at both venues again
and now all were looking forward to the game v Greater Manchester on the 1st
July in which, ironically, drew there match with
North Midlands, over two legs 405 –405 in which put Wales on 4 points with a
large aggregate lead and Greater Manchester on 3 points, so their was all to
play for, a win or draw
Wales v Greater Manchester 1st
July 2007
Wales win at Trefnant venue by 9 chalks
Wales win away by 39 chalks at Royton (overall win by 48 chalks.)
Fantastic day for Welsh Bowls and
Officials on what was a fantastic way to end such a successful group stage. The
Welsh team now had the opportunity to revenge the Semi final defeat by W&W
in 1992. Having won 3 games in the group was an excellent confidence booster –
not going to comment, on any individual games as they were all excellent
as Wales, were now definitely playing, as a
squad !
Semi
Final
Wales v Warwick & Worcester
5th August 2007
Wales loose at Llandudno Oval by 9 chalks
Wales
loose away by 90 chalks at The
Valley
(overall
loose by 99 chalks.)
Disappointed to say the least but a very
positive season and we all have to hold our hands up, as we were well and truly
beaten by a very good W & W side ‘again’.
N.B. The stats came out by
our Patron, played 33, only won 4 !!!!
There manager at Llandudno was very
concerned before starting about this game, after our season, his away team
played exceptionally well and he was very surprised by there Home result, but
he did say ' we are a force to be aware of, especially when we have such a very
young and inexperienced squad ' and we are most definitely not ''The whipping
boys anymore''
Have to mention the up and coming youth
performances this season for Welsh bowls (Especially semi-final) i.e. Bryn
Hughes, Jason Jones, Paul Walley, Daniel Jones, just
to name a few Whatever was said on the side after and anyone that understands
our game, in my view? These were TOP performances from the youth, plenty
of banter from the side, they got on with it, grew up 5 years for me,
exceptional performances
To sum up, a very positive season and am
convinced it is by no means a 'one off' some exceptional performances this
season, squad and individual, with a very small percentage not accepting my
decisions, lessons learnt again, experienced gained etc but as W & W were
fortunate to have the full support of The Valley green for 14 days prior to the
semi-final game I feel, we will have to look that way for the home squad, even
if it is only for seven days prior, when we are, at that stage in 2008 !
Maybe a season to
soon for us, but overall, it's been a successful campaign for Wales and most
definitely something for Wales to build upon during 2008.
One of the big changes this year though
has to be a more 'united team'. We have changed players between areas and they
have slotted in, no issues, everyone is behind each and every player and there
is still a quality of players that are on the 'sidelines'.
Played 4. Won 3. Lost 1. Points for 1738. Points against
1626. = PLUS 112
PLEASE NOTE. The average
age of the Welsh squads, is less than 35.... ish!
On
the whole, very accepting reading on average and in preparation for improving
standards, competitiveness, Welsh selection etc and following the demise of the
Welsh Premier League, meetings have been held by administrators of the Premier
League to adopt an ‘Individual Competition’ in which players will be invited to
be members and has been affiliated to the WCGBA, this will be will be called
‘The Welsh Players Association ‘
The good news is, ‘the individual’
required it, as we have 40 paid up members for the Competition for the 2008
season
Full details are available on request
and all Welsh web sites with updates of all games through out the season on a
new secured web site
Finally, l would like to thank all
concerned for their support in the 2007 season i.e. The players for there
commitment, my Non playing Captains, Welsh officials, all members of the
Criccieth, Betws-yn-Rhos,
Trefnant and The Oval bowling Clubs for there green availability etc.
We have Lancashire in May, Derbyshire for the June fixture and Cumbria in July for our campaign for 2008 l am convinced we have the players to go all the way to success, maybe a grand slam all round!