...Match Reports...

Match Reports for week ending 24th April 2011

With fine sunny weather over the Easter weekend Datchworth Bowls Club’s season got off to a hot start with the traditional season opener of President v Captain played on the Saturday followed by a home Mixed Friendly against Baldock Town on the Sunday.

President’s Team 66 Captain’s Team 80
On Saturday afternoon in the traditional internal President v Captain season opener, the Captain’s team got the better of the President’s team by 80-66. The Captain’s team of Ann Poulton, Derrick Elms, Mike Mahoney and Skip Brian Gilbert built up a healthy 13-1 lead after eight ends over Jenny Thompson, Peggy Lewis, Bill Thorne and Skip Steve Chamberlain and never looked back, eventually winning 22-12. The President’s team of Bev Tapper, Jean Cooper, Phil Fox and Skip Jim Adams were 15-3 up against Sue Kiernan, Sylvia Barsby, Chas Townley and Skip Nigel Poulton before losing the next six ends. But they recovered and held on to win 22-17. The tightest game of the afternoon involved the President’s team of Arthur Lewis, Peter Large, Dawn Kingsland and Skip Basil Briars, up against Georgina Gilbert, Paul Wright, Derek Henley and Skip Jeff Nash. They were 12-17 down after fifteen ends before winning all but the last end to win 19-18. The President, Peter Hills, Skipped Bill Tapper and Chris Hills in a Triples game against the Captain, Steve Arnold, Skipping Jim Whittle and Janet Mahoney. The Captain’s Triple could do no wrong as they built up an 18-1 lead after nine ends. But it all changed after tea, as they say, as the President’s Triple fought back, winning all but two of the remaining nine ends but it did not stop them losing 13-23.

Datchworth 82 Baldock 81
On Sunday afternoon five Mixed Triples were played against Baldock Town in the right spirit and after a couple of recounts it was found that Datchworth edged the match 82-81. Bev Tapper, Paul Wright and Skip David Wright never really got into their game despite sharing the ends equally they picked up single shots while dropping multiple shots and ended up losing 12-22. Derek Henley, Nigel Poulton and Skip Brian Gilbert had a close game with never more than two shots separating the teams. After fourteen ends eighteen shots had been scored and they were 8-10 down, then over the next two ends both teams picked up a four apiece and finished by picking up a single shot apiece resulting in them losing 13-15. Ann Poulton, Basil Briars and Club Captain and Skip Steve Arnold got off to a flier, winning five of the first six ends, the other being tied, and taking a 7-0 lead. That lead was extended to 11-2 after ten ends before disaster struck and they dropped a six on the eleventh end, their lead cut to 11-8. They steadied the ship to lead 14-10 going into the last three ends before losing them and drawing their game 14 all. Bill Tapper, Phil Fox and Skip Les Parsley had another close encounter with never more than two shots separating the teams for thirteen ends; they then dropped a four to go 11-16 down. Despite winning all but one of the closing four ends they could not catch up ending up losing 14-17. Derrick Elms, Gill Parsley and Skip Steve Chamberlain only won two more ends than their opposition but as they were picking up twos, threes, fours, one single shot and a five on the last end, they heavily outscored them and won 29-13.

Match Teams for week ending 24th April 2011

President’s Team 66 Captain’s Team 80
J.Thompson, P.Lewis, B.Thorne & S.Chamberlain lost to A.Poulton, D.Elms, M.Mahoney & B.Gilbert 12-22; B.Tapper, J.Cooper, P.Fox & J.Adams beat S.Kiernan, S.Barsby, C.Townley & N.Poulton 22-17; A.Lewis, P.Large, D.Kingsland & B.Briars beat G.Gilbert, P.Wright, D.Henley & J.Nash 19-18; B.Tapper, C.Hills & P.Hills lost to J.Whittle, J.Mahoney & S.Arnold 13-23.

Datchworth 82 Baldock 81
B.Tapper, P.Wright & D.Wright lost to D.Davies, R.Dempster & A.Graves 12-22; D.Henley, N.Poulton & B.Gilbert lost to G.Wells, M.Reid & P.Riley 13-15; A.Poulton, B.Briars & S.Arnold drew with P.Page, J.Russell & J.Carter 14 all; B.Tapper, P.Fox & L.Parsley lost to J.Carter, J.Murison & M.Wintrip 14-17; D.Elms, G.Parsley & S.Chamberlain beat A.Russell, N.Gazeley & M.Parsons 29-13
Match Reports for week ending 1st May 2011

Another fine sunny weekend saw two entertaining Mixed Friendlies being played.

Datchworth 96 Rosehill 81
On another fine and sunny, if slightly windy, Saturday afternoon Rosehill were the visitors to the Turkey Farm for a Mixed Friendly with Datchworth and the tea break appeared to play a part in the outcome as Datchworth won 96-81. Up to the tea break Jim Whittle, Jane Waller and Skip John Alden did not look in any trouble, as they led 10-5, but after it things changed. They dropped eight shots over the next three ends and never recovered, eventually losing 13-20. The Rink of Rachel Jones, Doreen Hodson-Smith, Derek Henley and Skip Steve Arnold got off to something of a flier, leading 7-0 after two ends, before being caught and overtaken 7-8 after six ends; but went in to the tea break 14-10 up. After it they could not put a foot wrong and extended their lead to 22-10 after sixteen ends, before they lost another end. They only dropped one further end as they won 27-13. The Rink of Ann Poulton, Peter Large, Bill Thorne and Skip Steve Chamberlain lost the first four ends, to go 0-7 down an went in to the tea break 6-10 down. But, again, as the saying goes, it all changed after tea as they went on to win all but three of the remaining ends to win 18-13. The Rink of Derrick Elms, Eve Beckford (loaned to the home side by the visitors to balance team numbers), Dawn Kingsland and Skip Nigel Poulton had a somewhat low scoring first half, as they went in to tea 9-7 up, after nine single shots were scored over eleven ends. But after the break the number of shots scored picked, with only three single shots scored over the remaining ten ends and both sides more than doubled their score, with the home rink winning it 22-16. The Rink of Arthur Lewis, Bob Waller, Edie Alden and Skip Chas Townley won the first three ends to lead 6-0, but by the time they won their next end, tenth, they were 6-10 down, but went into the tea break at 10 all. They lost the first end after the break and took four ends to catch up another to take the lead again, but lost the last two ends to lose 16-19.

Datchworth 123 Buntingford 118
The second entertaining Mixed Friendly of the weekend and the second win, 123-118, was played at Buntingford, when Datchworth travelled there on Sunday afternoon and for the second time over the weekend they had to borrow a bowler from their opposition due to a late withdrawal of one of there own bowlers. Jenny Thompson, Jane Waller, Chas Townley and Skip Steve Arnold had a shaky start dropping six shots over the first four ends, to go 0-6 down. But they got themselves together and drew level at 8 all after eleven ends. They had to do it again after dropping a five on the thirteenth end, to go 10-13 down. They did get themselves together again and by picking up a five of their own on the eighteenth end they went 20-16 up and held on to win 21-18. Arthur Lewis, Sue Kiernan, Jim Russell and Skip Joan James picked up a five on the fifth end to go 7-3 up only to drop a seven three ends later, to go 8-12 down and struggled from then on until the last end. They went into it needing five shots to draw level, but only managed to pick up a four, to lose 20-21. Derrick Elms, Dinah Greere (the loanee), June Russell and Skip Nigel Poulton went behind after losing the third end, got their noses in front, 8-7, after seven ends, only to drop a five on the eighth end and trailed their opposition until picking up a four on the penultimate end to lead 20-18. They lost the last end, but only dropped a shot to win 20-19. Dawn Kingsland, Sylvia Barsby, Derek Henley and Skip Steve Chamberlain took the lead, 8-7, after seven and managed somehow to hold onto that lead, apart from two ends, to win 20-17. Jim Whittle, Bob Waller, Edie Alden and Skip Brian Gilbert must have thought that this is an easy game as they won all but five of the first sixteen ends to lead comfortably 26-9. But there was something of a sting in the tail waiting for them as they lost the last two ends, dropping eleven shots in the process, but still managed to win 29-22. Despite losing the end count 10-11 Ann Poulton, Georgina Gilbert, Bill Thorne and Skin John Alden lost 13-21, due mainly to picking up eight singles shots while dropping just five single shots.

Match Teams for week ending 1st May 2011

Datchworth 96 Rosehill 81
J.Whittle, J.Waller & J.Alden lost to S.Wallis, R.Pateman & G.Skipp 13-20; R.Jones, D.Hodson-Smith, D.Henley & S.Arnold beat W.Wheeler, M.Johns, M.Beavon & J.Beckford 27-13; A.Poulton, P.Large, B.Thorne & S.Chamberlain beat D.Smith, A.Beavon, M.Wallis & M.Johns 18-13; D.Elms, E.Beckford, D.Kingsland & N.Poulton beat Y.Steele, A.Pateman, J.Fitzgerald & B.Lartice 22-16; A.Lewis, B.Waller, E.Alden & C.Townley lost to M.Tanfield, D.Giles, T.Morton & R.Osborne 16-19.

Datchworth 123 Buntingford 118
J.Thompson, J.Waller, C.Townley & S.Arnold beat B.Gravett, G.Beale, G.Cheesman & R.Evans 21-18; A.Lewis, S.Kiernan, J.Russell & J.James lost to L.Tibble, F.Beale, J.Cook & B.Moules 20-21; D.Elms, D.Greere, J.Russell & N.Poulton beat J.Brown, A.Sievert, K.Thrower & M.Cheesman 20-19; D.Kingsland, S.Barsby, D.Henley & S.Chamberlain beat J.Newington, H.Brant, G.Thrower & R.Webber 20-17; J.Whittle, B.Waller, E.Alden & B.Gilbert beat G.Kattam, L.Coopier, M.Grimsdale & V.Moules 29-22; A.Poulton, G.Gilbert, B.Thorne & J.Alden lost to T.Tibble, S.Gravett, J.Thomas & R.Brown 13-21.

Match Reports for week ending 8th May 2011

Both of Datchworth’s WHBL teams were in action for the first time this season on Tuesday night, both away, their Div 1 Yellow team visited W.G.C’s K.G.V. green to play B.S.P., while their Div 2 Green team travelled to Welwyn and District’s green to play their Woods team. Their Results were contrasting.

Datchworth Yellow 29 B.S.P. 35
At W.G.C’s K.G.V. green the result did not go the Yellow team’s way, as they lost 29-35 to B.S.P., last season’s divisional Champions. For most of their game Rachel Jones, Phil Fox and Skip David Wright trailed behind, but by winning six out of the middle eight ends saw them come from 2-6 down to lead 11-8. Picking up a two on the sixteenth end saw them lead 13-10. They followed that by dropping a two, so went into the last end leading 13-12 but dropped a three to lose 13-15. Derek Henley, Bill Thorne and Skip Steve Chamberlain won six ends in a row to go from 3-4 down after four to lead 11-4 after ten ends. But losing four of the next five ends saw them trail 13-15 after fifteen ends. They won the next two ends, to go into the last end leading 16-15, but disaster struck as they dropped five shots to lose 16-20.

Datchworth Green 58 Welwyn Woods 20
By contrast, at Welwyn and District the fortunes of their Green team changed on about the same end and more or less determined the match outcome. The Triple of Janet Mahoney, Paul Wright and Skip Mike Mahoney dropped a five on the third end, to go 2-5 down then picked up one of their own on the sixth, to go 9-5 up. They lost the next end but won the next five to take a commanding 23-6 lead and held on to win 26-11. The Triple of Chris Hills, Jean Cooper and Skip Jeff Nash were trailing 3-6 after six ends but picked up a maximum nine shots on the seventh end, to lead 12-6. This appeared to break the back of their opposition as they only won two more ends while dropping multiple shots on the ends they lost as the Green’s Triple triumphed 32-9 for an overall 58-20 match win and a maximum six point start to their season.

Datchworth Gold 39 Ware Maltsters 42
On Friday night Datchworth’s Gold team played their first East Herts Bowls League Div 2 match against Ware Maltsters at their Turkey Farm Green. Bob Waller, Derek Henley and Skip Steve Chamberlain had a tough game as they led only twice, 7-6 after the sixth end and 12-10 after ten ends. Each time their opposition drew level on the next end and continued to build a lead thereafter. Eventually the home Triple lost 15-18. Jim Whittle, Phil Fox and Skip David Wright got off to a tremendous start, leading 10-0 after just three ends. But the visitors never gave up and by picking up a five on the tenth end they drew level at 14 all. Then by picking up two fours on the fifteenth and sixteenth ends the home triple built up a 23-17 lead and looked safe. It was not to be as they dropped a six on the penultimate end to go in to the last all square at 23 apiece. They recovered to win the last end and the game 24-23. But it was not enough for an overall win and the team lost 39 41 overall.

Datchworth 58 Shephalbury 71
On Saturday afternoon Datchworth travelled the short distance down Broadhall Way to play Shephalbury in a Mixed Friendly. Due to both clubs being short of a full compliment of players the match was played with a mixture of Triples and Fours. It did not go Datchworth’s way after the tea break as all but one rink lost their games following the break and they lost 58-71. Edie Alden, Bob Waller, Paul Wright and Skip Steve Chamberlain went into the break at 7 all. Thanks to dropping only four single shots after it while picking up three multiple shots they won 16-11. Jane Waller, Derrick Elms and Skip Steve Arnold went into the break 9-8 up. After it they won four ends they dropped multiple shots on the five ends they lost to lose 14-24. The biggest turn around came for Sylvia Barsby, Chas Townley and Skip Nigel Poulton. They went into the break 12-6 up. After it they picked up three single shots to lead 15-9 after thirteen ends. That is where their scoring finished. They lost the last five ends, dropping eleven shots in the process, to lose 15-20. Ann Poulton, Peter Large, Bill Thorne and Skip John Alden went in to the break at 6 all. They were still in front, at 11-10 after fourteen ends, but they dropped a five on the next end and never got back in the game, eventually losing 13-16.

Datchworth 96 Howard Garden 48
Datchworth played their first Stevenage & District Mixed Bowls League match of the season at their Turkey Farm Green on Sunday afternoon and came away with maximum points after winning 96-48. June Russell, John Alden, Phil Fox and Skip David Wright were 8-12 down after thirteen ends before they won the next four ends to lead 19-12. They then lost the last four ends but only dropped one shot each time, so they held on to win 19-16. Gill Parsley, Joan James, Steve Chamberlain and Skip Brian Gilbert did not have a good start and trailed 2-6 after six ends, but thanks to winning ten of the next twelve ends they lead 20-9 after eighteen ends. They lost the last three ends but won 20-14. But according to league rules, as they were playing against a Triple, the Triple had four shots deducted from their total, resulting in an adjusted 20-10 win. Edie Alden, Jean Cooper, Basil Briars and Skip Les Parsley picked up a four on the ninth end to take the lead for the first time at 11-7. From there they only lost a further three ends and almost tripled their score to win 30-14. Jim Whittle, Rachel Jones, Steve Arnold and Skip Peter Hills were struggling at 3-5 down after six ends before a run of ten winning ends saw them lead 24-5 with five ends to go. They lost three of those but still comfortably won 27-8.

