Team Managers Update

I hope your season’s going well, it’s has been a mixed start to the season so far. Our main problem this season is availability, but it has given me a chance to try some new players in the teams, which helps build a stronger team for the future.

I find it very disappointing when a team is playing a match & spectators are sitting on the bank condemning the team that’s playing. If I hear you condemning a team while they are play & they can hear you I will challenge your timing & criticism of any of the team. I have said before I want to build a strong team to win national titles.

WESSEX
Our first game was against Daventry & we had 9 players not available. We lost on 3 rinks & won on the other, & the overall shots carried us through to win the match 92 shots to 90 (10 – 6 on points). Not the best result but a wins a win. In our next game we played the Nomads with 5 players not available & with a little bit of moving around we had a stronger team. We won on all 4 rinks (16 – 0 on points) the overall score didn’t reflect the game. It was a hard fought game & well played to all the players. We currently sit at the top of the Wessex league but Church Gresley are only 4 shots behind us so we need to keep on winning all our games. We now play Solihull this Sunday & we need to play for full points, so keep up the good bowls & the results will continue.

TOP CLUB
Again we played the first round of the Top Club against Welford & again we lost. We came close in the pairs in the triples losing by 1 shot & we drew one of the 2 wood games.

EGHAM TROPHY
We had a great run in the Egham last season, unfortunately we lost in the first round game against Bromsgrove.

OVER 60s
What a nail biter to start with, this was a great game to watch & a fantastic extra end. I will cut a long story short, at 18 ends over the 2 rinks we were 4 shots behind. Our away team had finished they had won 21 - 20 but the home team had 2 ends to play & 4 shots behind. With a single on the 20th & a 2 on the 21st end the home team had lost 19 – 20 so 40 all. The extra end should have been played at Bromsgrove but one of their player’s had gone home, so we played the extra end at home. We were holding the shot when the front end had finished and their 3 with his first bowl opened the head up and pushed the jack out to the string. Brian Lever drew shot 1 yard behind the jack, their 3 drew second wood a foot behind Brian’s. Dave Sands drew shot bowl 18inches past the jack the winner I thought. Their skip drew a great shot bowl within 8inches of the jack. I must admit I thought this was the game winner but Dave pull a fantastic bowl out & drew a perfect bowl 2 inches behind the jack. Their skip played a weighted bowl touched Dave’s bowl and rolled it over but not enough to take shot. Well done all of you great game to watch.

WARWICK TROPHY
The first game in the Warwick trophy is getting closer & I’m really looking forward to this competition. We have won it in the past & I’m sure we can win it again. This should be a great competition for our up & coming bowlers to make the next step in competitive bowls. This is going to be very hard to pick as there is a lot of you I want to try out this season. If you read the rules this team is for up & coming bowlers, I we try & mix the team the best I can. This will be a hard league to win, as long as all the teams put out there up & coming bowlers we should have a great chance of winning.

DENNY CUP
Our first round game was against Coventry we usually have a tough game & we had 7 players not available. We had our first win in the Denny cup for the past couple of years winning well 87 to 65 shot. We all know it’s always harder to win the Denny cup as your only playing winners. We have a tough draw but we have a strong team if everyone is available.

In the second round we played Barwell and we knew this was going to be a tough game as they are a very strong team. All 4 rinks played well and we won on 3 rinks and lost on 1, the score was 78 to 64 this was a great win. We now play Leicester which we played last year & we beat them by 2 shots. I believe the team is stronger and the balance of each rink is very good. Every time I pick the team I believe each rink is good enough to win their game. When we play Leicester we need to come out of the blocks running with no slip ups. We had some great games last season in the Denny plate but we need to step it up if we want a good run in the Denny cup.

UNDER 25’s
The under 25’s first round game was against the team that knocked us out last season Erewash. The team has changed this year due to 2 players being too old, as we have some great juniors coming up we still have a great chance of winning this year. When we played Erewash we played very well on both rinks & both rinks won. We play South Shields in the next round at Selby indoor bowls club, we will be getting a mini bus as long as we can fill it. If you would like to come & watch the under 25’s let me know. At the moment the game will be on December 19th 12pm start. I believe we can win this title & it’s long overdue. This is Liam’s last chance as he’s too old next year so please call him Granddad.    

Darren Ward
​Team Manager