Bristol Ladies League :Match report 22nd April 2026 ALL 8 points
Our first game back in division 1, away, against Henleaze A team.
Gill with Sue, Karen and Annie won the first two ends, but dropped one on the third , Henleaze didn’t get the mat back until the 10th end , by which time Redland were comfortably ahead 15-1. Henleaze won a few more ends, but Redland coasted in to win 24-7
Wendy with Liz, Carol and Nina took a few ends to settle in , only picking up ones and twos , but winning 11 of the 17 ends won 17-8, A lucky win for us, apparently.
Next week at home to Bradley Stoke who had their rest week this week .
Bristol Ladies League :Match report 29th April 2026 6 points
Great start to the season last week , at the top of division one ( jointly with Olveston A)
This week Gill with Sue, Colette and Annie started well and were ahead until they dropped a 4 on the 9th end, drew level on the 10th end , but unfortunately it slipped away from them and finished 12-15
Wendy with Liz, Carol and Nina started well, only picking up ones and twos , but winning 14 of the 17 ends won 20-3.
Next week at home to Canford
Match Reports: B&D League 1: 30th April: Away Bath Weston.
WON: 47.25 -37: 8 Points
As the song goes, 🎶 Here we are again, happy as can be, all good friends and jolly good company! 🎶 (Although perhaps it will only be a certain generation that remember that particular song?)
Anyway on a lovely spring evening the first League game of the season for the Redland A Team was at Bath Weston so a long trek to a historically “tricky” opponent, especially on their home green.
It was a new look A Team for this season (not only because of the new kit) and I can’t write this report without acknowledging players who are no longer in the A Team such as Kevin French, Trevor Knowles and Mike Ingham. Kevin and Trevor in particular have been stalwarts of the A Team for many years and any successes that we have had in the past have, in no small part, been down to their inclusion and efforts and I salute them. (And on a personal note I will in particular miss Kevin’s past penmanship of reports for the A Team with myself simply acting as editor).
Having players no longer included means that we welcomed Jake, Vince, Bob and Nick to the A Team and I hope that they secure their places on a long term basis 👍👏
Now unfortunately on the evening when Nick picked Will up to go to the game he looked very unwell and the decision was made to take him back to the Club. For any new members the rules state that you can play a league game one short on a rink as the first and second players on a short rink are allowed to bowl three bowls and the skip, as usual, bowls two bowls. There is however, at the end of the game, a 25% deduction from the score of the side with only three players. In addition you can only do this on a maximum of two rinks so no team can compete with less than ten players.
We wish Will a speedy recovery.
So on to the game:
On RKJ’s rink with Bob, Nick and Larry, after 6 ends we were winning 6-2 but then picking up a 5 on the 7th end brought Bath Weston back into contention. Some good steady bowling then saw Redland win the next five ends to take a 14-7 lead and we eventually ran out the 19-11 winners. 👏
on Josh’s rink with Jake, Vince and Mark Powell a slow start meant that after four ends we were 0-7 down. Things then turned around and winning 11 of the remaining 13 ends we ran out convincing 17-9 winners. 👏
Finally on the “short” rink with Jim, Andy and Nigel we started off poorly going down 0-6 after three ends. However a great bowl from Jim meant that on the ninth end we picked up a 5 and we were back in it at 10-10 with all to play for. At twelve ends we took a 14-11 lead (10.5-11 with the 25% deduction). Unfortunately we couldn’t get over the finishing line and ran out 15-17. 🙁. (I blame myself here as with three bowls I really should have found a much better line and length on a consistent basis, but then I guess you can’t bowl well all the time – and before anyone asks if I bowl well any of the time it does still happen occasionally but age is certainly catching up with me 😆).
All in all I am sure the League Captains / Selectors will agree that if you had offered us 8 points at the beginning of the game we would have been delighted and this marks an excellent start to our 2026 league campaign.
The A Team have a free week next week as our opponents, Bristol, have Somerset commitments and the game will be rearranged for later in the season. If A team players aren’t playing next Thursday perhaps they would like to support the NE or B teams? NE are away to Kingswood & Hanham and the B Team are home to Knowle 3rd team. (And if you want to support the ladies they are home to Canford on Wednesday 6th at 6pm.)
Match Reports: B&D League 4: 30th April: Away Severn Vale B.
Won 44-42 6-4
Report from Calvin:
A good start to the season – our first time playing B&D Division 4.
