After an initial chill wind, the Sun shone through, to give the many supporters around the green, a very pleasant afternoon to watch some outstanding bowling, on what was a very tricky green to play on.

Although a tad slower than it had been a few days earlier, the green had still been beautifully presented by the Benllech Greenkeeper, who should be commended for the preparation work he had done. As should also, Benllech Bowling Club members, Gwyn Owen, Rob / Lynne Renard, for the hard work they did serving the refreshments throughout the afternoon.

After replacing Wales’ ever present programme seller, Dusia Price, on the Programme selling duties, I was asked to do the welcoming and announcing duties, when Senior Welsh Governance Board Committee Members, Peter Higham and Simon Walker, had to take on the Assistant Referee’s duties, with Match Referee D.T.Evans.

A special mention should also be made of the Welsh CGBA Deputy President, Mrs Pauline Lindley, who not only, single handedly, took on the Raffle Ticket selling duties, but also ensured that everything ran smoothly and efficiently throughout the afternoon

It was lovely to see so many old bowling friends around the green, four of which deserve a special mention from myself, John Crowther – ex CEO of the British CGBA – John Percy – The Welsh Patron, Betty Phillips (the three times Ex Welsh Ladies Merit Winner) and Mrs Barbara Ward, the widow of the man who was known for decades as “Mr Benllech Bowling Club” – Mike Ward.

I have attached the individual performances and results, but suffice to say, after the first 8 blocks home and away there was little to split the teams. At Home Wales being + 30 and Away Merseyside being + 29.

But some brilliant bowling by the last four Merseyside blocks, both Home and Away, saw them winning the overall match by 55 points, on the combined aggregate.

So congratulations to Mike Whalley and his team, for the contribution they made, at Benllech, to the overall Merseyside win.

But also well done to the Welsh players, who played at Benllech, both the winners and the losers, who even in defeat, came in with commendable scores. And of course also to the reserves who turned up today – Stuart Thomas – Danny Prosser and Ivor Jones.

After the match, the officials, referee’s, players and supporters alike, moved onto the very spacious Function Room, at the Breeze Hill Hotel, in Benllech, to enjoy a very ample Buffet, a few drinks and to reminisce about the matches played.

Merseyside Team Manager Mike Whalley, with a part Welsh speach, gave their Player of the Match Award to Matty Gartside for his performance against Geraint Booth. With Welsh Team Manager, Graham Bennett, giving their Player of the Match Award to John Short, for his performance against Matty Gilmore.

Sadly, not the combined aggregate win I was hoping for at Benllech, but hopefully Team Manager Joey Williams will have seen enough in the performance of both the green and the players, to bring another match to Benllech in 2024. As Mark Ball said after the game, with a little tweaking of the players selected and more practice time put in, the Benllech Bowling Club, could become a regular green for Wales matches to be played on for some years to come.