Match Teams for week ending 8th May 2011

Datchworth Yellow 29 B.S.P. 35
R.Jones, P.Fox & D.Wright lost to G.Medcalf, B.Worsley & G.Smith 13-15; D.Henley, B.Thorne & S.Chamberlain lost to D.Miller, H.McLellan & P.Worsley 16-20.

Datchworth Green 58 Welwyn Woods 20
J.Mahoney, P.Wright & M.Mahoney beat N.Cater, B.Marvill & C.Duxbury 26-11: C.Hills, J.Cooper & J.Nash beat A.Bolnuvos, B.Richardson & H.Wing 32-9.

Datchworth Gold 39 Ware Maltsters 42
B.Waller, D.Henley & S.Chamberlain lost to A.Dyson, D.Fitt & J.Daniels 15-18; J.Whittle, P.Fox & D.Wright beat M.Marriott, R.Way & N.Wareham 24-23.

Datchworth 58 Shephalbury 71
E.Alden, B.Waller, P.Wright & S.Chamberlain beat, J.Curtis, T.Roullier, D.Kingsland & J.Pacey 16-11; J.Waller, D.Elms & S.Arnold lost to M.Clarke, N.Ballard & G.Streeter 14-24; S.Barsby, C.Townley & N.Poulton lost to M.Roullier, T.Blagden & H.Robinson, 15-20; A.Poulton, P.Large, B.Thorne & J.Alden lost to T.Manning, C.Howman & C.Mark 13-16.

Datchworth 96 Howard Garden 48
J.Russell, J.Alden, P.Fox & D.Wright beat J.Brothers, A.Thame, D.Brothers & A.Wood 19-16; G.Parsley, J.James, S.Chamberlain & B.Gilbert beat P.Rowe, M.Smith & R.Williams 20-10; E.Alden, J.Cooper, B.Briars & L.Parsley beat B.Wood, V.Shrimpton, L.Smith & T.Dumont 30-14; J.Whittle, R.Jones, S.Arnold & P.Hills beat J.Tapin, G.George, H.Tindall & T.Macey 27-8.

Match Reports for week ending 15th May 2011

Datchworth 55 Aston 64
Datchworth suffered a 55-64 shot defeat to Aston in the Stevenage and District Mixed Bowls League on Monday night on their Turkey Farm green. In a tight game where seventeen single shots were scored, June Russell, Jane Waller, Jean Cooper and Skip Steve Arnold won ten out of eleven ends to go from 2-4 down after six ends to a comfortable 16-6 lead after seventeen ends; but then lost the last four ends to win 16-10. Gill Parsley, Jim Russell, Jim Adams and Skip David Wright built up a healthy 15-2 lead after ten ends. That lead was cut down to 17-9 after seventeen ends, then they too lost the last four ends but held on to win 17-13. After twelve single shots were scored in their game Brian Cooper, Joan James, Phil Fox and Skip Les Parsley were level at 7 all after thirteen ends. Three ends later they had dropped 7 more shots and never caught up, eventually losing 13-19. Derrick Elms, Chris Hills, Jeff Nash and Skip Steve Chamberlain were up against it thanks to the quality of the back end bowling of their opposition and went from just 4-7 down after ten ends to 4-16 down after fifteen and picking up four shots over the final two ends only cut their losing deficit to 9-22.

Datchworth Green 27 W.G.C. Crusaders 31
A second defeat of the week followed on Tuesday night when Datchworth’s Green team travelled to Welwyn Garden City to play their Crusader team in a Welwyn Hatfield Bowls League Div 2 match and lost 27-31. Chris Hills, Joan James and Skip Richard Andrews had a close first half and were 5 all after nine ends, but after a run of five losing ends they were 5-16 down and their fate was more or less sealed. They shared the last two ends to lose 9-20. Janet and Mike Mahoney along with Skip Jeff Nash also had a close first half and were 7-9 down after ten ends. They then won the next three ends to lead 11-9, but two ends later they were all square at 11 all. By winning the last three ends and picking up seven shots they won 18-11.

Datchworth 17 Stevenage Town 53
A third defeat of the week followed on Wednesday night when Datchworth were out-bowled and out-scored by Stevenage Town in the East Herts Bowls League’s Ranson Cup 17-53. The home Rink of Steve Arnold, Jim Adams, Jeff Nash and Skip Brian Gilbert were 0-10 down after five ends before they won an end, but whatever they did the Stevenage rink did better. This was best illustrated when, on the penultimate end, they were holding six shots with the Stevenage Skip, Alan Bratherton, left with his last wood to bowl and he drew shot. They ended up losing 12-23. At Stevenage’s K.G.V. green it was worse for the Datchworth rink of Mike Mahoney, Les Parsley and Skip Steve Chamberlain as they were crushed 5-30.

Datchworth Gold 29 Shire Park 42
A fourth defeat followed on Thursday night when Datchworth’s Gold team travelled to Tewin to play Shire Park in an East Herts Bowls League Div 2 match and came away after a 29-42 shot loss. Bob Downes, Phil Fox and Skip David Wright despite winning the end-count 10-8 dropped too many multiple shots to keep their heads above water and lost 18-22. Bill Tapper, Jim Adams and Skip Steve Chamberlain went 1-11 down after seven ends and never recovered as they lost 11-20.

Datchworth 47 Stevenage Veterans 49
A fifth defeat followed on Friday afternoon when Datchworth travelled to Stevenage’s K.G.V green for a Mixed Friendly against their Veterans side and lost 47-49. As the result shows there was never much between the clubs over the three Triples played and in order to give experience to some home team bowlers four of them played half of the match each. Jane Waller, John Alden and Skip Jim Adams were 14 all after fourteen ends before dropping a two followed by a four to go 14-20 down with two ends to play. Then they picked up a two and a four of their own over the closing two ends, to draw 20 all. It was nip and tuck for Peter Large, Edie Alden and Skip Steve Arnold too; there were never more than three shots between them and their opposition throughout their game and they were 15-12 ahead with two ends to play but they dropped five shots over those two ends to lose 15-17. Sylvia Barsby, Jim Russell and Skip Steve Chamberlain went behind on the fourth end and were chasing their opposition, as they were only picking up single shots, until they picked up a four on the sixteenth end to draw level at 11 all. They then picked up their eighth single shot to lead 12-11 with one end to play; but they dropped a shot on the last end to draw 12 all.

Datchworth 73 Potters Bar 80
On Saturday morning the Men of Datchworth travelled to Potters Bar to play their Men in the County’s Top Team Competition and the losing streak nearly came to an end; but it continued as they lost 73-80 after sharing the points 4 apiece. The first match to finish was the Singles between David Wright and Richard Pearce. David Wright won alternate ends up to the ninth end, to lead 8-5. Then a run of four losing ends saw him drop 8-10 behind. After twenty three ends he was 11-18 down and three shots away from defeat. He cut that lead down to 14-18 two ends later, but then went 14-19 down before winning three ends on the trot, to be 17-19 down. He lost the next end, to go 17-20 down. On what was the thirty-first end of a tough match for both bowlers, involving twenty five single shots, and with a little help from Richard Pearce promoting one of his woods into the count, he picked up four shots to win 21-20. The next match to finish was the Triples involving Basil Briars, Peter Hills and Skip Brian Gilbert. They were never really troubled until losing three ends in a row to go from 17-3 up, after twelve ends, to 17-7 up after fifteen ends. But they stopped the rot to win by 20-9. At that point Datchworth had four points in the can but were behind in both the Pairs (11-20) and Fours (10-23) and ten shots adrift of Potters Bar overall. If they could not win one of the remaining matches it would go down to shots scored to determine the winners. The Fours of Steve Arnold, Derrick Elms, Jeff Nash and Skip Les Parsley had a disastrous start losing all but one of the first twelve ends to be 6-21 down. Other than picking up that six every time they were holding any shots the Potters Bar back end bowlers would change that. But they plugged away and after the Singles and Triples matches had finished they won three ends in a row to be 14-23 down. At the same time the Pairs of Mike Mahoney and Skip Steve Chamberlain, who too had been behind from the off, had just won three ends in a row to be 17-20 down. That meant the overall shots scored were level and as long as Datchworth kept winning the ends they would win the match. But it did not happen. Disaster struck for the Pairs as they dropped a five on their penultimate end and could only pick up one on their last end to lose 18-25; while the Fours lost their last two ends to lose 14-26. Thus with the points shared 4 apiece Potters Bar won the match on shots scored 80-73.

Datchworth v Shire Park
This match was cancelled by Shire Park as they could not raise a team.

Match Teams for week ending 15th May 2011

Datchworth 55 Aston 64
J.Russell, J.Waller, J.Cooper & S.Arnold beat W.Lane, M.Grindley, S.Hill & B.Benson 16-10; G.Parsley, J.Russell, J.Adams & D.Wright beat P.Benson, G.Gleg, M.Allington & J.Kelly 17-13; B.Cooper, J.James, P.Fox & L.Parsley lost to M.Gleghorn, L.Grindley, J.May & P.Jones 13-19; D.Elms, C.Hills, J.Nash & S.Chamberlain lost to M.Lane, J.Bullard, D.Bone & T.Phipps 9-22.

Datchworth Green 27 W.G.C. Crusaders 31
C.Hills, J.James & R.Andrews lost to T.Hughes, T.Plummer & S.Budge 9-20; J.Mahoney, M.Mahoney & J.Nash beat B.Hughes, D.Burley & A.Budge 18-11.

Datchworth Green 58 Welwyn Woods 20
J.Mahoney, P.Wright & M.Mahoney beat N.Cater, B.Marvill & C.Duxbury 26-11: C.Hills, J.Cooper & J.Nash beat A.Bolnuvos, B.Richardson & H.Wing 32-9.

Datchworth Gold 29 Shire Park 42
B.Downes, P.Fox & D.Wright lost to M.Meaney, S.Shadbolt & M.Wood 18-22; B.Tapper, J.Adams & S.Chamberlain lost to N.Sheridan, J.Hazard & T.Mears 11-20.

Datchworth 47 Stevenage Veterans 49
J.Waller, J.Alden & J.Adams drew with M.Brown, J & B.Gifford & G.Lofthouse 20 all; P.Large, E.Alden & S.Arnold lost to V.Buckman, M.Hammond & E.Ford 15-17; S.Barsby, J.Russell & S.Chamberlain drew with M.Racher & D.Purkiss, R.Phipps & M.Garland 12 all.

Datchworth 73 Potters Bar 80
D.Wright beat R.Pearce 21-20; M.Mahoney & S.Chamberlain lost to R.Golden & T.Barker 18-25; B.Briars, P.Hills & B.Gilbert beat K.Huntley, B.Hamshere & B.Bowman 20-9; S.Arnold, D.Elms, J.Nash & L.Parsley lost to H.White, T.White, B.Burfoot & B.Tomlinson 14-26.

Match Reports for week ending 22nd May 2011

Datchworth Blue 27 Sawbridgeworth 1 31
Datchworth’s Blue team played their first East Herts Bowls League Div 1 match of the season on Monday night when Sawbridgeworth 1 were the visitors to the Turkey Farm. It did not go that well for the home team, as they lost 27-31, thanks mainly to the bowling of the visiting Skips. Mike Mahoney, Paul Wright and Skip Peter Hills got off to a poor start and were 1-10 down after five ends and then 3-14 down after eleven ends. If it were not for the bowling of Sawbrigeworth’s Skip Robin Williams either cutting Datchworth’s shot count down or out completely this game would have gone in Datchworth’s favour. The Datchworth Triple did manage a mini fight back by winning the last four ends; but picking up one shot on each of these ends meant they lost 11-16. When this game finished Steve Arnold, Richard Andrews and Skip Les Parsley, who had gone from a good start of 16-3 up after ten ends to 16-13 after seventeen ends, were holding a match winning lie of three shots on their final end, with just the Skips to bowl. Again, if it were not for the Sawbridgeworth Skip, Peter Stringer this time, doing the same for his Triple in the second half of this game, as Robin Williams did for his, the result would have already gone Datchworth’s way. Les Parsley was trying to block the way in for Peter Stringer, to hold onto the three shots; but with his last wood Peter Stringer found a way through, picked the Jack up and moved it so Sawbridgeworth were holding two shots. Les Parsley could do nothing with his last wood to alter things so although the result ended 16-15 in Datchworth’s favour, it was not enough to stop Sawbridgeworth 1 taking the match 31-27.

Datchworth 68 Knebworth 56
On Tuesday night Datchworth started their defence of Stevenage and Districts Mixed Bowls League Knock Out Competition with a win over their near neighbours Knebworth by 68-56. At the Turkey Farm both Triples won in similar fashion. Derrick Elms, Joan James and Skip Les Parsley had built up a healthy 11-3 lead after eight ends then things got tougher for them as their opposition found some good form. From then on the ends were basically won alternately and the gap was gradually closing. But despite dropping a four on the last end they held on to win 20-18. The start of the other home Triple of Gill Parsley, Steve Arnold and Skip Brian Gilbert was a few shots better, at 16-1 and it took them to eleven ends before their opposition fought back. But despite winning five of the remaining seven ends they could not stop the home Triple winning 19-9. The reasons for having reserves available was never more proved than at Knebworth when one player had to pull out at lunch time and a second only an hour before the match started. But Datchworth had two reserves on hand to replace them so the away leg went ahead. Chris Hills, Jim Russell and Skip Steve Chamberlain won the first end but then lost the next five to go 1-8 down. The closest they then got was 10-13 down after thirteen ends. They eventually lost 11-18. After seven ends June Russell, Phil Fox and Skip Jeff Nash were tied at 4 all, they then gradually built a lead and held on to it to win 18-11, cancelling out the other away Triples result, so the outcome hinged on the results at the Turkey Farm.

Wednesday night proved a productive one for both of Datchworth’s East Herts Bowls League teams at the Turkey Farm, where Stevenage Blue and Bishop’s Stortford Swifts were the visitors.

Datchworth Blue 40 Stevenage Blue 21
Datchworth’s Div 1 Blue team got some sort of revenge for the Ranson Cup hammering they suffered the week before with a 40-21 shot win over Stevenage’s Blue team. Mike Mahoney, Richard Andrews and Skip Peter Hills had it nearly all their own way in their 27-9 win; but it could have been different if there had not been some cracking shot saving and shot changing woods bowled by both Skips. Steve Arnold, Brian Gilbert and Skip Les Parsley had a much more difficult time of it with both Triples winning nine ends apiece, the scores were level four times but they were never headed and despite losing the last two ends, they held on to win 13-12.

