Tuesday 2nd June away at Kidlington

What a difference a week makes as on the previous Tuesday we were "cooked" at Middle Barton and last night's game went ahead with rumbles of thunder and very dark clouds which eventually cleared to leave a pleasant, if a little chilly, evening.  We won 3 of the 4 rinks with a score of 70 - 54 which was similar to the home leg in April when it was 69 - 51 in our favour so we can claim the double this season.  We only hope that the League squad can replicate this when they travel to Kidlington on Thursday!
 
It was good to welcome two new bowlers into our team as Tina and John Timms played their first game for us and were on a winning rink.  We hope that this will be the start of a long and happy association with us.  Thanks must be extended to Jill Hart for agreeing to play for the opposition as their original squad of 18 was reduced to 13 by County competitions.
 
 
 
Rink 1
 
Cliff Hall, Pete Griffin and Chris Skidmore picked up a 6 on the 4th end and took a total of 10 ends to come home winners 24 - 13.
 
 
Rink 2
 
Tony Bird, Terri Gold and Len Selby halved the ends and in a tight game managed a 3 point victory 16 - 13.
 
 
Rink 3
 
Kath Buckingham, Yvonne Twomey, Howard Buckingham and Chris Twomey were also in a tight situation and whilst they only took 7 ends they were level at 12 points all with one end to play but gifted a single to their opposition to trail in 12 - 13.
 
 
Rink 4
 
Tina Timms, John Timms, Dave Bryant and Bryan Ogilvie seemed to be in charge up to the 14th end when they went one point down but a 5 followed by a 3 saw them home 18 - 15.
 
 
 
All in all a pleasant evening with good company and the decision to proceed at 16.00, which seemed a bit risky once or twice, was justified!

Saturday 30th June at home to Chipping Norton

We eventually managed to get Chipping Norton to Adderbury on Saturday even though they decided to inform us on Saturday morning that they were only bringing 12 players and were only prepared to play triples.  Thanks to Yvonne, Jill, Dave and John who therefore agreed to stand down at the eleventh hour the game went ahead.  The weather was again hot, but we shouldn't complain as the forecast is for cooler and wetter weather over the next week.  It was a very close game over the 4 triples but we managed to come out victorious 66-58.

 

Rink 1  -  Lead  -  Mick Wilkins

               No. 2  -  Paul Jones

               Skip    -  Mark Stokes
 

It looked a bit bleak for us as, after 7 ends we were 10-1 down.  However Mark's triple began to score heavily when they won an end and eventually came away winners by 1 shot 17-16'

 

Rink 2  -  Lead  -  Cliff Hall

               No. 2  -  Pete Griffin

               Skip    -  Chris Skidmore
 

A story of 2 halves as Chris's rink were 13-8 up after 11 ends but lost 6 of the last 7 ends and unfortunately went down 14-18.

 

Rink  3  -  Lead  -  Claudia Stokes

                No. 2  -  Iain Mobbs

                Skip    -  Bryan Ogilvie
 

The Captains triple were never in any trouble and with 4 ends to play had only allowed the visitors to win 1 end, but they took their foot of the gas and lost the last 4 ends, but came away easy winners 22-10.

 

Rink 4  -  Lead  -  Tony Bird

               No. 2  -  Phil French

               Skip    -  Chris Twomey
 

This was and extremely close game with never more than 3 shots in it throughout the game and with 2 ends to play Chris's triple were 13-10 ahead, but unfortunately they lost the last 2 ends, the final end being the decider when they conceded 3 shots and went own by 1 shot 13-14.

 

The return game is the 22nd of August where I am hopeful we can do the double over them.  Finally a huge thank you to Chris Shallis for looking after the bar at short notice and to Chris and Maggie again for sorting out the club house prior to the game.

Tuesday 26 May Away to Middle Barton

On the last two occasions when we were due to play last night's hosts the games were rained off, so it was somewhat ironical that on a very hot and humid day the start time had been delayed for four hours, primarily for our hosts to raise a team, and also with one eye on the weather forecast.  In Equine Parlance the "going was tough" but we managed to win three of the five triples and had a 13 point victory 83 - 70.  It was good to see Dave Bryant back on the green following his accident.
 
 
Rink 1
 
Kath Buckingham, Tony Bird and Bryan Ogilivie found the going to their liking picking up 15 ends to hand in a winning card showing a 24 point victory 29 - 5.
 
 
Rink 2
 
Jill Hart, Mick Wilkins and Dave Bryant were off to a slow start, but at two-thirds distance came into their own and took a total of 10 ends with a 16 - 11 win.
 
Rink 3
 
Yvonne Twomey, Howard Buckingham and Chris Twomey should have won with 10 ends to their credit, but a disastrous 6 on the 12th end followed by a 3 and a 2 saw them 7 points adrift with 4 ends to play and despite picking up 3 of these came in 2nd 14 - 18.
 
Rink 4
 
Cliff Hall, John Standen and Peter Wells struggled and let their opposition take control with superior scoring to come home 10 - 23.
 
