WARRINGTON Borough bowls team are preparing for life in the Federation Crown Green Bowls League Division One.

The team had an excellent season in 2006 and gained promotion from Division Two.

They exceeded expectations' in gaining promotion, and only by a stroke of ill-fortune did they miss out on winning the Division Two title outright.

Considering that they only moved up to Division Two by default, when another team dropped out, they equipped ourselves remarkably well.

Fist stop was a great win over Middleton, who had beaten them comfortably in 2005.

A nice shower midday took the sting out of a potentially tough green in Middleton and a quality performance by the home squad at Winwick saw them take the overall aggregate and win 18-14.

Next up was a trip to Leeds for the away squad. A tough green at Crossgates on a hot day was a testing affair.

A gutsy performance kept the aggregate down and once again the home squad pulled out all the stops at Woolston and ensured they took the overall aggregate to win 18-14.

Nuneaton was a big game against former Division One winners who were unlucky to be relegated and who posed a big threat.

As expected the away green was difficult' and only Mike Burrows came out with a win, but a magnificent performance by the home squad at Pierpoints saw them post a full house of 12 winning cards, and claim another 18-14 victory.

The final game was a tough September fixture against Swadlincote with an under-strength squad.

The Derbyshire green was tough and the visitors handled Alford Hall surprisingly well for them to nick' the overall score-count in a tight contest and collect the total aggregate points and win 18-14.

In the final analysis, it didn't matter. Swadlincote had put out a weak team against Leeds and conceded 25 points.

Middleton did the same in the last match, and once more Leeds took 25 points and beat Warrington to the title.

So now it is bring on Calderdale, Doncaster, South Derbyshire and Leeds in the hunt for further success in 2007.

Fixtures: May 20, Leeds, home venue at Orford War Memorial; June 17, Doncaster, home venue Woolston. July 15, Calderdale, home venue Winwick; August 19, South Derbyshire, home venue Pierpoints.

* The Merit was a good contest at Winwick last year and all players are requested to play in the 2007 Merit to be held at Orford War Memorial on April 22, 10am start, no practice.

There will be prize money for the last four, plus a paid entry into the Federation National Merit competition (Chris Ashton, 2005 Warrington Merit winner, was runner up in the National Merit).

Contact Chris Welsby on 07957 838176 or Mark Tinning on 07944 893280 to book in.