Datchworth Gold 39 Bishop’s Stortford Swifts 23
At the same time Datchworth’s Div 2 Gold team were having a similar result of their own, in more ways than one, as they beat Bishop’s Stortford Swifts 39-23. Bill Tapper, Derek Henley and Skip Steve Chamberlain had built up a decent 12-1 lead after six ends before their opposition found their form enough to equally share the remaining ends, but not enough to stop them losing 23-12. Jim Whittle, Jim Adams and Skip David Wright had the much tougher game of it. They were 4-6 down after sharing the first eight ends, and then a run of five winning ends saw them lead 11-6. Losing three out of the next four ends saw them go into the last end just 12-11 up and by picking up four shots on the last end they stretched their winning margin to 16-11.

Friday night was Welwyn Hatfield Bowls League’s Jubilee Cup night when, for the second time in a week it was Datchworth versus Knebworth in a Cup competition, as Datchworth’s Yellow team were drawn against Knebworth’s ‘A’ team while their Green team were drawn against the League’s newcomers Kimpton. The Yellow team’s match went ahead but the Green team could not field a team so had to concede it to Kimpton.

Datchworth Yellow 43 Knebworth ‘A’ 42
At the Turkey Farm the home leg of the Yellow team’s match went the way of the home Rink, Derek Henley, Sue Kiernan, Jim Adams and Skip David Wright, for the first seventeen ends as they had built up a commanding 25-6 lead; but over the closing four ends they dropped nine shots and picked up three to win 28-15. They were not to know how close this brought them to losing the tie, as they were unaware of the score at Knebworth. At Knebworth, Datchworth’s Rink, Jim Whittle, Jane Waller, Bill Thorne and Skip Steve Chamberlain, struggled; after winning three ends in a row they led 11-4 after seven ends but they lost their way and six ends in a row to go 12-21 down after sixteen ends. After picking up two shots on the twentieth end they were 15-26 down. Thankfully, for the result, they only dropped a single shot on the last end, to lose 15-27 and much to the disappointment of the Knebworth team it meant that Datchworth had sneaked a one shot 43-42 win to progress to the next round.

Datchworth 1 point Ware 3 points
Saturday morning saw the Ladies from Ware visit the Turkey Farm to play the Ladies from Datchworth for a First Round match in their National Top Club Competition and go home after winning by 3 points to 1, with a point being awarded for each discipline won. In the Singles Dawn Kingsland only won three of the first twelve ends played and trailed 3-16 and was almost out of it at that stage. She then fought back, winning eight out of the next eleven ends, but it was not enough to stop her losing 15-21. In the Pairs, Janet Mahoney and June Russell only lost three more ends than their opposition but they dropped too many threes and fours and lost 12-24. There was a somewhat surprising last end finish to the Triples. After picking up a 3 and a 4 on the second and third respectively Chris Hills, Gill Parsley and Skip Joan James were 7-1 up. They then traded 2’s and 1’s with their opposition and were tied three times; the third time being at 14 all with one end to play. On that last end they could not find a thing and dropped a 6 to lose 14-20. The only point Datchworth won was in the Fours where Edie Alden, Ann Poulton, Doreen Hodson-Smith and Skip Jean Cooper won. They took an early 8-2 lead after eight ends before going 8-9 down four ends later. After that they lost only three of the remaining nine ends and despite dropping a 4 on the last end they held on to win 21-18.

Datchworth 78 Royston 104
On Saturday afternoon Datchworth travelled to Royston for a Mixed Friendly match, where adjustments were made to both teams because both clubs were involved with the Women’s Top Team competition in the morning, and came away losing 78-104 an enjoyable and entertaining match. That was certainly the case for Beverley Tapper, Derek Henley, Bill Thorne and Skip Steve Arnold, due to the exploits of the home club’s number 2, Margaret Ward, as she used any wood she could to get a result and she did, too well, most of the time. So much so they led 16-2 after twelve ends. Things settled down a bit after that with the Datchworth Rink picking up 9 shots to Royston’s 3 as they lost 11-19. Dawn Kingsland, Jane Waller, Nigel Poulton and Skip Steve Chamberlain took a little while to get going, which they did and by the fourteenth end they led 17-8, but by dropping 6 shots over the next two ends their lead was cut to 17-14. They stopped that rot by winning the last five ends to record a comfortable 29-14 win. Edie Alden, Bob Waller, Chas Townley and Skip Les Parsley had a close game for sixteen ends to be just one shot adrift at 15-16, but they ran out of steam and lost the remaining five ends to lose 15-24. Jim Whittle, Sue Kiernan, John Alden and Skip David Wright also had a close game that followed a similar path, this time for seventeen ends, where they too were one shot adrift at 13-14 down. They too lost their closing ends to lose 13-21. Bill Tapper, Jim Russell, Basil Briars and Skip Brian Gilbert were overrun. They were 3-23 down after thirteen ends but recovered somewhat by dropping only three more shots while picking up more than double that over the closing eight ends, in their 10-26 defeat.

Datchworth 65 Letchworth Garden City 57
The second Mixed Friendly of the weekend was played at the Turkey Farm when Letchworth Garden City were the visitors and again changes had to be made as they were shorthanded; nevertheless another enjoyable match ensued and resulted in a 65-57 shot win for the home side. Dawn Kingsland, Peggy Lewis and Skip Steve Arnold led from early on and looked comfortable at 14-8 ahead with five ends to play. Looks were deceiving as the visitors fought back to win the next four ends to take a 16-14 shot lead into the last end. With his last wood to bowl and looking at more shots down Steve Arnold went with weight and picked up the Jack moving it through the head to lay two shots to the good to draw 16 all. Brian Cooper, Ann Poulton and Skip Jim Adams led from the start and were never really troubled shot-wise as they won 18-6. It was similar for Derrick Elms, Basil Briars and Skip Jean Cooper, they led from the second and were never really troubled thereafter, winning 22-16. It was different for Jessie Little, Bill Thorne and Skip Nigel Poulton; they were up against a Pair and never got into the game despite picking up six shots over three ends close to the end they lost 9-19.

Match Teams for week ending 22nd May 2011

Datchworth Blue 27 Sawbridgeworth 1 31
M.Mahoney, P.Wright & P.Hills lost to F.Wilde, A.Blackaby & R.Williams 11-16; S.Arnold, R.Andrews & L.Parsley beat D.Wickings, J.Godden & P.Stringer 16-15.

Datchworth 68 Knebworth 56
D.Elms, J.James & L.Parsley beat K.Fieldsend, T.Smith & S.Smith 20-18; G.Parsley, S.Arnold & B.Gilbert beat B.Osborne, R.Fieldsend & S.Varney 19-9; C.Hills, J.Russell & S.Chamberlain lost to P.Veale, J.Matthews & P.Beadle 11-18; J.Russell, P.Fox & J.Nash beat G.Welham, A.Pease & P.Barritt 18-11.

Datchworth Blue 40 Stevenage Blue 21
M.Mahoney, R.Andrews & P.Hills beat G.Lofthouse, A.Shackell & W.Taylor 27-9; S.Arnold, B.Gilbert & L.Parsley beat G.Stewart, R.Phipps & T.Hemmings 13-12.

Datchworth Gold 39 Bishop’s Stortford Swifts 23
B.Tapper, D.Henley & S.Chamberlain beat M.Nellor, R.Helm & C.Ball 23-12; J.Whittle, J.Adams & D.Wright beat J.Dolan, R.Edwards & D.Fox 16-11.

Datchworth Yellow 43 Knebworth ‘A’ 42
D.Henley, S.Kiernan, J.Adams & D.Wright beat D.Harris, C.Welham, A.Pease & J.Matthews 28-15; J.Whittle, J.Waller, B.Thorne & S.Chamberlain lost to J.Tempany, B.Tofts, B.Butler & P.Barritt 15-27.

Datchworth 1 point Ware 3 points
D.Kingsland lost to T.Blackburn 15-21; J.Mahoney & J.Russell lost to S.Thomson & S.Wareham 12-24; C.Hills, G.Parsley & J.James lost to B.Morrison, S.Frost & S.Wright 14-20; E.Alden, A.Poulton, D.Hodson-Smith & J.Cooper beat J.Aldred, L.Saville, B.Way & D.Stockwell 21-18.

Datchworth 78 Royston 104
B.Tapper, D.Henley, B.Thorne & S.Arnold lost to R.Colton, M.Ward, T.Williams & D.Goodwin 11-19; D.Kingsland, J.Waller, N.Poulton & S.Chamberlain beat J.While, P.Peel, R.Hawkins & R.Dean 29-14; E.Alden, B.Waller, C.Townley & L.Parsley lost to J.Knights, L.Neville, R.Davies & W.Martin 15-24; J.Whittle, S.Kiernan, J.Alden & D.Wright lost to B.Holland, T.Lovegrove, G.Mayoss & T.Holland 13-21; B.Tapper, J.Russell, B.Briars & B.Gilbert lost to S.Whitehouse, D.Ward, A.Potter & R.Neville 10-26.

Datchworth 65 Letchworth Garden City 57
D.Kingsland, P.Lewis & S.Arnold drew with J.Rogan, J.Leach & J.Dudley 16 all; B.Cooper, A.Poulton & J.Adams beat D.Bett, D.Woolhead & P.Hagger 18-6; D.Elms, B.Briars & J.Cooper beat S.Barsby, H.Peters & B.Rogan 22-16; J.Little, B.Thorne & N.Poulton lost to C.Jellis & B.Bargery 9-19.

Match Reports for week ending 29th May 2011

Datchworth Green 41 Parkside 20
On Monday night Datchworth’s Green team travelled to Welwyn Garden City’s K.G.V Playing Fields to play Parkside in a Welwyn Hatfield Bowls League Div 2 match and came away with a 41-20 shot win. Chris Hills, Jim Russell and Skip Joan James got their noses in front 8-3 after picking up four shots on the seventh end, their lead was down to one shot, 8-7, after losing three ends in a row. They then found some more form to win all but two of the last eight ends, although they dropped 3 shots on each of those ends, they held on to win 18-13. Their other Triple of Paul Wright, June Russell and Skip Steve Arnold fared better. They lost only seven ends, dropping a single shot each time and picking up a 6 and a 3 on the last two ends made their 23-7 win look easier than it actually was.

Datchworth Gold 48 Knebworth 24
It seemed like another week another Knebworth match on Tuesday night when Knebworth were the visitors to the Turkey Farm again, this time for an East Herts Bowls League Div 2 match and they returned home empty handed after being beaten 48-24. Peter Large, Phil Fox and Skip David Wright only won the end-count 10-8 but they outscored their opponents by more than two to one, including two 5s and only allowing them to score more than one on two occasions, as they won 25-11. It was a similar story too for Robin Bailey, Jim James and Skip Steve Chamberlain as they also won the end-count 10-8 and only allowed their opposition to score more than one twice as they won 23-13.

Datchworth Blue 32 Much Hadham Eagles 23
Datchworth’s Blue team travelled to Much Hadham on Thursday night to play their Eagles team in an East Herts Bowls League Div 1 match and returned home after a 32-23 shot win. Mike Mahoney, Paul Wright and Skip Les Parsley won the end-count 11-7, but for the first eleven ends they lost it 5-6 and were 8-10 down. They then won five ends in a row to lead 16-10 before losing the last two but held on to win 16-13 in a tight finish. Steve Arnold, Brian Gilbert and Skip Peter Hills also won the end-count 11-7 with six of them being the first six played and it saw them take an 8-0 lead. They then only won two of the next eight ends to have their lead cut to 10-9. Two ends later it was 11-10 before they won the last two, picking up four shots on the last end to make their 16-10 win look a little more comfortable than it actually was.

It was déjà vu on Friday night as both of Datchworth’s Welwyn Hatfield Bowls League teams were in action against both of Knebworth’s teams.

Datchworth Yellow 25 Knebworth ‘A’ 36
At Knebworth Datchworth’s Div 1 Yellow team were up against Knebworth’s ‘A’ team and suffered a 25-36 shot defeat. Bob Waller, Phil Fox and Skip Jim Adams led 10-2 after seven ends but were pegged back to 10 all two ends later. They then built a lead they held on to till the end, eventually winning 19-13. Things did not go anywhere so well for Dawn Kingsland, Jane Waller and Skip Steve Chamberlain, back on his old bowling ground. They got out-bowled and out-scored as they only won four ends and were crushed 6-23.

Datchworth Green 42 Knebworth ‘B’ 19
At the Turkey Farm Datchworth’s Div 2 Green team were up against Knebworth’s ‘B’ team. Paul Wright, Mike Mahoney and Skip Jeff Nash had a tussle for eleven ends as the ends were shared 6-5 in Knebworth’s favour and the score was tied at 8 all. After that they won all but two of the closing seven ends to win 15-10. Robin Bailey, Janet Mahoney and Skip Steve Arnold won all but four of the eighteen ends played, including dropping a 5 on the fifth end, in their 27-9 win.

Datchworth 116 Potters Bar 95
Potters Bar were Datchworth’s visitors to the Turkey Farm on a chilly and blustery Saturday afternoon for a Mixed Friendly match and after some close and entertaining games they went home after being beaten 116-95. After five ends things looked good for Bill Tapper, Peter Large, Dawn Kingsland and Skip Steve Arnold as they led 9-1, but it was not to be, four ends later it was 9-8 and it did not get any easier from then on as the visitors found some form. It was then level at 12 all, 15 all and 16 all with two ends to play. Not for the first time Steve Arnold was looking at several shots down, five this time, with his woods to bowl. The Potters Bar Skip, Eileen Anchor, tried to block him out but did not succeed, and with his last wood he came in with weight and with a little help from at least two woods managed, to the disbelief of the visitors, he somehow got shot to go into the final end 17-16 up instead of 16-21 down. They picked up two on the final end to win 19-16. Peggy Lewis, Derek Henley, Joan James and Skip Les Parsley had a close encounter with neither rink leading by more than two shots for very long and after losing two ends in a row they were 11-14 after eighteen ends, but they found form enough to win the closing three ends to win 17-14. Jim Whittle, Jim Russell, Gill Parsley and Skip Brian Gilbert dropped a 6 on the fifth end to go 3-9 down. They fought back, but it took a while, as by the sixteenth end they were 18-16 in front. One end later it was 18 all, then they picked up a 6 of their own to lead 24-18, with three ends to play, eventually winning 26-19. It certainly was a game of two halves for Bob Waller, Sue Kiernan, Doreen Hodson-Smith and Skip Steve Chamberlain. Before the tea break they won the end-count 7-4 to lead 11-8. After it disaster struck as they lost the next eight ends to trail 11-19. They did eventually stop the rot by winning the final two ends, but it was not enough to stop them losing 15-19. A run of six winning ends saw Beverley Tapper, Georgina Gilbert, Chas Townley and Skip Basil Briars go from 6-8 down to 18-8 up after fourteen ends. Although they lost four of the remaining seven ends it did not stop them from winning 25-14. Another tussle involved Jessie Little, Derrick Elms, Jane Waller and Skip Jim Adams. In a game were the end-count went 11-10 in the visitor’s favour and only 1s and 2s were scored and neither rink could hold on to a lead for too long. They were 5-10 down after twelve ends but by losing only two more ends they fought back to win by the narrowest of margins 14-13.

