Match Report
The Mixed squad played visitors from the Leicester Parks Bowling Association on a sometimes wet and sometimes sunny afternoon at Banbury Chestnuts Bowls Club , who were excellent hosts leading up to the event and on the day.
A complicated food selection process allowed the teams to shelter from the fierce downfall of rain when we should have started, but after half an hour the players were out on the green and raring to go. The early ends saw all 5 rinks leading for Oxfordshire and left the Leicester players wondering what they were doing there, but they raised their game after a short break to allow another shower to cross the green.
On rink 6, Philip Reilly, Sharon Smith, Terry Thomas and skip Brian Bloomfield were never behind and held the initiate throughout to win 14-9. On rink 5, our team of Geoff Smith, Gary Smith, Tony Cary and skip Dawn Hewitt, all representing Banbury Chestnuts, had a 7-1 lead after 7 ends, before Leicester come back into the game. They continued to catch us up and indeed passed our score to lead on the 16 th end, but our team dug-in and won the last two ends and the match 12-11.
Rink 4 was another keenly fought match by both teams. John Stephens, Mandy Rodway , Vice President Alan Scholan and skip Eddie Stevens led until the 12 th end , but dropped a 5 and passed the initiate to their opponents. They levelled up again in the next two ends and hung on for a 14-13 win, which in fairness may have gone either way. Rink 3 saw our only loss and this consisted of many Morris's - Margaret, Dave and Richard, plus John Standen, again all Banbury Chestnut players. Their opponents liked the green better and with a strong ending won 13-1.
Rink 2 was the show rink and our team rose to the occasion and performed very well for a 24-9 victory. Well done to Val Thomas, Terry Boswell, Ron Smith and skip Davis Lattimore.
It was an enjoyable day for all, despite the misbehaving weather and our thanks go to our hosts, the members of Banbury Chestnuts. The overall score was a win 74-55 to Oxfordshire.
A few photographs on the day have been put in the Mixed gallery for your amusement. John