The Forest League finals took place last night at Huntley and delivered a fantastic conclusion to another exciting season. Congratulations go to Yorkley Falcons, who successfully defended their title and were crowned Forest League champions for the second year running.
The finals featured four teams: Yorkley Falcons, Forest of Dean Squirrels, Longhope Badgers, and Westbury Wombles. Each team played three matches in a round-robin format, with the overall points total determining the champion.
Yorkley Falcons secured two strong victories, beating Longhope Badgers 13–3 and Westbury Wombles 13–1. However, they drew their second match against Forest of Dean Squirrels, in what was arguably the most intense contest of the evening. Going into the final end four shots behind, Yorkley levelled the game and came close to winning it outright but were ultimately held to a draw.
Forest of Dean Squirrels also had an impressive evening, securing two wins of their own – including a narrow final-end win against Longhope Badgers. This left both Yorkley and Forest of Dean tied at the top of the table, each with 10 points (two wins and a draw). Longhope finished with 4 points, and Westbury, who fought hard throughout, were unable to register a win on the night.
With the title undecided, league official Mike Edgington introduced a new sudden-death playoff format to determine the champion – one bowl per player, with only bowls touching the jack to count. It was a tense finish, but Yorkley Falcons’ Peter Taylor managed to land the only successful scoring bowl, securing a 1–0 win and clinching the title for his team.
While there may be debate around this tie-break format, it served to provide a dramatic and fitting conclusion to a season of high-quality play. Most importantly, the event was played in good spirits and with strong support from spectators and club members alike.
Congratulations once again to Yorkley Falcons, represented by:
- Peter Taylor
- Marlene Tippins
- Julian Kellett
- Mike Wall
We thank all players, captains, and supporters for another successful season. A sincere thank you to Huntley for supplying a very welcoming and well-prepared venue for the finals. Their support helped make the evening a smooth and enjoyable event for all involved.
We look forward to welcoming you all back for the next Forest League campaign.