Datchworth 72 Harperbury 78
Harperbury were the visitors to the Turkey Farm on Sunday afternoon for the second Mixed Friendly match of the weekend and returned home after a close 78-72 win. Bill Tapper, Derrick Elms, June Russell and Skip Joan James struggled from the off and won only three of the first twelve ends to go 3-13 down before a revival saw them win the next six ends to draw level at 13 all. But the visitors were not finished as they won the remaining three ends to win 22-13. Bob Waller, Ann Poulton, Nigel Poulton and Skip Steve Arnold were also slow off the mark, winning just two of the first nine ends to trail 6-12. They had a two end mini revival to cut the deficit to 11-12. They then went 12-19 down five ends later before picking up two 3s to trail 18-19 with three ends to go. They only won the last end as they lost 19-23. Beverley Tapper, Jim Russell, Dawn Kingsland and Skip Basil Briars picked up a 5 on the tenth end to lead 11-8, but three ends later they were tied at 11 apiece. They then only lost a further two ends as they won 20-14. In a game that was relatively close throughout Sylvia Barsby, Jane Waller, Paul Wright and Skip Steve Chamberlain won the end-count 11-10 and despite dropping a 4 on the final end they held on to win by the odd shot 20-19.

Match Teams for week ending 29th May 2011

Datchworth Green 41 Parkside 20
C.Hills, J.Russell & J.James beat G.Richardson, C.Gibbins & G.Polley 18-13; P.Wright, J.Russell & S.Arnold beat K.Klyne, G.Nobertsu & A.Randall 23-7.

Datchworth Gold 48 Knebworth 24
P.Large, P.Fox & D.Wright beat R.Hand, S.Parker & P.Barritt 25-11; R.Bailey, J.Adams & S.Chamberlain beat T.Playle, J.Tempany & M.Hyde 23-13.

Datchworth Blue 32 Much Hadham Eagles 23
M.Mahoney, P.Wright & L.Parsley beat J.Edden, D.Edden & G.Penny 16-13; S.Arnold, B.Gilbert & P.Hills beat D.Hale, M.Holdaway & R.Ward 16-10.

Datchworth Yellow 25 Knebworth ‘A’ 36
B.Waller, P.Fox & J.Adams beat G.Welham, C.Welham & A.Pease 19-13; D.Kingsland, J.Waller & S.Chamberlain lost to R.Hand, B.Butler & P.Barritt 6-23.

Datchworth Green 42 Knebworth ‘B’ 19
P.Wright, M.Mahoney & J.Nash beat B.Weston, P.Durrance & R.Hughes 15-10; R.Bailey, J.Mahoney & S.Arnold beat K.Overman, C.McCloud & G.Stevens 27-9.

Datchworth 116 Potters Bar 95
B.Tapper, P.Large, D.Kingsland & S.Arnold beat J.Rushton, M.Baldwin, J.Southwell & E.Anchor 19-16; P.Lewis, D.Henley, J.James & L.Parsley beat H.Thurgood, V.Foley, A.Harris & S.Anchor 17-14; J.Whittle, J.Russell, G.Parsley & B.Gilbert beat P.Feeney, M.Pereira, M.Brennon & R.Bushnell 26-19; B.Waller, S.Kiernan, D.Hodson-Smith & S.Chamberlain lost to A.Bowman, M.Woolmer, B.Burridge & D.Salmon 15-19; B.Tapper, G.Gilbert, C.Townley & B.Briars beat D.Hobday, L.Spiers, A.Clark & A.Throup 25-14; J.Little, D.Elms, J.Waller & J.Adams beat D.Riley, L.Bell, S.Kelly & P.Rodgers 14-13.

Datchworth 72 Harperbury 78
B.Tapper, D.Elms, J.Russell & J.James lost to P.Fennell, B.Welch, S.Thorne & J.Allen 13-22; B.Waller, A.Poulton, N.Poulton & S.Arnold lost to V.Hancock, R.Sanson, J.Terry & J.West 19-23; B.Tapper, J.Russell, D.Kingsland & B.Briars beat J.Gransby, J.Mills, I.Fennell & J.Terry 20-14; S.Barsby, J.Waller, P.Wright & S.Chamberlain beat E.Parkins, M.Luker, K.Fennell & M.West 20-19.

Match Reports for week ending 5th June 2011

On Monday Datchworth held their annual Bank Holiday Monday Gala with 20 teams from around the county and as far afield as Cavendish in Suffolk taking part. The day started fine but gradually turned to rain as the last round of games were due to be played. After all the teams had played three games three teams were separated by just one point and two of them, from the first group of ten teams played each other in their last game of the day. With the rain falling they played out a tense draw. That left the third team, playing in the final set of games, needing to win to win the Gala. That they duly did and that team was Captained by Mina Reid from Baldock and the Runners Up were the team from Hertford Castle Captained by Tony Riches.

On Wednesday night both of Datchworth’s East Herts Bowls League teams were in action; their Div 1 Blue team at home to Rosedale and their Div 2 Gold team away to Rosehill Kestrels.

Datchworth Blue 42 Rosedale 29
At the Turkey Farm Paul Wright, Steve Arnold and Skip Peter Hills had a tight game as neither side could hold on to the lead for more than two ends at a time. After fourteen ends and despite leading the end-count 8-6 at that stage, they found themselves 14-15 down after dropping only 2s and 3s. But they took the lead back for the fourth time, at 16-15, after picking up two shots on the fifteenth end. They then held on to that lead to the end by winning the remaining three ends, eventually winning 19-15. The game involving Bill Thorne, Basil Briars and Skip Brian Gilbert followed a similar pattern in that they too dropped only 2s and 3s in the six ends they lost up to the thirteenth end when they trailed 11-14. But they found their form at the right time and won the remaining five ends, picking up only 2s and 3s to win 23-14 and completing the first defeat of the season, 42-29, on Rosedale.

Datchworth Gold 37 Rosehill Kestrels 22
There was also a good result for Datchworth’s Gold team at Rosehill where they beat their Kestrels 37-25. Bill Tapper, Phil Fox and Skip David Wright were 5-0 up after two ends and as they went through the game basically winning two ends then losing one they built on that lead throughout, eventually winning 22-11. On the other hand Jim Whittle, Derek Henley and Skip Steve Chamberlain struggled from the off, dropping five shots over the first four ends. They then won the next three ends, including picking up a six on the sixth end, to lead 8-5. They held that lead until losing four ends in a row to go 9-14 behind with four ends to go. They won those four ends including sneaking out three shots on the last end to edge a 15-14 win.

Datchworth Green 32 Kimpton 22
On Thursday night Datchworth’s Welwyn Hatfield Bowls League Div 2 Green team travelled to Kimpton and came away with a 32-22 shot win. Bill Tapper, Joan James and Skip Steve Arnold had a tight low scoring game where fifteen single shots were scored and despite taking the lead four times they were pegged back each time and the game finished in an 11 all draw. It was a different story for Beverley Tapper, Paul Wright and Skip Jean Cooper as they took the lead on the third end and gradually built on it such that they were leading 14-3 after eleven ends before the home team found some form and started to make things difficult them by winning four of the remaining seven ends; but it did not stop them winning 21-11.

Datchworth 56 Rosedale 55
Friday night was the County’s Club Championship night for the Men of Datchworth and they travelled to Rosedale for the First Round match and edged a tight match 56-55. The first Rink to finish was that of Mike Mahoney, Paul Wright, Phil Fox and Skip Jeff Nash. They lost the first two ends to trail 0-5. They drew level at 8 all after picking up 4 shots on the eighth end. By the fourteenth end they led 16-12 before losing the next four ends to be level again at 16 all. By winning the next two ends they went into the last end 19-16 up but lost the last end, dropping one shot to hold on for a 19-17 win. Next to finish was the Rink of Derek Henley, Jim Adams, Steve Arnold and Skip Steve Chamberlain. After eight ends they led 7-4 but by losing the next five ends they trailed 7-13. At this point Datchworth were some twelve shots up in the match overall, so it was a case of keeping the deficit down to a minimum in order to keep in front in the match. This they managed to do by winning five of the closing eight ends, but with some shot saving woods being bowled by both sets of backend bowlers as they were both aware of the overall position one shot was picked up on all but one of these ends and by winning the last three ends they cut their losing score down to 14-17. When this game finished it left the Rink of Basil Briars, Jim Russell, Richard Andrews and Skip Les Parsley to finish. They were playing their last end and thanks to an heroic fight back by the home Rink, who came from 5-17 down after thirteen ends to just 20-23 down with one end to play, it meant that the match was now finely balanced and looked very different than it did eight ends earlier. Datchworth were now only two shots in front overall. With just the Skips to bowl and the Jack having been moved off-centre, Rosedale were holding the three shots they needed to snatch the win. With his first wood Datchworth’s Les Parsley drew second wood. Rosedale’s Ron Powell’s first wood went just through the head. Les Parsley drew in for third wood with his second wood and when Ron Powell’s second and the final wood of the end and the match, also followed his first just through the head, Datchworth only dropped one shot to hold on for a 23-21 shot Rink win; but more importantly a very narrow one shot 56-55 overall win, to progress to the Second Round.

Datchworth 75 Whitethorn 92
On Saturday afternoon Datchworth travelled to Letchworth to play Whitethorn in a Mixed Friendly match and were beaten 75-92 after winning only one of the five games played. Edie Alden, Janet Mahoney and Skip Jim Adams were 0-9 down after five ends before they got off the mark. They managed to get the deficit down to 12-15 after fifteen ends before losing the final three ends and going down 12-18. It was a similar tale for Bill Tapper, Jane Waller and Skip Les Parsley. They were 1-9 down after eight ends before getting their deficit down to 12-14 after sixteen ends, but in losing their final two ends they went down 12-18. It was different for Jim Whittle, Peggy Lewis and Skip Steve Arnold in their game. Their scores were level on five occasions, the last being 16 all with four ends to play. But it was not to be a draw at the end as they went down 17-19. Datchworth’s only winning Rink was that of Beverley Tapper, Ron Chatman, Mike Mahoney and Skip Basil Briars. Their scores too was level on five occasions, the last time 12 all after fifteen ends. From there they won all but two of the remaining six ends to win 19-14. Jessie Little, Arthur Lewis, John Alden and Skip Steve Chamberlain fell behind after just three ends and they found themselves 6-14 down after eleven ends before winning the next four ends to get to within two shots at 12-14 of their opponents. But from there they won only two more ends and lost 15-23.

Datchworth v Howard Garden
This match was postponed.

Match Teams for week ending 5th June 2011

Datchworth Blue 42 Rosedale 29
P.Wright, S.Arnold & P.Hills beat G.Smedley, D.Murphy & S.Folbigg 19-15; B.Thorne, B.Briars & B.Gilbert beat R.Peffers, F.Cable & C.Dyer 23-14.

Datchworth Gold 37 Rosehill Kestrels 22
B.Tapper, P.Fox & D.Wright beat A.Ash, R.Porter & F.Clark 22-11; J.Whittle, D.Henley & S.Chamberlain beat R.Osborne, R.Pateman & D.Pennel 15-14.

Datchworth Green 32 Kimpton 22
B.Tapper, J.James & S.Arnold drew with B.Lennox, R.Willets & K.Ryder 11 all; B.Tapper, P.Wright & J.Cooper beat A.Lennox, M.Ginn & H.Boshier 21-11.

Datchworth 56 Rosedale 55
M.Mahoney, P.Wright, P.Fox & J.Nash beat A.Spicer, D.Murphy, R.Adkins & D.Shepherd 19-17; D.Henley, J.Adams, S.Arnold & S.Chamberlain lost to J.Gibbs, S.Folbigg, C.Dyer & D.Fuller 14-17; B.Briars, J.Russell, R.Andrews & L.Parsley beat G.Smedley, R.Peffers, J.Bishop & R.Powell 23-21.

Datchworth 75 Whitethorn 92
E.Alden, J.Mahoney & J.Adams lost to K.Henniker, A.McLellan & B.Choudhery 12-18; B.Tapper, J.Waller & L.Parsley lost to K.Rowell, M.Gowlett & B.Platten 12-18; J.Whittle, P.Lewis & S.Arnold lost to R.Adams, D.Edwards & P.Garside 17-19; B.Tapper, R.Chatman, M.Mahoney & B.Briars beat D.Fenn, M.Judd, A.Searle & A.Hills 19-14; J.Little, A.Lewis, J.Alden & S.Chamberlain lost to T.Scaplehorn, D.Marr, T.Graham & A.Hodgson 15-23.

Match Reports for week ending 12th June 2011

It was a busy week of bowling for Datchworth this week with eight matches played, three of which were Knock Out Competitions in two different leagues the club plays in.

Datchworth 63 Howard Garden 44
The first was on Tuesday night when Datchworth played in the Second Round of Stevenage and District Mixed Bowls League’s Knock Out Competition against Howard Garden and for the second time in this competition the fact that they had reserves at both venues saved them from having to concede the match. At the home leg as he was filling in the cards Club Captain Steve Arnold made the decision to pull himself out of the team and replace himself with one of the reserves that were there. The reformed Triple he withdrew from, Derrick Elms, Dawn Kingsland and Skip Jean Cooper, were level at 5 all after seven ends before losing four ends in a row to go 5-12 down. But they fought back and won all but two of the remaining seven ends but still lost 11-14. Jim Whittle, Joan James and Skip Jeff Nash did not fare any better. They went 0-5 down after four ends before they picked up any shots. They then shared the remaining fourteen ends equally to cut their losing deficit to 12-16. At the away leg they had a bowler turn up at the wrong green a day before the club were due to play there in a League match, and by the time they arrived at the right green the match had already started and they had already been replaced by a reserve that had turned up at the correct green. The Triple of June Russell, Jim Adams and Skip Brian Gilbert had a relatively close game for the first half as one shot was scored on all but two of the first ten ends and the score stood at 8-5 in their favour. They then picked up a five on the next end, followed by a two on the next. Although they lost four of the closing six ends they picked up two 3s on the ends they won to win 21-10. Beverley Tapper, Jim Russell and Skip Steve Chamberlain got off to a flier to lead 12-0 after seven ends. The home triple fought back by winning seven of the remaining eleven ends and despite picking up 7 shots over the last three ends, to double their shot count, it could not stop them being beaten by 19-14. So despite sharing the games two apiece Datchworth came out on top with a 63-44 shot win to progress to the Semi Finals.