Barry G’s rink with Marek, Colin and Derek were always ahead, finishing very strong, winning the last 5 ends to win 16-8.
(Marek playing a good game at lead).
Calvin’s rink with Steve, Keith Williams and Paul were always behind but never far away, running out 12-16.
Karen’s rink with new member Annie Sykes, George and Bruce were behind 3-12 after 7 ends then came back strongly to go ahead, but sadly dropping a 3 on last end lost 16-18.
A “Big Thankyou” to all the team – marvellous effort 👏
Match Reports: Bowls England Two Rink “B” Team: 4th May: Home Bradley Stoke.
WON 49-18
On a sunny Spring Bank Holiday evening and with the Aussie Pairs taking place on other rinks there was a good “vibe” about the Club last night.
Bradley Stoke are a Club with some very good players but I hope they will not mind if I say that they are perhaps lacking a little in depth and this was reflected in the final score. (Plus of course we had home advantage).
On “Superstar” Josh’s rink with Nick, Larry and Captain Calvin we won the first five ends taking a 6-0 lead. Bradley Stoke then rallied, pulling back to 7-6 at nine ends. Picking up 3’s on end thirteen and seventeen helped our cause and we finally ran out 17-12 winners. 👏
As with the League however the two rink isn’t a case of individual rinks but the overall score and if one rink can dominate it helps the whole team.
This was the case for Redland as Jim with Andy, Nigel and Keith took a 5 on the first end and then really dominated the game winning ends eight to sixteen and running out 32-6 winners.
It was a good performance by all players (even me when Jim decided to go for a shorter jack!) but I think special mention should go to Keith as on a couple of occasions Jim commented that it was like having Steve Ford back on the team! 😃. For those who may not know Steve was a member a few years ago and had a habit of occasionally being a little “heavy” into the head when a draw or yard on bowl was requested….. but as Keith pointed out, Steve left us and went on to be a National Semi Finalist, so not a bad player to be compared to? 😁
I would also like to make special mention of the opposing lead, John Gallagher who is playing only his second season and had a really terrific game 👏
We have historically had a good record in two rink competitions and the next opponents for the “B” team will be away to Kingswood & Hanham C or Avonvale B.
Finally thank you to Wendy, Dave and Bob “Cheddars” Stone for the support on the evening which is always greatly appreciated 👍
Bristol Ladies League :Match report 6th May 2026 6 points
Still at the top of division 1,
Gill with Sue, Karen and Annie, just couldn’t get it until the 7th end picking up a 5 put them right back in it at 6 all, but Canford kept the pressure on and finished 22-8 .
Wendy with Liz, Colette and Nina were in control of the game (and the jack) from the get go, winning 13 of the 17 ends won 28-5.
Thankyou to those who came to support /spectate Jim , Derek, Ian, Carol Phil Mike W and Mike R.
Next week away against Olveston A at Olveston , who are only 4 points behind us.
NE Match report 7th May 2026 week 2
Rick with Nick Pete and Alan: stormed away and commanded the game from the get go, winning 13 of the ends and finishing 22-8.
Gill with Sue Dave and Phil: looked to be an easy win leading all the way picking up a 5 on the 10th end giving them a comfortable lead 12-5 . Kingswood and Hanham fought back , going in to the last end just two shots behind us ( 15-13) . They picked up a two resulting in a draw 15-15.
Vince with Jake Wendy and David: were nip and tuck all the way trading mostly single shots , going into the last end 13 all. Despite Kingswood’s best efforts “David’s dapper” stayed on the jack resulting in a 14-13 win.
9 points to Redland who are 3rd on the table this week , next week at home to Avonvale Blues .
Match Reports: B&D League 4: 7th May: Home Knowle C.
WON 52-34: 8 Points
Report from Calvin: ✍️
Another good start with a 8-2 win.
Calvin’s rink with Dave E, Keith W and Mike H, who had an excellent game at lead, were in complete control of the game winning 26-4 (with no help from their skip!) 😳 👏
Barry’s rink with Kev, Derek and Marek were always in control and finished very strongly, winning 20-12. 👍
Karen’s rink with Colette, Angela and Bruce, started well, winning the first five ends but then Knowle won an end and brought the mat up and Redland struggled on the short length running out 6-18.
