TEMESTERS tasted victory in the Ludlow & District Bowls League Cup on finals day at Cleobury Mortimer.

With handicaps based on the league meetings between the teams, Temesters were boosted by only having to finish within 46 points of a depleted Craven Arms side in the first semi-final.

Single-figure wins for Pat Collier, Derek Mantle and Viv Cooper put them in the driving seat and although Phil Baker carded a fine 21-5 at the back for Craven Arms, it was too little too late as Temesters won by 26.

Ludlow Castle would require a 64-shot victory to progress past Corve but came out flying with captain Carl Bowen in ruthless mood, winning 21-1.

There were also close victories for Matt Lane and Graham Pritchard with Corve's only success coming from the consistent Steve Dovey, who won 21-18.

Overall, Ludlow Castle dominated the game from start to finish and won comfortably by 81 shots.

Castle would again have their work cut out in the final, needing to beat Temesters by 78 or more to take the crown but they started well.

Graham Lane (21-3) and Richard Lane (21-4) clawed back a good chunk of the handicap but Temesters were not about to roll over and let their rivals escape with the silverware, battling back in the middle through Derek Mantle and Viv Cooper.

Temesters needed a big-game player and Doog Williams was that man. He found himself 19-12 down but ground out a vital 21-19 victory.

That set up the last two games nicely with Graham Pritchard's 21-7 win for Ludlow Castle gave them a chance but Eric Williams scored the shots his team required when losing 21-12 for Temesters.

Results

Semi-final one: Craven Arms (-46) 153 Temesters 179. Ben James 21 Carl Davies 18, Roydon James 7 Pat Collier 21, Terry Lucas 21 Jan Roberts 17, Eileen Huffer 12 Tommy McCourt 21, Shirley James 6 Derek Mantle 21, Neville Huffer 9 Viv Cooper 21, Tony Cowdale 20 John Vaughan 21, Jesse James 15 Doog Williams 21, Nathan Baker 21 Mary Jones 13, Phil Baker 21 Eric Williams 5.

Semi-final two: Ludlow Castle (-64) 207 Corve 126. Richard Lane 21 Mike Weston 19, Colin Lane 21 Graham Prince 17, Graham Lane 21 Harry Parsonage 11, Carl Bowen 21 Derek Mulliner 1, Matt Lane 21 Paul Byard 7, Dave Wilding 21 Sue Weston 18, Steve Griffiths 21 Barbara Mulliner 11, Simon Lane 21 Camilla Parsonage 15, Mal Griffiths 18 Steve Dovey 21, Graham Pritchard 21 Graham Haddon 6.

Final: Temesters 122 Ludlow Castle (-78) 194. Carl Davies 10 Carl Bowen 21, Pat Collier 11 Colin Lane 21, Jan Roberts 3 Graham Lane 21, Tommy McCourt 4 Richard Lane 21, Derek Mantle 21 Simon Lane 14, Viv Cooper 21 Dave Wilding 14, John Vaughan 12 Matt Lane 21, Doog Williams 21 Steve Griffiths 19, Mary Jones 7 Graham Pritchard 21, Eric Williams 12 Mal Griffiths 21.