Rink 5
 
Chris Shallis, Pete Griffin and Chris Skidmore got off to a slow start, but by taking 10 ends, including the last 2, just crossed the finishing line 1 point up 14 -13.
 
 
 
We look forward to the return fixture on 28 July.  

Saturday 23rd at home to Bicester

Saturday saw us entertain Bicester on a beautiful afternoon weather wise.  It must have been hot, as the Captain actually wore shorts!  It eventually became a game of 6 triples, the first time we have played on all 6 rinks this season.  The end result was a convincing win for us with a score of 123-69.
 
 
 
Rink 1  -  Lead  -  Cliff Hall
 
               No. 2  -  Pete Griffin
 
               Skip    -  Chris Skidmore
 
All I can say is that I was disappointed as they actually let the opposition win 1 shot on the 17th end and could only manage to win 35-1!!
 
 
 
Rink 2  -  Lead  -  Yvonne Twomey
 
               No. 2  -  John Standen
 
               Skip    -  Chris Twomey
 
A game of 2 halves as, after the end of the 9th end Chris's rink were 11-2 down, but they then won 8 of the remaining 9 ends to come out victors 17-12.
 
 
 
Rink 3  -  Lead  -  Chris Challis
 
               No. 2  -  Phil French
 
               Skip    -  Iain Mobbs
 
Iain's rink took a strangle hold of the game from the off and were 14-2 ahead after 11 ends, they then allowed the opposition to make a game of it and, even though they lost a 6 on the last end, were comfortable winners 19-15.
 
 
 
Rink 4  -  Lead  -  Jill Hart
 
               No. 2  -  Tony Bird
 
               Skip    -  Pete Wells
 
A very close game throughout and after 10 ends Pete's rink were adrift by only 1 shot 9-8.  Unfortunately they let the opposition win 6 of the last 8 ends and came home second best 13-19.
 
 
 
Rink 5  -  Lead  -  Claudia Stokes
 
               No. 2  -  Dave Drinkwater
 
               Skip    -  Bryan Ogilvie
 
This was a very close game throughout and with 2 ends to play the scores were even, but unfortunately the opposition won the last 2 ends and therefore we lost the game 11-14.
 
 
 
Rink  6  -  Lead  -  John Dunham
 
                No. 2  -  Paul Jones
 
                Skip    -  Mark Stokes
 
Another convincing display by Mark's rink and after 9 ends they were 14-3 ahead and they did not relax their grip and went on to win 28-8.
 
 
 
As I said earlier, a beautiful afternoon and a very convincing win and, although the Captain was dubious playing 6 rinks with concerns about rinks 1 and 6, but this proved unfounded as they were the rinks with the biggest wins.

Tuesday 19th May at home to Banbury Borough

Due to heavy rain just before the start the match was called off.  

Thanks again to Maggie and Chris Skidmore for setting up the room and to Lucy Wells for running the bar as some of the disappointed players took the chance of a quick drink.

Saturday 16th May at home to Buckingham West End

On Saturday we entertained Buckingham West End to Adderbury on a very overcast day, which was cold and we had a little drizzle, but fortunately this did not prevent us from completing the usual 18 ends and we managed to win quite convincingly 73-53.
 
 
 
Rink 1  -  Lead  -  Kath Buckingham
 
               No. 2  -  Howard Buckingham
 
               No. 3  -  Mark Stokes
 
               Skip    -  Iain Mobbs
 
A very close game throughout which ended all square 16-16.
 
 
 
Rink 2  -  Lead  -  Yvonne Twomey
 
               No. 2  -  John Dunham
 
               No. 3  -  Paul Jones
 
               Skip    -  Chris Twomey
 
Chris's rink struggled somewhat and although they won 8 ends did not score heavily enough  and the end result was that they went down 11-21.  However, the opposition had to borrow one of our players to make up the numbers and as usual, when we lend anyone Cliff, he plays out of his skin and yesterday was no exception.
 
 
 
Rink 3  -  Lead  -  Claudia Stokes
 
               No. 2  -  Paul Christmas
 
               No. 3  -  John Standen
 
               Skip    -  Bryan Ogilvie
 
The Captains rink had one of those days and couldn't do anything wrong winning 13 ends and coming home comfortable winners 25-6.
 
 
 
Rink 4  -  Lead  -  Tony Bird
 
               No. 2  -  Terri Gold
 
               No. 3  -  Pete Griffin
 
               Skip    -  Chris Skidmore
 
Chris's rink were too good for the opposition and although they only won 10 ends they scored heavily when they did and came home verry comfortable winners 21-10.
 
 
 
A very enjoyable game, despite the weather and it was nice to see a new player, John Dunham turning out for the first time and it is hoped he will continue to play on a regular basis.  A big thank you again must go to Jenny for looking after the bar and to Chris and Maggie for setting out the club house prior to the game.  Our return game is not until 12 September, but I don't think the weather will be much worse, - here's hoping!