Match Reports

12th Aug B&D : Away @ Willmott Park (Won 52-44) – 8pts

With our usual reporter assuming various duties in support of the Lloyd Trophy semi-finals being hosted by Redland Green and our editor travelling to Leamington to support Josh it is down to me to provide report. 

It was, as has often been the case in recent years when playing at Willmott Park, another game where things were in the balance going into the last couple of ends. 

On Larry’s rink with Will, Mike I and Jon, it was tight throughout and we went into the final end one up. With the opposition holding game, Larry played a great wood and ended up holding shot. The opposition skip promptly moved the jack with his last wood and we were two down. Larry then drew shot with last end of the game and we won 13-11. 

Onto Roger’s rink with Nick, Vince and Mark D. They got off to a flying start with excellent bowling by all and were 17-5 up after ten ends, with Redland twelve up on the game overall. To keep things interesting they dropped eight shots over the next two ends, knuckled down and picked up a two then dropped a four and were two up after fourteen ends with Redland only three up overall. Crucially they then picked up two singles and, with Larry’s rink finished, we went into the last end on both Roger and Jim’s rinks five up overall on the game. 

Onto Jim’s rink and another game that was tight throughout (on an end rink where neither side had anything good to say about the ditch hand) they went into the final end one down but were holding game when the opposition killed it. Willmott Park’s skip (once it had left rink) caught the jack on the half volley and kicked it back up the rink with words to the effect of ‘have another go lads’

At this stage Roger was on the mat about to bowl on his rink’s final end at the other end of the green (on the adjacent rink) when the jack from Jim’s rink came sailing towards him. Roger stayed still, watched the jack trundle past him six feet or so away on the diagonal, didn’t say a word, waited for the jack to pass and then bowled his wood. With more excellent bowling his rink picked up a four on their final end and ran out 25-17 winners. 

With the game now won it was all eyes on the replayed final end on Jim’s rink to see if we could get all ten points. The opposition had one right on the jack which couldn’t quite be removed and this rink finished 14-16.

Eight points is always a good haul against Willmott Park and once more, their hospitality should be noted. Best of luck to their guys who have made it to the national finals this year. 

Best of luck also to the bar staff at Wetherspoons in Leamington Spa, who may have to deal with Josh’s travelling support on multiple occasions over the next day or so.

UPDATE: Josh made it to last 16 but lost on last wood of last end – nevertheless a fantastic effort 👏

7th Aug B&D : Away @ Keynsham (Won 49-31) – 10pts

A nice win against Keynsham, which moves us to third in the table (again!) but the final score gives no indication of how close this game was all the way through 🤔

 At 15 ends we were only 5 in front overall, but on the 16th end a great wood from Jim to pull the jack for a 4 and Rogers rink getting a 3 the game had “flipped”, a win was in the bag and with Josh’s rink winning the last 3 ends 10 points were secured 👏

Jim’s rink with Will, Nigel and and Andy 21-11.

Josh’s rink with Mark, Mike and Jon 12-10.

Roger’s rink with Jake, Larry and Kev 16-10.

We move on to tonight’s game (Glos cup v Victory Park from Stroud) which will be a tough match, but we have enough good players to secure a win and home advantage should count 👏 💪 🏆

6th Aug B&D : Away @ Bristol B.C re-arranged (Lost 31-64) – 2pts

Missing a few of our key players we faced a bit of a struggle, but perhaps we struggled more than we should have done?

On probably one of the fastest greens we’ve played on this season it seemed to catch out a few of our players and we were always chasing the game.

On Mike’s rink with Mark P, Pete Jones (coming in as a last minute sub) and Jon, it didn’t start well  dropping a 6 on the first end and then we just couldn’t get into the game and and although winning the last 5 ended 8-30.

It’s easy to get totally frustrated in a situation like this but it was pleasing to see that our guys just got on with it, with no moaning and blaming anybody – it’s one to put behind you – we’ve all been there! 👍 👏

It was a similar story on Roger’s rink with ,Jake, Kev and Mark D going 1-9  down early on and whilst never conceding a big count just couldn’t match the standard of the opposition bowling and ended 8-20.

Attention turned to Jim’s rink with Will, Nigel and Andy, to see of we could save at least 2 points from the game. On this rink we were always in front and went into the last 3 ends 6 shots up. 🤞

Editor’s Note: As a bit of “carry-on” amusement/comedy there was a particularly long measure on one end and using Will’s measure Brian Purnell of Bristol BC was heard to say: “Well I have to say that Will has the longest one I have ever seen!” Oh yes, no doubt about that! 😂

Now I don’t know if this rink do it deliberately to “play to the crowd” to make it exciting, but dropping a 5 and 2 we went into the last end one down!! However with some excellent bowls and intelligent tactics we scored a 2 and finished 15-14 for a welcome 2 points 👏

One to put behind us as we move into the final part of the season  💪

31st July B&D : Home v Olveston Kestrels (Won 49-48) – 6 pts

With the strength in depth that Olveston have and having noted their win over Olveston Ospreys the previous week, we knew that this game was going to be a challenge, and so it proved. 💪

On Jim’s rink with Will, Nigel and Andy (me) after going 0-4 down after three ends we then proceeded to win 12 of the following 14 ends running out 25-8 winners. It was a case of sending the jack full length and a couple of the Olveston players struggled with this length but they took it in good grace. I did say at one stage that if it was a Saturday afternoon friendly we wouldn’t be sending such long jacks, but ultimately this is a competition and had to be done. 🤔

Meanwhile on Roger’s rink with Larry, Keith and Jake the Olveston crew took control early and at twelve ends were 15-8 up. At this stage there may be a inclination to accept defeat but the fighting spirit at Redland is strong and only giving up 5 shots on the remaining 5 ends and picking up a 2 meant that although this rink ran out 10-20 down they had given us a chance of the overall win. 🤞

So attention now turned to Josh’s rink with Mark P, Mike I and Jon. Now at 13 ends they were 13 all, but unfortunately dropping two 3’s and a single meant they went into the last end 13-20 down; but well aware that overall the scores were tied. Some tense bowling followed (I wish I could give a better description but I had gone into the bar to get a drink for myself and my opposite number to avoid the rush later and had completely forgotten that I would be writing this report as Kevin was in the NE team). Anyway I came out to find that Josh was holding shot and asking if he should perhaps kill it??? (His little joke). So his rink ran out 14-20 but we had secured the overall 6 points 👏

Tonight home to Avonvale in the County Cup, so good luck to all in that (unfortunately I cannot play but will try and come up and support for a short while) and two League games next week against Bristol (rearranged) and Keynsham away.

Finally I would like to wish the very best to “Leamington” Lambourne from Olveston who this year has qualified in no less than three different competitions at Leamington having never played there before. All I can say Alan is enjoy every moment, win or lose 🏆