Dear ##firstname##
Please find below Captain's match reports for the week 17th to 22nd July.
CAPTAIN’S MATCH REPORTS 17TH TO 22ND JULY 2023
Friendly Match Report – 18th July 2023
TBBC (Away) v Feniton (4 Mixed Triples)
Phil Saunders took charge of Borough on their travels to Feniton, concerned that their green may prove rather on the heavy side based on recent Feniton matches plus the wetter weather we’ve been experiencing lately. Phil needn’t have worried, however, as the Borough team were more than capable on the day.
Kevin Finan’s team had Ivor and carol sharing lead duties with Pete Thornton as number two had a real tussle with ends going to and fro over the first half that saw Borough lead by 6 shots to 5. The second half saw Kevin redouble their efforts and moved into a 11 – 6 lead after the twelfth. Feniton grabbed ‘3’ on the next but that was their last scoring end as Borough completed a great match with a positive finish by taking the last five ends to end nicely, 19 – 9 to the good.
Kevin Parkin continued his skipping duties with Ray at lead and Maggie in at two and saw them take a 7 – 2 lead after five ends. Feniton did well to haul themselves back into the match, 8 – 6 by halfway but couldn’t sustain their charge for long. Instead, Kevin’s Borough side stretched away again, 16 – 6 after twelve ends. Again, the home side battled away to close the gap but Borough remained sufficiently steadfast to complete another very good win, 19 – 12.
Kay Leach skipped with Kevin Lower at lead and Lesley Finan at two and might have been wondering about their chances after going 0 – 4 after three ends but a ’3’ and a ‘4’ for Kay’s side would surely have settled any concerns they might have had? Unfortunately, they didn’t trouble the scoreboard for the next four ends, finding themselves 7 – 10 at half time. Still, it remained all to play for in the second half and after a difficult restart, a run of four singles brought them to within one shot, 12 – 13 only to see Feniton complete the match by taking the last two ends for a 12 – 16 home victory.
Phil Saunders had two ladies for company, or should I say Jean Mitchell at lead and Margaret Gratton had the exuberant Phil Saunders for company? Either way they had a very good rapport going which was reflected well throughout their match. Yes, slow to start, but once in their stride they barely looked back, going 11 – 3 ahead having taken a ‘5’ on the seventh end. Then further success saw them 14 – 4 at the halfway point. Even the often feared half time break saw little change as the home side remained nullified by Phil and his ladies’ efforts that saw them take five more ends and complete a comprehensive 22 – 8 win.
Well done Team Borough, Impressive stuff!
TBBC = 3 Winning Rinks (72 Shots)
Feniton = 1 Winning Rink (45 Shots)
Over 60’s Division 4 Match Report – 19th July 2023
TBBC ‘Gold’ (Away) v St Thomas ‘C’
Weather: Mainly sunny, bit of fluffy cloud about, pleasantly warm with a cooling breeze.
Green: Much grassier and greener than previous visits and not cut especially short so a tad heavier and less of a swing but actually bowled consistently well.
St Thomas came up to Division 4 with TBBC ‘Gold’ for this season so we anticipated it might be a tough contest between us.
Peter Chidgey, with Phil B and Lloyd, took a few ends to get into their match and were 2 – 4 down after five ends but four ends later, Borough were 13 – 4 to the good after a nice little run. Things then became less predictable with just singles being taken which still left Peter’s side in a pretty strong position, 17 – 9. However, strong it might have seemed but things started to look decidedly shaky in final run in as St Thomas pushed hard to get something out of the match, just missing out in the end by just two shots, 17 – 15.
John’s side with Tony C and Kevin P, enjoyed a very good start helped by an in off and knocking a second bowl in on another much to the frustration of, St Thomas Skip, Neil. Kevin Parkin then had a brilliant two woods on the fourth helping to put Borough ‘Gold’ 5 – 1. Things then began to get very close with some very interesting ends played but it was St Thomas who were now in the ascendancy, going 5 – 8 after eight ends. Borough managed to get back level but it was all very tight now. The fourteenth saw Borough get a ‘2’ followed by a ‘3’ putting Borough 14 – 10 ahead. After a single to St Thomas they were holding ‘5’ on the penultimate end but it was thankfully cut down to just a single. The last end was another close one with St Thomas holding but Borough drew for shot ensuring they came away with a very hard earned but satisfying, 15 – 12, win.
