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Saturday 28th June at home to Witney Town

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Saturday saw us entertain Witney Town for our annual 'Barney Shield' Trophy.  The shot scores from the home and away games are combined and the team with the highest total win the shield.  The weather was hot and sunny, ideal for bowls, the game was over 5 rinks, it was nice to see Hannah and James O'Donoghue back on the green, but a pity that one of our team did not make an appearance, however Witney were gracious enough to allow us to play a rink with 3 against 4 without having the usual penalty of a 25% reduction in our shot score. The overall result, even though we lost 3 of the 5 rinks, was a healthy win for us 86-69.

 

Rink 1  - Lead  -  James O'Donoghue

               No. 2  -  Hannah O'Donoghue

               No. 3  -  Pete Wells

               Skip    -  Mark Stokes

It looked as though we were in for a loss as, after 7 ends we trailed 3-9, but things changed after this and we only allowed the opposition to win 3 of the remaining 11 ends and claimed an excellent win 20-13.

 

Rink 2  - Lead  -  Richard Lawrence

               No. 2  -  Cliff Hall

               No. 3  -  Pete Griffin

               Skip    -  Nigel Eley

Nigel's rink were never in any trouble, letting the opposition win only 5 ends and running out convincing winners 23-5.

 

Rink 3  - Lead  -  Steve Clarke

               No. 2  -  John Standen

               No. 3  -  Graham Tyrrell

               Skip    -  Dave Bryant

After 9 ends, Dave's rink trailed 7-16, but they fought back well and only let the opposition take the game by 3 shots 19-22.

 

Rink 4  - Lead  -  Yvonne Twomey

               No. 2  -  Paul Jones

               No. 3  -  Tony Bird

               Skip    -  Chris Twomey

Chris's rink were doubly handicapped, as they were up against, not only a very strong team, but had to play with only 3 of our team, as Paul did not turn up for the game.  At one stage it looked very bleak indeed as, after 7 ends they were 0-9 down, but came back strongly winning 7 of the remaining 11 ends and only going down by 4 shots 10-14.

 

Rink 5  - Lead  -  Jill Hart

               No. 2  -  Dave Drinkwater

               No. 3  -  Claudia Stokes

               Skip    -  Bryan Ogilvie

The Captains rink got off to a flyer and after 8 ends were ahead 8-3, but lost the next 6 ends to trail 8-14, but with 1 rink remaining were only 3 shots adrift but could not make up this deficit managing only a 2 on the last end with the 3rd wood losing on a measure.  Each rink was drawn by their captain and, as it transpired, rink 5 turned out to be most favourable as it was shaded at one end throughout the game, which was most welcome.

 

A very good result overall, as Witney came with a very strong team, but a 17 shot margin means we are in a strong position when it comes to the return game at Witney on 20 September.

Tuesday 24th June at home to Banbury Central

Hits: 222
At Central's request the match was switched to a home game of five triples.  It was a glorious evening for a game of bowls with the green looking great and playing well.  Quite a few people came up to watch and some of the WAGs were in attendance along with a bottle or two of Prosecco!  We won by 3.5 to 1.5 rinks and the match score was 90 - 81 in our favour.  The return leg is on 4th September when no doubt Central will be looking for revenge.  It was encouraging to see a few youngsters in their squad which is testament to the summer academy that Andy Winter has been running for the last few seasons.
 
 
 
Rink 1
 
Dave Drinkwater, Mick Wilkins and Phil Gladden were in a seesaw game but by taking 11 ends they came home victorious 21 - 17.
 
 
 
Rink 2
 
Yvonne Twomey, Peter Wells and Chris Twomey struggled to say the least but a six on the 5th end saw them in the lead, briefly, but by dogged determination/luck they picked up a four on the last end to draw the game.  I feel that our Eurovision entry this year could possibly have summed the game up!
 
 
 
Rink 3
 
Cliff Hall, Pete Griffin and Bryan Ogilvie can claim the well earned bragging rights as they picked up 13 ends including a 6 and a 5 to romp home by 21 points 30 - 9.
 
 
 
Rink 4
 
Jill Hart, Tony Bird and Dave Bryant were up against strong opposition and only picked up four ends to limp in 4 - 26.
 
 
 
Rink 5
 
Steve Clarke, Richard Lawrence and Ted Eley were well in control and returned a winning "musical overture" of a card to claim victory 18 -12!
 
 
 
Thanks must be given to Jenny Bird for running the bar on a pretty busy evening and to Phil Gladden for stepping in at very short notice to make up the numbers.
 

Saturday 21st at home to Witney Mills

Hits: 246
Saturday saw us entertain Witney Mills, it was the longest day and also the hottest, although just before the start and for the first couple of ends we had to play in a slight shower, but that soon fizzled out and for the remainder of the game we played in very hot and humid conditions, in fact at the end of the game their captain said he was as wet as if he had played in the rain.  They brought quite a strong team with them and won 3 of the 4 rinks and finished with a victory 62-52.  We will have to take our revenge when we go their in September - I doubt the conditions will be the same!
 
 
 
Rink 1  -  Lead  -  Tony Bird
               No. 2  -  Cliff Hall
               No. 3  -  Pete Griffin
               Skip    -  Chris Skidmore
 
This was a very tight game throughout and going into the final end we trailed by 1 shot, but unfortunately we lost the last end and the result was therefore a loss 11-13.
 
 
 
Rink 2  -  Lead  -  Claudia Stokes
               No. 2  -  John Standen
               No. 3  -  Mark Stokes
               Skip    -  Dave Bryant
 
It looked initially as if Dave's rink were in for a good hiding as they were 7-0 down after 4 ends, but they won 9 of the remaining 14 ends to take the honours for the day with a 19-16 victory.
 
