Bowls round-up: Desborough BC beat Cippenham BC by 10 shots in entralling contest at Green Lane

Desborough’s Eric Sharp

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Desborough BC

Desborough beat Cippenham 128-118 in an enthralling contest at Green Lane last week, despite the two sides sharing the rinks. 

Michael White’s crew won by five shots but their efforts were eclipsed by Eric Sharp’s foursome, who won by 11 shots. However, Val Wyatt, Helen Copeland, Barry Gill and Paul Winstanley took top rink honours with a 16 shot victory.

Desborough’s A team were promoted back to Division 1 with a swagger last week, defeating Maidenhead Town B 14-0, with Barry Gill, Derry Locke, Eric Sharp and Dave Wagner winning their rink 34-12.

The Bluebells were also in good form in the TVL as they beat leaders Maiden Erlegh 10-0, while in the Royal Shield Desborough’s Ladies suffered a disappointing 8-2 defeat to Maidenhead Town, despite the efforts of Gina Braddock, Mary Martin and Doreen Lovering who won 25-8.

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Twyford BC

Twyford’s Ladies managed to squeeze in a game against Suttons this week, losing 31-26, in a week that saw several matches lost to the weather.

Twyford won back the Taker Cup from Hurst for the first time in 10 seasons, thanks to an excellent 26-8 rink win skipped by Barry Carter.

The cup was presented to Twyford in 1940 and first played for in 1951.

For the past nine seasons Hurst have retained the cup but hosts Twyford pulled out all the stops on Saturday.

Brian Stain’s rink looked to be on their way to victory, leading by one shot going into the last end, but Hurst picked up five shots to steal away the win (22-18). The rink played by Carter made all the difference as Twyford came home to win by just six shots.

Nick Orde’s team also edged out their rivals by just a shot (17-16).

Afterwards Carter, in his role as club president, accepted the cup on behalf of the club.

Rink scores: M West, T Scherer, G Wheeler, B Carter 26-8; D Luscombe, M Wheeler, P Gaskell, N Orde 17-6; A Wrigley, D Anderson, R Orde, B Stain 18-22; M Meeks, T Turner, P Hynes, J Walker 13-22.

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Maidenhead Thicket BC

A surprising upturn in form has seen Maidenhead Thicket A team retain its Division 1 status for next season.

The A team have been nestled at the bottom of Division 1 for much of the campaign and many had resigned themselves to their return to Division 2.

However, this week they produced  two visit victories over both Windsor and Eton’s A and B teams. That saw the team rise to sixth in the table, one point above Sunningdale A.

The A team then clicked away to Wraysbury – who’d won all bar one of their home matches this season – winning 8-2.

This guaranteed Thicket A it’s place in Division 1 for next season.

Rink skips and scores (Thicket first): C Goodchild 9, D Spence 21; P Worthy 13, L Carlton 9; M Forward 22, A Doughton 12.

The Presidents and Captain’s Day match at the Thicket on Saturday resulted in an 85-70 shot win for the captain’s team.

Top rink on the day went to Pam Pulsford, Keith Robinson and Bill Hobbs who beat Joan Summers, Ivy Hobbs and John Burton 25-5. Captain Steve Isaac presented them with the prize.

President Sheila Gwilliam had to present herself with the top rink prize, after she and Kevin Scrace won their pairs game against captain’s duo Christine Whittaker and Kim Barao (20-11).

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Maidenhead Town BC

Maidenhead Town B finished off their Kennet League campaign with a disappointing loss to Desborough, losing on all four rinks (102-48).

The closest they came to a rink win was that of Paul Stanley, Eddie Cutch, Cy Woodward and skip Andy Mayne who lost by only two shots (20-18). They were ahead until the 14th end but struggled over the last seven ends.

There was a good result for all Town’s Kennet League teams, with the A team winning Division 1 East and the B team winning Division 2 East. The C team placed fifth in Division 2 East.

Town’s ladies won their rearranged Royal Shield match against Thicket this week, winning on all three rinks for a 66-31 victory. Top rink went to Chris Wright, Jan Mayne and skip Kim Eales (24-8).

On Tuesday Town played away at Desborough, winning on two of the three rinks for a 51-47 victory. Top rink went to Phil Markwell, Kathy Leonard and skip Carol van Noorden (27-10). They sit second in the table with one match left to play.

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Windsor Great Park BC

A cracking season saw Windsor Great Park’s KLV 2 team finish second behind Maidenhead Town B to gain promotion to KLV Division 1.

The team claimed an 8-2 win over Desborough B at home in their final game. They lost only two of their 14 games, but these defeats cost them the chance of winning the league.

The men’s triples team were beaten 96-95 by Windlesham after a tough scrap on home turf. Top rink honours went to Ian Martin, Ted Kelly and Ken Kinghorn (skip).

Great Park were beaten by 11 shots at Suttons over the weekend, despite winning on three of the five rinks. Charlie Dorey (skip), with Cathy Meese, Peter Simms and Gail Dorey took top rink honours in the 103-92 victory.

More than 30 people braved gale force winds to attend Great Park’s open day last week, sampling the sport as well as some home made cakes. Park also welcomed 11 new members into the fold.

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Royal Household BC

Top rink honours went to Mark Stanley (skip), Betty Crisp, Alastair Nicholson and Pat Carson as Royal Household beat Chippenham 134-93 in Saturday’s mixed friendly. Household won on five of the six rinks played.

A nip and tuck contest between Bowls Dorset and Household went the way of the hosts, with Household dropping seven late shots in the 128-124 defeat.

They went down by four shots, despite the impressive bowling of Sid Cannon, Mark Stanley (skip), Chrissie Gifford and Colin Carson, who won their rink 22-15.  

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Windsor & Eton BC

Windsor & Eton took its annual holiday; a tour based in Brighton, playing five games in five days.

The first was against Worthing Pavilion BC. The excitement of the journey took its toll and the match was lost by 102-127. Top rink went to Joyce Heathman, Jim Henderson, Stan Rawlings and Pauline Hayward.

After a bit of sightseeing on the second morning, the afternoon game produced a win for W&E of 120-98 against Hangleton BC; a club with only 31 members.  

Top rink was Dennis Borrowdale, Sue Ireland, Margaret Hallett and Richard Heathman.

Due to inclement weather, the game on the third day, against Southwick Park BC, was played on an indoor green. With many W&E players having little experience indoors, it’s hardly surprising that the game was won by the hosts with an overwhelming score of 90-132. The best rink was John Mayne, Andree Mooney, Brian Faulkner and David Perriman.

Despite better weather on day 4, the green at Holligbury Park BC was no less challenging than the previous day. W&E slowly found their form, ending with a close win of 100-96. Sue Ireland, Bryan Pritchard, Chris Heitzmann and Ralph Cooke took the top rink spot. 

Day five was a morning match at Arundel BC. It started under very windy conditions but no rain. Pam Andrew, Dennis Borrowdale, Stan Rawlings and Pauline Hayward managed to end up top rink. The final result was a win for W&E by three shots at 105-102.

On their return, there was a weekend friendly to play at Stoke Poges. The match was lost by 69-95. Top rink was Jill Barker, Janet Dawson, Kel Crump and Ralph Cooke.