An excellent result, not straight forward by any means and there was suggestion of some ‘Jam’ involved at times with reference to a famous Scottish Jam maker, Keiller (I think?) but I’m sure the Jam was evenly spread, after all it’s always best to conserve a sense of proportion.
TBBC = 2 Winning Rinks (32 Shots) 8 Points
St Thomas ‘C’ = 0 winning Rinks (27 Shots) 0 Points
East of Exe Match Report – 20th July 2023
TBBC (Away) v Tiverton Park (4 x Mixed Rinks)
Weather: The perfect, pleasantly warm and still, summers’ evening.
Green: Look and played very well, good pace.
The evening was set for a good evening of bowling with our friendly local rivals, Tiverton Park, who were riding high at the top of the league table. However, Borough were on a good run and would very much like to make up for the heavy home defeat experienced against their same opponents much earlier in the season.
Rink 1 had a Peter Chidgey side (Pete Thornton, Lesley Finan and Lloyd Daniels) up against Ian Turner’s but despite, dropping a ‘4’ on the second end, it was Peter’s side who was looking the more promising as they built a decent 9 – 5 lead after seven ends played. However, three ends later Park were a shot ahead and after some close play pulled further ahead, 10 – 14 with five ends to go. Borough gained a ‘2’ on the next end and now in control of the mat, they produced three more ‘2’s to put them 18 – 14 in front with just one end to go. Park managed to take the end but only with a single shot, leaving Peter’s side to come away with an excellent 18 – 15 win.
Rink 3 Had John Gutteridge four of Tony Burgess, Rod Snell and Margaret Gratton, against a Stewart Maddocks side and they began brightly, moving to a 5 – 2 lead after five ends. Much of the play centred around a narrow hand which made from some interesting contests with skips often then resorting to the much swingier hand – great when it came off but quite difficult to judge the weight. The net result meant a scoreboard that remained close. In fact, it was 8 – 8 after ten ends but the home side gained some momentum to go 8 – 13 ahead but a much needed ‘4’ for Borough readdressed the balance somewhat. Park pushed on again with a ‘2’ but it was all square again on the sixteenth, 15 – 15. Park got their noses just in front with a single on the penultimate end which saw a very close huddle of bowls that just favoured Park but with the last bowl sent down the straight hand once again, came onto the shot nicely to punch it out and leave Borough with a match saving shot and a very sporting, 16 – 16.draw.
Rink 4 had the very dependable Kevin Parkin as skip in Brenda’s absence together with Tony Crawford (lead), Di parkin and Kevin Finan. They found themselves up against the experienced and always determined, Maureen Lewis and team but it was Kevin’s side who really took the match to Park, overcoming a ‘4’ against on the second end, to go into a 8 – 4 lead after five before pushing on further, 11 – 4 after eight ends. Further success gave them a 14 – 6 lead after eleven ends. Park were on the ropes a bit but they picked up some much need shots. In the end though, Borough remained in control and they were able to complete another excellent, 19 – 11, win.
Finally, Rink 5 saw Phil Saunders with Dug Simmonds (lead), Clare Gutteridge and Nigel Manaton and they were up against a Garfield Barnett side that on their day, could prove very tricky based on their performance in the previous fixture. Early on it was all honours even, 3 – 3, with Phil’s side just starting to settle. Indeed, they were in the throes of putting together a run of five ends that included a ‘5’ on the seventh and before Park knew it, they were staring at a 14 – 3 deficit after just eight. Then, after a tied end on the ninth, Park gained a solitary ‘2’ before another good winning run for Phil’s side saw them move to 20 – 5 after fourteen ends and looking fairly safe, you would have to say? Garfield’s side, could realistically only gain some consolation shots which they did, doubling their score but it could only mean another 2 points in the bag for Borough with a pretty comprehensive 21 – 10 win.
This really was a perfect evening in all respects, the weather, the green, excellent bowling and a good friendly atmosphere throughout – thanks to Tiverton Park for their hospitality and making it such enjoyable evening despite the disappointment they will have inevitably felt from the result. Honours even hopefully
TBBC = 3 Winning Rinks, 1 Drawn (74 Shots) 11 Points
Ladies League Match report – Friday 21st July
TBBC (Home) v Ottery St Mary Blue
Another fantastic win for our Ladies triples against Ottery St Mary Blue with Maggie, Pauline and Margaret winning 24-12. Clare, Annie and Kay won 15-12. Another 6 points in the bag keeping the borough ladies top of the league. Well played ladies.