Datchworth 86 Norton 53
On Wednesday night Datchworth travelled to Norton for a Stevenage and District Mixed Bowls League league match and came away with an 86-53 shot win. Gill Parsley, Paul Wright, Steve Arnold and Skip Brian Gilbert had a comfortable 25-8 shot win which would have been even bigger had in not been for the bowling of Norton’s Skip Tom Chilvers, on at least four occasions he came in for shot or second wood, cutting out either four or five of Datchworth’s woods. Brian Cooper, Bill Thorne, Jean Cooper and Skip Peter Hills took three ends before they got to grips with their game, at which point they were 0-6 down. They eventually won thirteen of the remaining eighteen ends to catch and then overhaul their opponents 20-13. Jim Whittle, Janet Mahoney, Jeff Nash and Skip Les Parsley looked to be cruising at 10-0 up after five ends but then their opposition found their form and came back with vengeance and by winning all but one of the closing six ends they went from 12-15 down to win 23-16. Arthur Lewis, Chris Hills, Mike Mahoney and Skip Steve Chamberlain also appeared to have an easy game of it as they lost only six of the twenty-one ends played to win 25-9.

On Thursday night there were two scheduled matches, one for Datchworth’s East Herts Bowls League Div 1 Blue team away to Hertford Castles’ Castle Knights, the other was for Datchworth’s Yellow team in Welwyn Hatfield Bowls League’s John Brown Trophy Knock Out Competition, with one Triple at home and one away to Kimpton.

Datchworth Blue 21 Castle Knights 35
At Hertford Castle things did not go well for Datchworth’s Blue team against Castle Knights and they lost 21-35. Mike Mahoney, Paul Wright and Skip Brian Gilbert could do nothing to stop Chris Bowie, the Knights’ Skip, from cutting out most of the shots they were holding when they had changed ends and it was the Skips’ turn to bowl; hence they lost heavily 6-20. But it ended up a different story for Basil Briars, Richard Andrews and Skip Les Parsley. After nine ends they were trailing 4-11 but they got their act together to win six of the closing nine ends to draw 15 all.

Datchworth Yellow 44 Kimpton 25
In the John Brown Trophy at the Turkey Farm the Yellow team’s Derek Henley, Phil Fox and Skip Jim Adams had their noses in front 9-5 after twelve ends, but they then dropped a 5 to go 9-5 down. That only spurred then on as they picked up a 5 of their own the very next end followed by a 3 and a second 5 to lead 22-10. They ended up winning 23-11. At Kimpton Jane Waller, Bill Thorne and Skip Steve Chamberlain struggled to find the right way to the Jack and found themselves 3-8 down after nine ends before they too picked up a 5 on the ninth end but they lost the next end. They then found the right way to the Jack over the closing eight ends, as they won them all, to win 21-14. Thus the result was an aggregate 44-25 shot win for the Yellow team and progress to the next round of the competition.

Datchworth Gold 25 Havers Park White 40
On Thursday night Datchworth’s East Herts Bowls League Div 2 Gold team travelled to Havers Park to play their White team and it did not go the way of the Gold team as they were beaten 25-40. Peter Large, Derek Henley and Skip Jim Adams only lost the end-count 7-11 but the shot count did not reflect that as despite dropping mainly 1s and 2s they also dropped a 5 and a 6 and that was reflected in the shot-count as they lost 11-26. Jim Whittle, Bill Tapper and Skip Steve Chamberlain appeared to be cruising at 14-3 up with five ends to go then disaster struck for them, from nowhere they dropped a 7 and then lost the remaining ends to boot to draw 14 all.

Datchworth 67 Buntingford 82
Saturday’s match at home to Buntingford was affected by the fact it was also Datchworth Fete Day so only four Rinks were played in this Mixed Friendly match. Despite both clubs winning two Rinks apiece Datchworth lost the match 67-82. Arthur Lewis, Maureen Power, Bill Thorne and Skip Brian Gilbert were comprehensively outscored as they lost 10-28 after winning only five ends. Peggy Lewis, Derrick Elms, Nigel Poulton and Skip Steve Chamberlain looked almost home and hosed after picking up 5 shots on the fifteenth end, to lead 15-4, but it was not to be. The visitors fought back and they lost the remaining six ends and hung on by the skin of their teethe to win 15-14. Jim Whittle, Georgina Gilbert, Dawn Kingsland and Skip Jim Adams nearly pulled off a well deserved draw. With the ends being shared 10 apiece and with one to play, they needed a 5 to draw, they narrowly missed that target and picked up just 4 to lose 22-23. Jane Waller, Ann Poulton and Skip Chas Townley, playing one short due to a late withdrawal, won twice as many ends as their opposition, but on one of those ends they dropped a 7 and with the relevant shot adjustment made for playing short, they still managed a 20-17 shot win.

Datchworth 70 Cavendish 66
Probably their best fixture of Datchworth’s season was spoilt and curtailed at Cavendish, in Suffolk, when a seven game Triples Friendly match had to be limited to twelve ends because of the rain. But at the end of those twelve ends Datchworth managed a 70-66 shot win despite only winning two of the seven games. Arthur Lewis, Derek Henley and Skip Joan James lost the first three ends but then fought back to win 13-9. Jim Whittle, Dawn Kingsland and Skip Les Parsley won alternate ends up till they lost the final three to lose 7-11. Brian Cooper, Jane Waller and Skip Steve Chamberlain looked comfortable at 9-3 up after seven ends, but looked even more comfortable after picking up a full house 9 shots on the next end. They then ran out 20-6 winners. Beverley Tapper, Derrick Elms and Skip June Russell dropped two 4s over the final five ends that contributed to their narrow 10-11 loss. Edie Alden, Gill Parsley and Skip Jim Russell only managed to win three ends in their 5-11 defeat. Peggy Lewis, Bill Thorne and Skip Jean Cooper were tied at 8 all with three ends to go but dropping a single shot on each of those ends saw them lose 8-11. Sue Kiernan, Bill Tapper and John Alden shared the ends and shots equally as they drew 7 all.

Match Teams for week ending 12th June 2011

Datchworth 63 Howard Garden 44
D.Elms, D.Kingsland & J.Cooper lost to J.Lewis, A.Kitchener & B.Pike 11-14; J.Whittle, J.James & J.Nash lost to J.Lewis, B.Wood & D.Greatorex 12-16; J.Russell, J.Adams & B.Gilbert beat J.Pepper, P.Rowe & T.Wood 21-10; B.Tapper, J.Russell & S.Chamberlain beat T.Hyland, D.Brothers & C.Robinson 19-14.

Datchworth 86 Norton 53
G.Parsley, P.Wright, S.Arnold & B.Gilbert beat P.Kingsmill, R.Stokes, J.McGown & T.Chilvers 25-8; B.Cooper, B.Thorne, J.Cooper & P.Hills beat J.Billows, A.Cook, J.Dulley & B.Kitchener 20-13; J.Whittle, J.Mahoney, J.Nash & L.Parsley lost to R.Dean, A.Barker, P.Dean & V.Meek 16-23; A.Lewis, C.Hills, M.Mahoney & S.Chamberlain beat C.Dutson, T.Billows, B.Rainbow & R.Downing 25-9.

Datchworth Blue 21 Castle Knights 35
M.Mahoney, P.Wright & B.Gilbert lost to B.Bowie, D.Bowie & C.Bowie 6-20; B.Briars, R.Andrews & L.Parsley drew with A.Penfold, R.Adams & A.Brandford 15 all.

Datchworth Yellow 44 Kimpton 25
D.Henley, P.Fox & J.Adams beat P.Matthews, N.Tobin & K.Ryder 23-11; J.Waller, B.Thorne & S.Chamberlain beat D.Ginn, D.Matthews & H.Boshier 21-14.

Datchworth Gold 25 Havers Park White 40
P.Large, D.Henley & J.Adams lost to R.Monk, M.Clark & M.Marles 11-26; J.Whittle, B.Tapper & S.Chamberlain drew with A.Chung, L.Rideout & B.Leahy 14 all.

Datchworth 67 Buntingford 82
A.Lewis, M.Power, B.Thorne & B.Gilbert lost to L.Tibble, M.Cooper, D.Menzies & R.Evans 10-28; P.Lewis, D.Elms, N.Poulton & S.Chamberlain beat J.Goodfellow, J.Ling, T.Medonagh & R.Webber 15-14; J.Whittle, G.Gilbert, D.Kingsland & J.Adams lost to T.Tibble, J.Newington, G.Gibbs & J.Hicks 22-23; J.Waller, A.Poulton & C.Townley beat G.Thrower, T.Gibbs, R.Kinder & G.Swabz 20-17.

Datchworth 70 Cavendish 66
A.Lewis, D.Henley & J.James beat J.Geddes, S.Arnold & K.Follett 13-9; J.Whittle, D.Kingsland & L.Parsley lost to B.Breathwick, V.Hastie & C.Hornsby 7-11; B.Cooper, J.Waller & S.Chamberlain beat J.Reader, S.Cooper & N.East 20-6; B.Tapper, D.Elms & J.Russell lost to C.Stewart, B.Lyddiatt & T.Johnson 10-11; E.Alden, G.Parsley & J.Russell lost to L.Rumble, A.Fairweather & B.Chapman 5-11; P.Lewis, B.Thorne & J.Cooper lost to J.Breathwick, T.Cooper & S.Skinner 8-11; S.Kiernan, B.Thorne & J.Alden drew with J.Williamott, A.Williamott & R.Cooper 7 all.

Match Reports for week ending 19th June 2011

There was a double header at the Turkey Farm on Monday night when both of Datchworth’s Welwyn Hatfield Bowls League teams had matches; their Div 1 Yellow team played Shire Park while their Div 2 Green team played Hertford Castles’ Jesters team.

Datchworth Yellow 30 Shire Park 37
Things did not end up well for the Yellow team against Shire Park despite looking good with a few ends to go but they ended up losing 30-37. Dawn Kingsland, Jane Waller and Skip Steve Chamberlain lost the first four ends to go 0-4 down and it took them a further eight ends to draw level at 9 all. They won the next end but lost another three in a row to go 10-13. They ended up losing 13-16 after dropping three shots on the final end. Peter Large, Doreen Hodson-Smith and Skip Jim Adams lost the first three ends before they won four of the next five ends to lead 12-7. Then a run of losing and winning ends in clusters saw them first trail 12-13 then lead 19-14 with three ends to go, but they dropped eight shots over the last three ends to lose 19-21.

Datchworth Green 39 Jesters 29
Things went better for the Green team against the Jesters as they ended up winning 39-29. Two things went in the favour of Brian Cooper, Jim Russell and Skip Steve Arnold; first picking up 5 shots on the fourth end, to lead 7-1 and then any luck appeared to go their way. Despite winning only four more ends that their opposition they picked up more multiple shots which led to their comfortable winning margin of 24-10. It was not such a comfortable ride for June Russell, Jean Cooper and Skip Jeff Nash. They trailed from the first end and thanks to picking up 5 shots on the sixteenth end led 15-13 only to lose the final two ends to lose 15-19.

Datchworth 77 Hitchin Town 71
On Tuesday afternoon Datchworth travelled to Bancroft to play Hitchin Town in a Mixed Friendly match and came out on top by 77-71 after a match enjoyed by newcomers and old hands alike. Peter Large, Dawn Kingsland and Skip Steve Arnold struggled for the first eight ends and found themselves 3-12 down; they then picked up a 6 on the ninth end which kick started their revival. They only lost a further two ends to catch and then overtake their opposition and went on to win 20-15. Despite equally sharing the ends Arthur Lewis, Bill Tapper and Skip Joan James dropped too many multiple shots while not picking up enough of their own in their 15-19 defeat. Beverley Tapper, Peggy Lewis and Skip Richard Andrews won five of the seven ends they won with 3 or more shots, but it was not enough to stop them losing 20-25 after coming from behind to draw level at 20 all with just two ends to go. David Cooper, Bill Thorne and Skip Janet Mahoney lost the first three ends to go 0-5 down. They then found their form to take the lead 12-8 after twelve ends, before being pegged back to 12 all two ends later. They finished with a flourish with nine shots over the next three ends and were holding eight shots with the home team’s Skip, G Billingham last wood to come. When it came to rest it cut seven of those shots out, so the visitors only held on to one shot and won 22-12.

Datchworth Yellow 23 Greenside 50
On Wednesday night Datchworth’s Welwyn Hatfield Bowls League Div 1 Yellow team travelled to Welwyn Garden City’s K.G.V. green to play Greenside and were beaten 23-50. Dawn Kingsland, Jim Whittle and Skip Jim Adams had no answers to the questions asked by the Jack length set by the home team and were overwhelmed 6-33. Jane Waller, Bill Thorne and Skip Steve Chamberlain fared somewhat better and were looking good at 14-9 up after thirteen ends, having leading for all but one of those ends. But it was not to be that easy as they dropped eight shots over the next three ends to trail 14-17 with two ends to play. Thankfully they won those final two ends to draw 17 all.

Datchworth 27 Sele Farm 80
On a wet and miserable Friday night, where it rained for nearly all the match, Datchworth’s Men played Sele Farm’s Men at the Turkey Farm in the Second Round of the County’s Club Championship. None of the home team found the conditions favourable and came out a beaten and bedraggled second after Sele Farm found the conditions very much to their liking and thumped them 80-27. Derek Henley, Jim Adams, Steve Arnold and Skip Steve Chamberlain lost 12-20. Jim Whittle, Jim Russell, Richard Andrews and Skip Les Parsley lost 5-31. Mike Mahoney, Peter Large, Jeff Nash and Skip Brian Gilbert lost 10-29. It was sweet, if not very wet, revenge for the visitors as they were knocked out of this competition on the same green last year.

Datchworth 41 Welwyn and District 44
Another match was affected by the rain on Saturday afternoon when Datchworth travelled a short distance down the old A1 to play Welwyn and District in a Mixed Friendly match. This time the rain came and went more than once and ended up resulting in a curtailment of the match, which ended in a 41-44 shot defeat for Datchworth. Peter Large, Jane Waller and Skip Jim Adams could not get to grips with the changeable conditions as well as the home team and only won three ends, of the fourteen they managed, in their 4-24 shot defeat. Bill Tapper, Janet and Skip Mike Mahoney fared better as lost only five of the twelve ends they played, dropping only one shot each time, in the game they won 13-5. Jim Whittle, Edie Alden and Skip Steve Chamberlain lost only four of the twelve ends they played in their 14-6 win. Beverley Tapper, Jessie Little, Chas Townley and Skip Joan James lost the end-count 6-7, of their thirteen ends played, but came out on top by one shot, 10-9.