Big thanks to all the supporters who cheered us on, on a very damp evening. 😃
Also a big thank you to Mike R who managed the bar. Much appreciated 🍻🍷
Match report Ladies League : 13th May 2026 away @ Olveston
25-30 2 points
Our luck has run out ! We won’t know ‘til the results are all in where we are on the table, but there is a chance we will stay on top.
Gill with Sue, Karen and Annie won the first end picked up a two on the 3rd end to draw level , another two on the 4th put them ahead where they stayed finishing 15-8.
Wendy with Liz, Carol and Nina just couldn’t settle, Olveston commanded the game throughout and we finished 10-22.
Match Reports: B&D League 1: 14th May: Away Olveston Ospreys
WON 47-45: 8 Points
When playing any League game it is always important to understand that you are part of a team. That means not just the rink that you are playing on but across all three rinks and that is what Redland did last night (although, to be fair, Olveston seemed to be playing to the same play book).
On Jim’s rink with Andy, Nigel and Keith C, a good start picking up a 4 on the first end was followed with some very good consistent play from Redland with further 4’s on ends eight and fifteen, This rink ran out 24-8 winners.
Unfortunately on Larry’s rink with Charlie, Rick, playing I believe his first, first team game and Mark P, it was the opposite story. After losing the opening end, Olveston dominated the rest of the game with 3’s on ends two, four, six, eight, eleven and fifteen. The important thing however was that Redland never lost hope on the game overall and kept plugging away so when this team lost 8-24 the overall scores were tied and all eyes turned to the final rink.
On RKJ’s rink with Phil, Pete J, playing his first, first team game this season and Vince they went 0-8 down after four ends. Picking up a 3 on end six however steadied the ship and by end nine the score was 7-8. It was then “nip and tuck” up until end fifteen with the score 12-13. At this stage the other rinks had finished and therefore Redland were trailing by one shot overall, not just on this rink.
On the sixteenth end Vince bowled a great bowl to secure shot and then with his last bowl (and dare I say it a little luck, but in bowls sometimes you make your own luck), Roger managed to sneak through the head with a small wick to secure the second shot and go into the last end with Redland now leading on the rink and overall by one shot.
Playing the last end Phil started well securing the shot but Olveston played some great bowls so that when Roger went to deliver his bowls Redland were 2 down. With everyone watching from around the green and the tension palpable Roger delivered his first bowl and with a number of short bowls in the way again managed, with a wick, to somehow find a way through to secure the shot! The Olveston skip then had an opportunity to promote one of the short bowls but failed on his first attempt.
Roger then, in consultation with Vince, very sensibly stayed well away from the head covering behind with his second bowl so the whole match came down to the very last bowl. (Amazing to think that after 407 bowls this was the case, but in bowls it happens much more often than you might imagine).
Despite playing a good bowl into the head luck was not on Olveston’s side and Redland had secured the rink and the the overall match with 8 points in the bag – a great result and many congratulations to the whole squad. 👏 🥳
Next week is another tough challenge at home to GBBs. 👍
Match Reports: B&D League 4: 14th May: Away Greenbank
Lost: 36-53: 4 Points
Report from Calvin: ✍️
Our winning start came to an end on a very wet evening.
Barry’s rink Richard, Kev and Marek continued their winning ways winning last 4 ends to win 18-15.
Special thanks to Richard who played his first game and excellent game it was! (Barry demanding a large transfer to keep him). 😁
Calvin’s rink Mike, Keith and Paul, all played well against a strong team, especially their skip who saved so many ends. Winning by 1 shot 12-11
Karen’s rink, Collette, Maggie and Bruce struggled in wet conditions to start with, but did improve as the game went on. Losing 6-27.
CAPTAINS COCK- UP!
The Greenbank captain did not have any idea of sending in results so as I do I offered to put them in giving us the win 6-4, hopefully I have corrected it…….
Editors Note: An example of the “dark arts” being employed in bowls? 😂
NE Match report 14th May 2026 home v Avonvale Blues
8 points 42-22
Despite the weather forecast we started at 6 in glorious sunshine , however the heavens opened half way through, the captains agreed that we should stop as 30 ends had been completed.
Gill with Liz, Colin and Mike W were in the lead up to the 6th end but dropping a couple of fours put them behind , and they ran out after 12 ends 10-15.
Ian with Sue, Bob and David only let Avonvale win one end , finishing 19-3 after 9 ends, almost a hot shot picking up 7 on the 6th end .
Wendy with Dave E, Derek and Nina , let Avonvale win just two ends finishing 13-4 after 10 ends.