 
 
Rink 3  -  Lead  -  Jill Hart
               No. 2  -  Dave Drinkwater
               No. 3  -  Pete Wells
               Skip    -  Bryan Ogilvie
 
Another very tight game and with 3 ends to play the scores were level 14 all, but unfortunately they opposition won all the remaining 3 ends to run out winners 14-20.
 
 
 
Rink 4  -  Lead  -  Yvonne Twomey
               No. 2  -  Richard Lawrence
               No. 3  -  Mick Wilkins
               Skip    -  Chris Twomey
 
Chris's rink had a very slow start and after 8 ends were trailing 8-1 but came back strongly winning 6 of the remaining 10 ends, but unfortunately could not claw back the deficit and lost the game 8-13.
 
 
 
A very competitive afternoon played in what can only be described as slightly hot conditions!  Thanks go out again to Jenny Bird for looking after the bar and to Skiddy for setting up the club house prior to the game.  We will have to ensure we play our best next weekend, as we are playing for the Barney Shield.
 
 

Tuesday 17th June at home to Shipston Sports

Hits: 235
A superb afternoon saw us entertain Shipston Sports to a reduced game of two rinks and a triple due to the opposition being short on numbers.  Thanks to John Standen for agreeing to go on a "free transfer" for the afternoon and play for them, also to Jenny Bird for running the bar for us and to Chris and Maggie Skidmore for setting up the lounge.  Whilst we won all three rinks with a score of 68 - 29 I like to think that bowls was the winner as it is good that we can entertain these smaller clubs thereby enabling people of all abilities to enjoy the game.  We were complimented on the green which played well and looked good especially taking into account the hot dry weather.
 
 
 
Rink 2
 
Yvonne Twomey, Richard Lawrence, Mick Wilkins and Chris Twomey had a comfortable afternoon winning 11 ends and coming home winners 24 - 11.
 
 
 
Rink 3
 
Cliff Hall, Pete Griffin and Chris Skidmore were the triple and very much in control picking up 12 ends to romp home 26 - 8.
 
 
 
Rink 4
 
Jill Hart, Tony Bird, Paul Christmas and Peter Wells also had an easy time taking 12 ends to hand in a winning score of 18 - 10

Saturday 14th at home to Carterton

Hits: 230
Saturday saw us entertain Carterton in a 5 triples game.  Bryan was surprised to find that their Captain was a 15 year old, but later found that he was going for an England trial on Sunday.  A very nice young man and we wish him every success going forward.  The weather was nice and warm and, although it did try and rain it turned out to be just a small shower which did not interupt the game.  4 of the 5 rinks were extremely close and competitive, but Iain was the star of the afternoon and he won by a large margin to ensure victory for us 93-68.
 
Rink 1 -  Lead  -  Jill Hart
              No. 2  -  Dave Drinkwater
              Skip     -  Bryan Ogilvie
 
This was a very close game, but by winning 10 ends to the oppositions 8 we won by 1 shot 17-16
 
Rink 2  -  Lead  -  Yvonne Twomey
               No. 2  -  John Standen
               Skip    -  Chris Twomey
 
Chris's rink also won 10 of the 18 ends and, after the score was 12 all after 14 ends they won 3 of the remaining 4 ends to come home winners 18 -14.
 
Rink 3  -  Lead  -  Tony Bird
               No. 2  -  Dan Wegerhoff
               Skip    -  Mark Stokes
 
With 6 ends to play Mark's rink found themselves 15-5 down, but they then went on to win the remaining 6 ends but could not quite overcome the deficit and wnt down 13-15.
 
Rink 4  -  Lead  -  Cliff Hall
               No. 2  -  Pete Griffin
               Skip   -  Chris Skidmore
 
Another very close game and after being 8-13 down with 6 ends to play, they won 5 of the remaining 6 ends and went on to narrowly claim victory 15-14
 
Rink 5  -  Lead  -  Richard Lawrence
               No. 2  -  Mick Wilkins
               Skip    -  Iain Mobbs
 
Iain's rink take the honours and, after 13 ends were leading 28-1 but took sympathy with the opposition allowing them to win 4 of the remaining 5 ends, but still claimed victory 30-9.
 
As usual a big thanks to Jenny Bird for looking after the bar and to Skiddy for setting out the room prior to the game.  A pity we only play them once a year and it would be nice if we could actually arrange a home and away fixture going forward.
 

Thursday 12th June away at Byfield

Hits: 246
It was a pleasant evening for our game, especially after the monsoon conditions of our previous meeting last weekend.  The lucky ones amongst us found the green challenging and the others thought it was impossible as they couldn't raise the steam to play anywhere near a full length.  We won on three rinks to claim a victory by 32 points 73 - 41.
 
 
 
Rink 1
 
David Drinkwater, Mick Wilkins and Bryan Ogilvie looked to well in control as they were 10 - 1 up at eight ends but despite winning 10 ends they scored mostly singles to come home 14 - 19.
 
 
 
Rink 2
 
Cliff Hall, Pete Griffin and Chris Skidmore were 8 all at eleven ends but stuck to their task by picking up 11 ends to hand in a winning score of 16 - 9.
 
 
 
Rink 3
 
Yvonne Twomey, Richard Lawrence an Chris Twomey can claim the bragging rights with 15 ends and a healthy 17 point win 22 - 5.
 
 
 
Rink 4
 
Steve Clarke, Tony Bird and Iain Mobbs were 13 - 1 up at nine ends and continued to dominate the opposition with 11 ends to win  21 - 8.
  1. Saturday 7th June at home to Byfield
  2. Tuesday 3rd June away at Kidlington
  3. Saturday 31st May away to Chipping Norton
  4. Saturday 24th May at home to Bicester
  5. Saturday 10th May at home to Thame