Datchworth 77 Three Horseshoes 60
Thankfully the rain stayed away on Sunday afternoon when Datchworth made another short trip, this time down Broadhall Way to play Three Horseshoes in a Stevenage and District Mixed Bowls League match, which finished in a 77-60 shot win for Datchworth. Jim Whittle, John Alden, Joan James and Skip Jeff Nash took an early 11-1 lead after six ends and looked comfortable. But it was not to be, the home Rink fought back and drew level at 13 all after thirteen ends. From then on neither side could hold on to a lead for any length of time and it finished 17 all after twenty one ends; so an extra end had to be played. First Datchworth held the shot close to the Jack, then the home side came in a moved the Jack to hold one shot and it remained like that till Datchworth’s Skip Jeff Nash came down with some weight and disturbed the head leaving them with the winning shot and get the point for winning the Rink. For the first fifteen ends in the game involving Rachel Jones, Jim and June Russell and Skip Brian Gilbert no team won more that two ends in a row and they lead 14-10. They then lost their way and the final six ends to lose 14-18. After losing the first two ends Edie Alden, Jane Waller, Steve Arnold and Skip Les Parsley gradually added to their score, as they never lost more than one end at a time, while winning three or more themselves, and as a result they built up a healthy lead; which ended up 25-11. For thirteen of the first seventeen ends Arthur Lewis, Gill Parsley, Paul Wright and Skip Steve Chamberlain were behind and they trailed 13-14 at that point. For one end only they were in front, but they had won the end-count 9-8. That end-count changed to 14-8 in their favour as they won the closing four ends adding seven shots to their tally to win 21-14.

Match Teams for week ending 19th June 2011

Datchworth Yellow 30 Shire Park 37
D.Kingsland, J.Waller & S.Chamberlain lost to J.Bramson, R.Brown & R.Wolstencroft 11-16; P.Large, D.Hodson-Smith & J.Adams lost to R.Vanco, R.Gee & B.Gee 19-21.

Datchworth Green 39 Jesters 29
B.Cooper, J.Russell & S.Arnold beat C.Greenberg, P.Beeson & V.Greenberg 24-10; J.Russell, J.Cooper & J.Nash lost to G.Gifkins, E.Ashwood & T.Deane 15-19.

Datchworth 77 Hitchin Town 71
P.Large, D.Kingsland & S.Arnold beat B.Clarke, D.Corder & M.Williams 20-15; A.Lewis, B.Tapper & J.James lost to R.Clark, B.Parker & R.Cole 15-19; B.Tapper, P.Lewis & R.Andrews lost to B.Smith, B.Marsden & K.Porter 20-25; D.Cooper, B.Thorne & J.Mahoney beat M.Baker, M.Wells & G.Billingham 22-12.

Datchworth Yellow 23 Greenside 50
D.Kingsland, J.Whittle & J.Adams lost to C.Rogers, J.McCrossan & D.Shepperson 6-33; J.Waller, B.Thorne & S.Chamberlain drew with E.Anderson, C.Cooper & C.Vones 17 all.

Datchworth 27 Sele Farm 80
D.Henley, J.Adams, S.Arnold & S.Chamberlain lost to D.Lacey, B.Riley, R.Clift & J.Parsley 12-20; J.Whittle, J.Russell, R.Andrews & L.Parsley lost to M.Sell, D.Lee, T.Hartfield & H.Wright 5-31; M.Mahoney, P.Large, J.Nash & B.Gilbert lost to J.Smith, N.Lonergan, J.Dunne & T.Clift 10-29.

Datchworth 41 Welwyn and District 44
P.Large, J.Waller & J.Adams lost to S.Hill, J.Atkins & P.Wingham 4-24; B.Tapper, J.Mahoney & M.Mahoney beat C.Benson, N.Carter & T.Holdcroft 13-5; J.Whittle, E.Alden & S.Chamberlain beat D.Atkins, M.Holdcroft & G.Edwards 14-6; B.Tapper, J.Little, C.Townley & J.James beat A.Young, L.Edwards, J.Alden & S.Wingham 10-9.

Datchworth 77 Three Horseshoes 60
J.Whittle, J.Alden, J.James & J.Nash drew with L.Wolfe, C.Lamacraft, A.Waugh & C.Cole 17 all; R.Jones, J.Russell, J.Russell & B.Gilbert lost to J.Wilson, F.Naylor, E.Iontton & G.Waugh 14-18; E.Alden, J.Waller, S.Arnold & L.Parsley beat M.Cooper, B.Naylor, G.Ward & C.Cooper 25-11; A.Lewis, G.Parsley, P.Wright & S.Chamberlain beat S.Cole, L.Cunnington, R.Staff & B.Eddington 21-14.

Match Reports for week ending 26th June 2011

Datchworth Blue 43 Havers Park Green 21
On a rather damp Monday night Havers Park Green were the visitors to the Turkey Farm for an East Herts Bowls League Div 1 match against Datchworth’s Blue team which ended 43-21 in the Blue’s favour and maximum league points as both Triples were won. Mike Mahoney, Steve Arnold and Skip Les Parsley won the first three ends, to lead 6-0, before dropping four shots on the next end. They then picked up a four of their own on the following end and continued to build on their lead as they only lost another four ends, eventually winning 29-9. Bill Thorne, Richard Andrews and Skip Brian Gilbert won two ends and then lost two ends nearly all the way through their game but always managed to keep their noses in front enough to win 14-12.

Datchworth Gold 27 Cheshunt 44
Tuesday night was the turn of Datchworth’s East Herts Bowls League Div 2 Gold team to play and they travelled to Cheshunt for their match and were beaten 27-44. Jim Whittle, Bill Tapper and Skip Jim Adams had a close game for the first nine ends and only trailed 7-8, but a run of six losing ends saw that deficit widen to 7-16. Three ends later they lost 9-22. The game involving Peter Large, Robin Bailey and Skip Steve Chamberlain followed a similar pattern. They were level at 9 all after ten ends then they dropped ten shots over the next four ends, to trail 9-14, but they fought back picking up three 3s over the closing four ends, but also dropped a 3 to lose 18-22.

Datchworth 70 Holwell 103
On Wednesday night Datchworth travelled to Holwell for what has historically been one of their toughest Stevenage and District Mixed Bowls League matches and so it proved as they were overwhelmed 70-103. Gill Parsley, Sue Kiernan, Derek Henley and Skip Steve Chamberlain did not get off to a good start and trailed 3-12 after seven ends and were still behind, 7-16 after thirteen ends. Then a change of Jack length brought about a change of fortune and they won the next six ends to take the lead 19-16. But it did not last and they lost the final two ends and the game 19-21. Things were worse for June Russell, Bill Thorne, Joan James and Skip Les Parsley. Although they lost the end-count 8-13 they only picked up one multiple shot count and seven single shots, while dropping seven multiple shots, even a Jack length change did not succeed for them and they lost 9-31. The closest game involved Jim Whittle, Jane Waller, Jim Russell and Skip Jeff Nash. Despite winning the end-count 14-7, because they picked up ten single shots and just four multiple shots while dropping five multiple shots, including a 4 and two 5s, they found themselves 18-21 down going in to the final end. With his and the game’s last wood to bowl and his team holding two shots Jeff Nash tried to draw the third wood they needed to draw the game and go into an extra end. As that wood finished close it had to be measured and he failed by a few millimetres to get the third wood, so they only picked up two shots and lost the game 20-21. Another disastrous start saw Dawn Kingsland, Paul Wright, Steve Arnold and Skip David Wright go 1-16 down after eight ends. But again a change in Jack length saw a change in fortune and the deficit reduced, but never overturned. But picking up a 6 on the penultimate end made the final score of 22-30 look more respectable that it did after eight ends.

Datchworth Blue 37 W.G.C. Lions 22
Thursday night saw Datchworth’s East Herts Bowls League Div 1 Blue team travelled to Welwyn Garden City’s Knightsfield Green to play their second league fixture if the week against their Lions team and they came away with a 36-22 win. Steve Arnold, Jeff Nash and Skip Les Parsley had a tight first eleven ends and lead 8-7 before losing three of the next four ends to trail 10-12 with three ends to play. They then found some good form, as the rain clouds gathered, to win the next two ends, picking up three shots each time, to lead 16-12. Then just as the end finished the rain came down, the wets went on. Then as their final end started the rain got more intensive as the leads and then the twos bowled their woods, it eased off almost completely when the Skips bowled their woods. With his last wood to bowl the Lion’s Skip Gordon Avery was lying two shots down. He came in with weight, hit the head and sung the Jack in the ditch, but the Blue’s had the best back woods and picked up another three shots to win 19-12. Mike Mahoney, Brian Gilbert and Skip Peter Hills won the first three ends to lead 6-0. There followed a mini fight back by the Lions to cut the Blue’s lead to 9-7 after ten ends, before they lost the next five ends and the Blue’s lead was stretched to 17-7. The rain hit them just before they started their sixteenth end and they all sheltered from it, unlike the other game that played through it. When it started to clear and most of the teams had changed in to their wets, they came out and completed the game. The Lions proceeded to win the remaining three ends, but as they only picked up one shot each time it meant they lost 17-10 and the Blues had beaten the current Div 1 leaders and taken maximum league points for the second time in a week to improve their own league position.

Datchworth 76 Stevenage Town 77
Friday night was not a good one for Datchworth in more ways than one; it was yet another damp and miserable night and they lost by one shot, 76-77, to Stevenage Town in a Stevenage and District Mixed Bowls League match at the Turkey Farm. The second defeat of the week in that league. Dawn Kingsland, Jane Waller, Jim Adams and Skip Les Parsley could do no wrong in their game as the romped away with it 27-5. If it were not for their opposition’s Skip Terry Stout, Chris Hills, Bill Thorne, Steve Arnold and Skip David Wright would not have lost 17-23. Terry Stout must have saved at least eight shots with some well placed woods, heavy and the odd drawn ones, coming in and taking out their scoring woods or moving the Jack to his team’s woods. Although they lost only one more end than they won over the first fifteen ends Jim Whittle, Peter Large, Joan James and Skip Steve Chamberlain found themselves 11-18 down, due to dropping more multiple shots than they picked up. But they failed to win another end after that, dropping an average of two shots, and lost 11-30. Despite dropping 8 shots over the first three ends Arthur Lewis, Jim Russell, Gill Parsley and Skip Jeff Nash fought back and drew level on three occasions before winning the last end to edge the game 21-19.

Sunday was Memorial Day for Datchworth Bowls Club, where money is raised for the charity of choice of club members who have passed away; this year it was raised for Letchworth’s Garden Hospice, in memory of Gwen Briars. Ten Pairs played four rounds of Round Robin competition and the team with the highest points total were declared the Winners and this year’s Winners were Joan James and Steve Arnold. Hopefully by the time all the money has been collected and counted over £100 will have been raised by club members for the charity.

Datchworth 76 Letchworth Garden City 60
On what was a rare hot Sunday afternoon in June Datchworth travelled to play Letchworth Garden City in a Mixed Friendly and despite sharing the games played two apiece came out on top by 76-60. Sylvia Barsby, John Alden and Skip Steve Chamberlain heavily out-scored their opponents by almost 4 to one as they won 26-7. Edie Alden, Bill Thorne and Skip Steve Arnold trailed 1-4 after three ends and never managed to catch up, eventually losing 11-17. Dawn Kingsland, Paul Wright and Skip Joan James only won one end of the first nine played and found themselves 1-13 down. But after the tea break they won four of the next five ends to draw level at 14 all. But they could not keep that going and dropped a five on the following and another on the final end to circum 14-26. Derrick Elms, Jane Waller and Skip Basil Briars only lost four ends as they romped home 25-10.

Match Teams for week ending 26th June 2011

Datchworth Blue 43 Havers Park Green 21
M.Mahoney, S.Arnold & L.Parsley beat S.Margette, B.Hurst & T.Pink 29-9; B.Thorne, R.Andrews & B.Gilbert beat F.Lacey, J.Clark & R.Cracknell 14-12.

Datchworth Gold 27 Cheshunt 44
J.Whittle, B.Tapper & J.Adams lost to I.Alexander, R.Webber & D.Baker 9-22; P.Large, R.Bailey & S.Chamberlain lost to B.Bing, M.Smith & T.Whitbread 18-22.

Datchworth 70 Holwell 103
G.Parsley, S.Kiernan, D.Henley & S.Chamberlain lost to D.Webb, S.Andrews, S.Houghton & P.McGuire 19-21, J.Russell, B.Thorne, J.Russell & L.Parsley lost to H.Liddle, D.McKeand, P.Gilbert & J.O’Dell 9-31; J.Whittle, J.Waller, J.Russell & J.Nash lost to R.Waldock, M.Wilsher, C.Males & A.Waldock 20-21; D.Kingsland, P.Wright, S.Arnold & D.Wright lost to D.Worker, J.Hayward, M.Reidy & N.Houghton 22-30.

Datchworth Blue 37 W.G.C. Lions 22
S.Arnold, J.Nash & L.Parsley beat S.Budge, R.Middlewood & G.Avery 19-12; M.Mahoney, B.Gilbert & P.Hills beat A.Cox, R.Collins & G.Frost 17-10.

Datchworth 76 Stevenage Town 77
D.Kingsland, J.Waller, J.Adams & L.Parsley beat G.Stewart, P.Noakes, G.Lofthouse & M.Garland 27-5; C.Hills, B.Thorne, S.Arnold & D.Wright lost to M.Rancher, J.Banks, M.Griffiths & T.Stout 17-23; J.Whittle, P.Large, J.James & S.Chamberlain lost to B.Gifford, J.Gifford, S.Wilson & T.Hemmings 11-30; A.Lewis, J.Russell, G.Parsley & J.Nash beat C.Gaskin, P.Marsh, S.Howson & J.Coxall 21-19.

Datchworth 76 Letchworth Garden City 60
S.Barsby, J.Alden & S.Chamberlain beat V.Walker, M.Garlic & B.Bardry 26-7; E.Alden, B.Thorne & S.Arnold lost to D.Bett, J.Dudley & K Starkey 11-17; D.Kingsland, P.Wright & J.James lost to M.Garlic, J.Winder & B.Perry 14-26; D.Elms, J.Waller & B.Briars beat V.Perry, R.Williams & B.Rogan 25-10.

Match Reports for week ending 3rd July 2011

Datchworth Yellow 37 Welwyn Garden City Knights 35
It certainly was a tale of two Triples on Tuesday night when Welwyn Garden City Knights were the visitors to the Turkey Farm for a Welwyn Hatfield Bowls League Div 1 match against Datchworth’s Yellow team. Bill Thorne, Jim Adams and Skip Steve Chamberlain got off to a diabolical start by dropping a six on the first and after just four ends they were 0-12 down. They picked up a four on the fifth end, but by the time they picked up another shot, albeit four shots on the twelfth end, they were 4-19 down. Although they shared the closing six ends equally they conceded another eleven shots as they lost 14-30. Luckily for them Jane Waller, Derek Henley and Skip David Wright won the end-count of their game 15-3. But if it were not for picking up eleven shots over three of those ends won, as they only picking up one shot on each of the other twelve ends, their 23-5 shot win and therefore the aggregate 37-35 shot team win might not have materialised.

