In at the Deep End

Post date: Nov 6, 2016 11:05:20 PM

It was the newcomers that shone through in last Saturday's friendly against the Deepings Bowls Association. Reg and Jill Goode and Andrew Speechley, who turned out for us for the first time, and teamed up with the experienced Rosemary Roberts. Their winning score of 29-13 claimed our best rink prize. Also, not only were the Goode's applauded for their winning performance there was also more praise for Jill who opted to play for us on her birthday and forfeit a chance to be wined and dined at the London Hilton Hotel . Reg however, was not too upset, smiling at the thought that his bank balance was still reasonably intact.

We did manage one other winning rink which also included two relative newcomers Adrian and Judith Childs alongside the very promising Janette Bourne and that 'wily older veteran' Roger Graham. And what a game they had on rink four. After four ends they were 11-0 down, but with perserverance and exuberance they fought back to lead by 14-13 after the thirteenth end. With only one of the twenty one ends left to play they were 19-20 down. Holding two, Roger bowled his last wood. It came to rest and Jeanette jumped three feet in the air to celebrate their 21-20 win.

Unfortunately there was no such joy on the other four rinks, all of them losing and we finished up overall 102-136 down.

It must be mentioned that the opposition could only raise twenty two players so Maggie Holden and our captain Denis Stapleton volunteered, somewhat reluctantly, to play for them. A bit embarrassing for the latter, it was the best he can remember playing for a long time helping the Deepingers to a 26-14 win on rink two. Who knows what strange encounters await us at our next weekend friendly, this time at Melton. Watch this space.

Denis Stapleton