Datchworth Blue 35 Bengeo Blue 31
On Wednesday night Datchworth’s Blue team kept up their good form in the East Herts Bowls League Div 1 against Bengeo’s Blue team with a 35-31 shot win. Paul Wright, Steve Arnold and Skip Brian Gilbert appeared to struggle for the first eight ends as they trailed 2-8. But picking up a six on the next end changed that as they only lost a further two ends as they came from behind to win 19-11. Bill Thorne, Mike Mahoney and Skip Peter Hills only won three of their first twelve ends and by dropping five shots on the twelfth end they trailed 7-16. At that point the overall score was 18-26 in the visitor’s favour. But they fought back to win four of the closing six ends and cut that nine shot deficit down to just four as they lost 16-20. That combined with what happened with the other Triple resulted in a twelve shot turn around and a 35-31 shot win.

Datchworth 80 Norton 67
Datchworth got back to winning ways in the Stevenage and District Mixed Bowls League on Wednesday night when Norton were the visitors to the Turkey Farm and they beat them 80-67. Nothing seemed to go the way of Dawn Kingsland, Jim Russell, Basil Briars and Skip Steve Arnold, for despite holding shots more times than not when it was the Skips turn to bowl they somehow lost them after the Skips had bowled and they lost 14-22. By contrast Jim Whittle, Bill Thorne, Joan James and Skip David Wright could do no wrong for the first eight ends and were 16-0 up. Which was good for them as they then only won another five ends while losing eight and their winning margin was reduced to 27-13. Nothing went right for June Russell, Jane Waller, Jim Adams and Skip Jeff Nash as they struggled to find any sort of form in their game as they only won five ends in their 9-23 defeat. Again by contrast Peggy Lewis, Derrick Elms, Steve Chamberlain and Skip Les Parsley only lost six ends, including winning all but one end, and that was tied, of the closing eight ends as they won comfortably 30-9.

Datchworth v Kimpton
Saturday’s match at home to Kimpton was called off by the visitors as they could not field a team

Match Teams for week ending 3rd July 2011

Datchworth Yellow 37 Welwyn Garden City Knights 35
B.Thorne, J.Adams & S.Chamberlain lost to G.Tamcken, B.Hewitt & R.Collins 14-30; J.Waller, D.Henley & D.Wright beat L.Kilminster, J.Kilminster & D.Hegarty 23-5.

Datchworth Blue 35 Bengeo Blue 31
P.Wright, S.Arnold & B.Gilbert beat P.Sullivan, N.Parry & B.Karn 19-11; B.Thorne, M.Mahoney & P.Hills lost to M.Lamb, P.Dougherty & M.Bentley 16-20.

Datchworth 80 Norton 67
D.Kingsland, J.Russell, B.Briars & S.Arnold lost to C.Dutson, A.Cook, J.Walker & R.Downing 14-22; J.Whittle, B.Thorne, J.James & D.Wright beat M.Barker, A.Kitchener, J.Dulley & P.Billson 27-13; J.Russell, J.Waller, J.Adams & J.Nash lost to B.Rainbow, R.Dean, P.Dean & B.Kitchener 9-23; P.Lewis, D.Elms, S.Chamberlain & L.Parsley beat P.Clayton, T.Billows, E.Walker & V.Meek 30-9.

Match Reports for week ending 10th July 2011

Datchworth Yellow 42 Shamrock 27
On Tuesday night Datchworth’s Welwyn Hatfield Bowls League Div 1 Yellow team travelled to Welwyn Garden City’s K.G.V. green to play Shamrock and despite sharing the games one apiece they came away with a comfortable 42-27 shot win. Dawn Kingsland, Phil Fox and Skip David Wright lost five of the first six ends to go 1-6 down and things did not look good. But they came back with vengeance to win the next nine ends to lead 24-6. Despite losing two of the closing three ends they won 27-11. Rachel Jones, Bill Thorne and Skip Steve Chamberlain’s game followed a similar pattern as they too lost five of the first six ends to go 1-7 down. They then fought back to win the next seven ends to lead 14-7. But they lost four of the closing five ends to be pipped at the post by 15-16.

Datchworth 71 Stevenage Town 79
On Wednesday night Datchworth travelled to Stevenage’s K.G.V. green to play Stevenage Town in a Stevenage and District Mixed Bowls League and suffered their second defeat to them in the space of two weeks, this time by 71-79. No matter what Peggy Lewis, Jim Russell, Steve Arnold and Skip Les Parsley did for the first fifteen ends the back end of their opposition found a way of coming out on top to lead 18-4 and a crushing defeat was on the cards. Then things turned dramatically in the visitors favour as they won the next five ends to cut their deficit down to 15-18. They were holding the three they needed to take the game into an extra end until the back end once again managed to cut the shot-count against them down to just one, so they ended up losing 16-18. Dawn Kingsland, Peter Large, Basil Briars and Skip Brian Gilbert trailed for the first sixteen ends until picking up a five and a two, on the seventeenth and eighteenth ends, to lead 16-15. But they then lost the closing three ends to lose 16-18. Brian Cooper, Joan James, David Wright and Skip Steve Chamberlain looked in control after fourteen ends, as they led 14-7, but they dropped eight shots over the next three ends to trail 14-15. They then shared the closing four ends two apiece, but as they picked up a four and a five, while only dropping a one and a two, they came back to win 23-18. They last game to finish involved Arthur Lewis, Bill Thorne, Jean Cooper and Skip Jeff Nash. They were playing their nineteenth end and trailing 16-18 at the time, when the third game finished and the overall score was then 55-54 in Datchworth’s favour and what looked like an unlikely win five ends earlier was on the cards. But it was not to be as they dropped a five on that end and followed that by losing their final two ends to lose 16-25.

Datchworth Green 21 Jesters 42
On Thursday night Datchworth paid the first of two visits to Wallfields’ green in Hertford, this time it was their Green team, to play Hertford Castles’ Jesters team in a Welwyn Hatfield Bowls League Div 2 match and came away on the back end of a 21-42 shot mauling. Janet Mahoney, Jim Russell and Skip Joan James could not stop their opposition from out-scoring them, which they did by more than 3 shots to one and it resulted in a crushing 7-25 shot defeat. Robin Bailey, Mike Mahoney and Skip Jeff Nash fared considerably bettering although they suffered a 14-17 defeat. They were 3-12 down after eleven ends but fought back to share the remaining seven ends 4-3 and pick up eleven shots in the process, including a five on the sixteenth end, to lose by only 14-17.

Datchworth Blue 41 Castles 32
On Friday night another Datchworth team were back at Wallfields’ green, this time it was their East Herts Bowls League Div 1 Blue team. They were there to take on Hertford Castle’s Castles team, who according to the league table issued the same day were undefeated. So with the Blue team top of Div 1 a tough match was expected and that is what it turned out to be; with the result decided over the last five ends. Steve Arnold, Richard Andrews and Skip Les Parsley had a close game for the first ten ends and only trailed by one shot, 7-8, until they dropped a five on the eleventh end and trailed 7-13. The next two ends were shared and they went into the fourteenth end 10-14 down. They won that end and followed it up by winning the following three ends to go into the last end 17-14 up. The shot count on that end changed a couple of times but the home team did not manage to get enough shots to win and had to settle for two shots and a 17-16 defeat. Mike Mahoney, Basil Briars and Skip Brian Gilbert struggled for thirteen ends and were 10-16 down at that stage and the overall score was 30-20 in favour of the home team. They won the fourteenth end and promptly changed the Jack length to the maximum and it worked like a dream as they picked up five shots. Keeping to a long Jack they proceeded to win the remaining three ends, picking up a further eight shots, making it fourteen shots without reply over the final five ends enabling to win 24-16. The final score being a 41-32 shot win for the Blue team and another up till then undefeated team beaten.

Datchworth 76 Riverain 76
On Saturday afternoon Datchworth travelled to Hitchin to play Riverain in a Stevenage and District Mixed Bowls League match and despite drawing 76 all they picked up more points than their hosts as they won three of the four Rinks played. Gill Parsley, Jane Waller, Nigel Poulton and Skip Steve Chamberlain had a healthy 12-4 lead, after eight ends, reduced to 16-14 after fifteen ends. They increased it to 20-14 two ends later, but it was tied at 20 all three ends later; leaving it all on the last end. With his last wood to bowl and the Jack moved back and off centre, the hosts were holding shots and although there were more woods in front of the Jack than behind, Steve Chamberlain managed to draw shot to get a 21-20 shot win for his Rink. Dawn Kingsland, Bill Thorne, Jim Adams and Skip Les Parsley had a tough game and their scores were level on six occasions. The sixth was on the last end, which they went in to 18-19 down. It only happened because with the overall match score so tight Les Parsley saw an opportunity to increase his Rinks shot tally, from the two they were already holding, by taking out the host’s nearest wood. But it did not come off, his wood hit the Jack and when it stopped their shot count was reduced to one and the game tied at 19 all; so an extra end had to be played. But as his team were holding the shots they needed to win the extra end he did not bowl his last wood. After ten ends Peggy Lewis, Bob Waller, Basil Briars and Skip David Wright were 2-10 down. Two ends later they were level at 10 all thanks to picking up a six and a two on the following two ends. But five ends later they were 12-18 down and despite winning the last two ends they went down 14-18. Jim Whittle, Ann Poulton, Steve Arnold and Skip Brian Gilbert had built up a healthy 18-9 lead after twelve ends but five ends later it was down to 19-15. They got it back to 22-15 with one end to go but could not find a way to stop their opposition from picking up four shots on the last end, so won 22-19.

Datchworth 94 St Ippolyts 57
On Sunday afternoon St Ippolyts visited the Turkey Farm to play a Stevenage and District Mixed Bowls League match and for the first time they had to play one bowler short on each of the four Rinks played, due to illness and holidays; therefore suffering the league’s penalties for playing shorthanded. Edie Alden, Bill Thorne, Jim Russell and Jeff Nash had a fairly comfortable time of it for eleven ends as they led 17-9, after picking up a five on that end. But the visitors fought back and by the end of the fifteenth end the scores were tied at 18 all. Although the last six ends were equally shared as they picked up multiple shots compared to dropping single shots each time they ran out 25-21 winners; which after penalty adjustment became a 25-17 win. Jim Whittle, Gill Parsley, Steve Chamberlain and Skip David Wright looked good at 10-5 up after eight ends. But things changed in favour of the visitors after that as they won the next five ends, including picking up a six on the twelfth end, to lead 20-10. The closing ends were shared equally also, but it was not enough to stop them losing 19-25, which after penalty adjustment became a 19-20 defeat. Derrick Elms, Paul Wright, Jean Cooper and Skip Les Parsley built up a healthy 22-8 shot lead after fifteen ends before their opposition came back at them by winning the next four ends to reduce their lead to 22-14. But they won the closing two ends to win 27-14, which after penalty adjustment became a 27-10 win. Brian Cooper, Peggy Lewis, John Alden and Skip Steve Arnold took their time to find their line and length but when they did they did it in style, winning all but two of the remaining eleven ends, to come from 3-12 down after ten ends to win 23-14, which after penalty adjustment became a 23-10 win.

Match Teams for week ending 10th July 2011

Datchworth Yellow 42 Shamrock 27
D.Kingsland, P.Fox & D.Wright beat J.Flint, M.Meaney & T.Ready 27-11; R.Jones, B.Thorne & S.Chamberlain lost to D.Walker, J.Dolan & B.Bruce 15-16.

Datchworth 71 Stevenage Town 79
P.Lewis, J.Russell, S.Arnold & L.Parsley lost to D.Hickman, P.Marsh, E.Moodey & T.Hemmings 16-18; D.Kingsland, P.Large, B.Briars & B.Gilbert lost to B.Gifford, J.Gifford, J.Banks & S.Wilson 16-18; B.Cooper, J.James, D.Wright & S.Chamberlain beat P.Gosling, G.Lofthouse, M.Garland & A.Bratherton 23-18; A.Lewis, B.Thorne, J.Cooper & J.Nash lost to P.Megan, G.Stewart, R.Wells & J.Coxall 16-25.

Datchworth Green 21 Jesters 42
J.Mahoney, J.Russell & J.James lost to R.Shipp, P.Beeson & V.Greenberg 7-25; R.Bailey, M.Mahoney & J.Nash lost to G.Gifkins, A.Beeson & T.Deane 14-17.

Datchworth Blue 41 Castles 32
S.Arnold, R.Andrews & L.Parsley beat R.Shipp, M.Howett & D.Whitehouse 17-16; M.Mahoney, B.Briars & B.Gilbert beat L.Brewster, A.Gibbs & M.Milne 24-16.

Datchworth 76 Riverain 76
G.Parsley, J.Waller, N.Poulton & S.Chamberlain beat P.Cocks, T.Bramwell, J.Welch & B.Armstrong 21-20; D.Kingsland, B.Thorne, J.Adams & L.Parsley drew with D.Robinson, J.Chaplin, C.Bramwell & T.Booth 19 all; P.Lewis, B.Waller, B.Briars & D.Wright lost to G.Brown, B.Wareham, S.Phillips & D.Jeffries 14-18; J.Whittle, A.Poulton, S.Arnold & B.Gilbert beat S.Booth, A.Robinson, R.Wareham & G.Chaplin 22-19.

Datchworth 94 St Ippolyts 57
E.Alden, B.Thorne, J.Russell & J.Nash beat K.King, B.King & A.Warren 25-17; J.Whittle, G.Parsley, S.Chamberlain & D.Wright lost to J.Davies, M.Hayzeldson & C.Davidson 19-20; D.Elms, P.Wright, J.Cooper & L.Parsley beat A.Heald, R.Clark & G.Heald 27-10; B.Cooper, P.Lewis, J.Alden & S.Arnold beat P.Seaby, T.Upchurch & J.Clark 23-10.

Match Reports for week ending 17th July 2011

Datchworth Gold 40 Parkside 30
Datchworth’s East Herts Bowls League Div 2 Gold team hosted Parkside on Monday night at the Turkey Farm and came out on top with a 40-30 shot win. Peter Large, Jim Adams and Skip Steve Chamberlain won the first two ends and only lost the lead when the were pegged back from leading 7-2, after five ends, to 7 all two ends later. They then won the next four ends to lead 15-7 and despite only winning another two ends, including picking up a six they never lost their lead and held on to win 23-14. It was a much closer game for Jim Whittle, Phil Fox and Skip David Wright. The lead in their game changed hands five times. The fourth lead change was when they dropped a five on the fifteenth end to go from 12-10 up to 12-15 down. The fifth time was when they picked up four shots on the eighteenth and final end to convert a 13-16 deficit into a 17-16 win.

Datchworth Yellow 29 Welwyn Garden City Knights 41
On Tuesday night Datchworth’s Welwyn Hatfield Bowls League Div 1 Yellow team made their first of two visits to Welwyn Garden City’s Knightsfield green, for the first of three matches between the clubs this week. This match was a league match and it ended in a 29-41 defeat for the Yellow team. Jim Whittle, Bill Thorne and Skip Steve Chamberlain trailed 2-10 after winning only two of the first seven ends. They then won six of the next ten ends to go into the final end 13-15 down. They won the last end by picking up two shots to draw 15 all. Rachel Jones, Phil Fox and Skip David Wright only lost one more end than their opposition over the first nine but went 5-18 down as they dropped a combination of threes and fours. They then won the next five ends, cutting their deficit down to 14-18, only to lose the last four ends to lose 14-26.

Datchworth Yellow 17 Welwyn Garden City Crusaders 48
Their second visit to Knightsfield was on Wednesday night in Welwyn Hatfield Bowls League’s John Brown Trophy against Welwyn Garden City’s Div 2 Crusaders team and they were crushed 17-48. They had one Triple their and one at the Turkey Farm where Doreen Hodson-Smith, Phil Fox and Skip David Wright struggled and dropping a five followed by a six midway through their game did not help as they lost 8-29. At Knightsfield Dawn Kingsland, Jim Adams and Skip Steve Chamberlain did not fare any better as they went down 9-19.

Datchworth 77 Welwyn Garden City 77
The third match of the week was on Thursday afternoon when Welwyn Garden City were the visitors to the Turkey Farm for a Mixed Friendly match and it finished all square at 77 shots apiece after being played in the right spirit throughout. Bob Waller, Arthur Lewis, Joan James and Skip Chas Townley won the first end but then lost the next five to trail 1-9. Then a run of four winning ends saw them come from 4-11 down after ten ends to just 10-11 down after fourteen ends. They then only managed another two winning ends and lost 15-22. Jessie Little, Jane Waller, John Alden and Skip Steve Arnold could not do a thing right for fourteen ends and trailed 5-22 as a consequence. But they eventually got their act together and won all but two of the remaining seven ends and outscored their opponents 13-5, but it was not enough to stop them losing 18-27. Dawn Kingsland, David Cooper, Jim Adams and Skip Basil Briars had a close game for the first twelve ends but led 8-6. But after that they dominated the game as they lost only one more end to run out comfortable winners by 24-7. Peter Large, Joe Barsdell, Edie Alden and Skip Steve Chamberlain got off to a good start as they picked up 3 shots on each of the first three ends to lead 9-0. That lead was down to 10-8 after nine ends and after dropping two 3s in a row it was 15-14 after fourteen ends. Having never losing the lead they went in to the penultimate end 20-17 ahead but they dropped two 2s over the last two ends and lost by the odd shot 20-21.

Datchworth 61 Hitchin Town 60
On Friday night Datchworth played Hitchin Town in Letchworth and District Bowls Association’s Cairns Cup, with two Triple at home and two away. At the Turkey Farm Derrick Elms, Jim Russell and Skip Peter Hills had an awful start winning only two of the first ten ends and trailing 4-17, after dropping a six on the tenth end. They managed to get their act together somewhat and won five of the closing eight ends, but as all but one of the shots picked up over those eight ends were one shot, they only managed to cut their deficit down to nine shots, losing 11-20. In a game of two halves Jim Whittle, Jeff Nash and Skip Brian Gilbert lost seven of the first eight ends and trailed 3-10. But over the remaining ten ends they found their form and won all but two of them and finished drawing their game 15 all, thanks to their Skip drawing shot with his and the games last wood. While this was going on both Triples at Hitchin snatched victory out of the jaws of defeat, in more ways than one. Mike Mahoney, Steve Chamberlain and Skip David Wright had one of those games where no matter what they did the other team found something better. They subsequently found themselves 7-12 down with three ends to play. But they picked up a four on the sixteenth end and a second on the seventeenth, to lead 15-12 going in to the last and despite the best efforts of their opposition they also won the last end with a single shot to win 16-12. The game involving Steve Arnold, Richard Andrews and Skip Les Parsley followed a similar pattern, first they were holding shots, then they were not and they found themselves 11-13 down with four ends to play. But they too eventually managed to hold on to their shots at the death, winning the last four ends, adding eight shots to their score in the process, to win 19-13. Overall after thirteen ends Datchworth were 37-53 behind but managed to pick up 24 shots over the closing five ends while dropping just 7 shots, enabling then to snatch a one shot win.

Datchworth 69 Bengeo 75
On what turned out to be a surprisingly dry and at times sunny Saturday afternoon, not at all what was forecast, Datchworth travelled to Bengeo for a Mixed Friendly match and despite winning three of the four games played ended up losing 69-75. Edie Alden, Derrick Elms, Nigel Poulton and Skip Brian Gilbert won the first two ends and stayed in front till the end, winning 18-13, thanks to picking up two 2s over the final two ends after having had their lead cut to just one shot on the nineteenth end. Gill Parsley, John Alden, Phil Fox and Skip Jim Adams had built up a 17-9 lead after fifteen ends but after losing the next three ends their lead too was down to just one, at 17-16, they won the next two ends to lead 21-16, but lost the last to win 21-18. It was a game of four quarters for Dawn Kingsland, Ann Poulton, Joan James and Skip Les Parsley. It just did not go their way for most of the game. They only won one of the first five ends to trail 1-8, won all the next five to draw level at 8 all, won just one of the next five and trailed 9-17 and finished by winning only one of the closing six ends to lose 10-25. Despite winning three more ends than their opposition Rachel Jones, Bill Thorne, Steve Arnold and Skip Steve Chamberlain dropped too many multiple shots while picking up mostly single shots, but they managed to edge the game 21-20 by getting the shot with the last wood of the final end.

Datchworth 74 Knebworth 84
On Sunday afternoon Datchworth’s near neighbours Knebworth were the visitors to the Turkey Farm for a Stevenage and District Mixed Bowls League match and went home with an 84-74 shot win, as Datchworth continued their indifferent form in this season’s League programme. The match was interrupted by a heavy downpour, forcing the players off the green and taking an early tea; by the end of which it was safe to return and finish the match. After going behind 2-11 at the end of the sixth end Jane Waller, Bill Thorne, John Alden and Skip Jim Adams won nine out of the next twelve ends to lead 19-15. But they could not hold out till the end, losing the last three ends to lose 19-21. Dawn Kingsland, Peter Large, Steve Arnold and Skip Jeff Nash won the first end but then dropped sixteen shots over the next three ends, including an eight on the fourth end, to go 2-16 down. Despite winning only one end less than their opposition they dropped too many multiple shots, which along with the eight dropped early in the game saw them go down heavily 19-34. It was a case of a game of two halves for Jim Whittle, Paul Wright, Joan James and Skip Steve Chamberlain as they won all but three of the first eleven ends, then won only three of the closing ten ends. This resulted in them going from 12-8 up after eleven ends, to losing 15-17 at the end. Edie Alden, Bob Waller, Basil Briars and Skip Brian Gilbert went 1-6 down after five ends but by winning twelve of the next fourteen ends saw them lead 21-10. But they then lost the last to ends to win 21-12.

Match Teams for week ending 17th July 2011

Datchworth Gold 40 Parkside 30
P.Large, J.Adams & S.Chamberlain beat C.Metcalfe, C.Rogers & D.Shepperson 23-14; J.Whittle, P.Fox & D.Wright beat C.Jones, J.McCrossan & J.Halliday 17-16.

Datchworth Yellow 29 Welwyn Garden City Knights 41
J.Whittle, B.Thorne & S.Chamberlain drew with J.Kilmister, K.Price & A.Croshaw 15 all; R.Jones, P.Fox & D.Wright lost to L.Kilmister, D.Heggerty & T.Seeby 14-26.

Datchworth Yellow 17 Welwyn Garden City Crusaders 48
D.Hodson-Smith, P.Fox & D.Wright lost to T.Hughes, A.Budge & N.Sharp 8-29; D.Kingsland, J.Adams & S.Chamberlain lost to W.Goodyear, S.Budge & M.Stevens 9-19.

Datchworth 77 Welwyn Garden City 77
B.Waller, A.Lewis, J.James & C.Townley lost to J.Chennell, P.Martin, K.Price & A.Croshaw 15-22; J.Little, J.Waller, J.Alden & S.Arnold lost to T.Martin, T.Plummer, J.Kilmister & P.Ball 18-27; D.Kingsland, D.Cooper, J.Adams & B.Briars beat G.Tamkin, M.Gay, K.Wilson & R.Middlewood 24-7; P.Large, J.Barsdell, E.Alden & S.Chamberlain lost to L.Kilmister, R.Avery, B.Hewitt & K.Ames 20-21.

Datchworth 61 Hitchin Town 60
D.Elms, J.Russell & P.Hills lost to L.Hill, B.Marsden & I.Page 11-20; J.Whittle, J.Nash & B.Gilbert drew with A.Bennett, N.Parke & A.Cook 15 all; M.Mahoney, S.Chamberlain & D.Wright beat D.Munro, R.Parker & G.Munge 16-12; S.Arnold, R.Andrews & L.Parsley beat G.Billingham, M.Squires & R.Cole 19-13.

Datchworth 69 Bengeo 75
E.Alden, D.Elms, N.Poulton & B.Gilbert beat B.Cable, J.Carter, P.Ottley & P.Dougherty 18-13; G.Parsley, J.Alden, P.Fox & J.Adams beat R.Jeffereys, M.Lamb, B.Mansfield & R.Partridge 21-18; D.Kingsland, A.Poulton, J.James & L.Parsley lost to B.Ginn, B.Cable, F.Greenham& N.Ottley 10-25; R.Jones, B.Thorne, S.Arnold & S.Chamberlain beat P.Pegg, J.Martin, W.Wiles & K.Clarke 20-19.

Datchworth 74 Knebworth 84
J.Waller, B.Thorne, J.Alden & J.Adams lost to B.Parker, S.Parker, J.Matthews & R.Fieldsend 19-21; D.Kingsland, P.Large, S.Arnold & J.Nash lost to P.Veale, P.Koudous, T.Smith & S.Smith 19-34; J.Whittle, P.Wright, J.James & S.Chamberlain lost to R.Hand, B.Weston, S.Varney & R.Hughes 15-17; E.Alden, B.Waller, B.Briars & B.Gilbert beat T.Playle, H.Miester, B.Osborne & S.Hughes 21-12.

Match Reports for week ending 24th July 2011

Datchworth Blue 43 B.S.P. 25
On Tuesday night Datchworth’s East Herts Bowls League Div 1 Blue team travelled to Welwyn Garden City’s K.G.V green to play B.S.P. and continued their good form with a 43-25 shot win. Mike Mahoney, Brian Gilbert and Skip Peter Hills could hardly do a thing wrong in their game, whenever a shot was needed they got it and as a consequence they only lost five ends as they ran out winners by 23-10. It was the reverse for Steve Arnold, Richard Andrews and Skip Les Parsley. For the first thirteen ends whenever their home team opposition needed shots to get themselves out of trouble their Skip Garry Smith invariably came up with them, hence they were 11-15 down. But their luck changed and they won the remaining five ends and eventually took the lead 16-15 at the end of the seventeenth end. But they were not certain of holding on to that lead as the shots they were holding on the final end were gradually removed and with Garry Smith’s last wood looking on line to take their only shot out it looked like they were heading for a draw. But his wood glanced off their shot wood, moved the Jack sideways a touch and then continued through the head enough to leave them holding four shots and a somewhat unlikely and cruel (on Garry Smith) 20-15 win.

Datchworth Green 17 DeHavilland 33
Also on Tuesday night Datchworth’s Welwyn Hatfield Bowls League Div 2 Green team travelled to Hatfield to play DeHavilland in a re-arranged league fixture and after an abrupt unilateral decision was made to halt the proceedings by the home team, to protect the green because it was raining, the score was 33-17 in their favour. Chris Hills, Jean Cooper and Skip Joan James won the first end but then dropped four twos in succession to go 1-8 down after five ends. But they got their act together such that by the time the halt was called they were only 10-11 down. It was not that close for Brian Cooper, Paul Wright and Skip Jeff Nash. They could not do a thing right for the first seven ends and trailed 0-18 and by the time the halt was called they were 7-22 down.

Datchworth 66 Three Horseshoes 68
On Wednesday night it was not a good night at the office for Datchworth as they were knocked out at the Semi Final stage of the Stevenage and District Mixed Bowls League Knock Out Competition 68-66 by Three Horseshoes. At the Turkey Farm Bill Thorne, Jean Cooper and Skip Steve Arnold won the first end and held the lead until they were caught at 8 all after ten ends. They took the lead again on the eleventh and lost it again on the fifteenth, but they held their nerve to win the closing three ends to win 15-12. Despite losing the first three ends Jim Whittle, Joan James and Skip Jeff Nash then raced into a 20-5 shot lead after eleven ends but the visitors fought back over the closing seven ends and by the finish had reduced it 24-17. Down at Three Horseshoes’ Broadhall Way green things did not go Datchworth’s way. June Russell, Jim Adams and Skip Brian Gilbert were up against a Skip, in the form of Colin Cole, who could do no wrong when required to do so. On more than one occasion he came in to cut down, and even cut out, the shots they were holding and despite only losing two more ends than they won, dropping a seven with three ends to go did not help as they lost 11-21. Gill Parsley, Jim Russell and Skip Steve Chamberlain had a much closer game. They shared the ends nine apiece and led three times. The third time after they picked up a five, followed by a two, to lead 16-15 with two ends to go. But they lost those and the game 16-18.

Datchworth Green 41 Knebworth ‘B’ 24
On Thursday night Datchworth’s Welwyn Hatfield Bowls League Div 2 Green team travelled to Knebworth to play their ‘B’ team and came away with a 41-24 shot win. Paul Wright, June Russell and Skip Steve Arnold won twice as many ends as their opposition and heavily out-scored them in the process as they won 29-8. It was not so easy for Janet Mahoney, Jim Russell and Skip Mike Mahoney. They had more of a struggle against their opposition as they lost the end count 8-10 and only picked up more than one shot on two occasions, while there opposition scored more than one on half of their winning ends; as a result they lost 12-16.

Datchworth Gold 50 Hertford 31
On Friday night Datchworth’s East Herts Bowls League Div 2 Gold team played Hertford at the Turkey Farm and won somewhat comfortably 50-31. But it was not as simple as the score suggests, the evening started off bright as did both home Triples then the rain came and went, as did the home teams’ fortune. Robin Bailey, Jim Adams and Skip Steve Chamberlain had built up a healthy 22-2 lead by the time the rain hit, then they lost six ends in a row and were 22-14 down with three ends to play. They won two of those ends to win 27-15. Derek Henley, Phil Fox and Skip David Wright also got off to a good start and were 18-4 up when the rain hit, with seven ends to play, and they lost all but two of these, including dropping a six on the penultimate end, but by that time the match could not be lost. They held on to win 23-16.

Datchworth v Hitchin Town
Saturday’s home match against Hitchin Town had to be cancelled as Hitchin could not raise a team.

Datchworth 80 Sele Farm 122
On what seemed to be the first sunny Sunday afternoon for weeks Datchworth travelled to the Hartham at Hertford to play Sele Farm in a Mixed Friendly and got almost completely whitewashed in their 80-122 defeat. Jim Whittle, Edie Alden and Skip Steve Arnold won only one of the first six ends played to go 1-6 down. But they found their feet to go on and win all but two of the remaining twelve ends to win 15-8. Their only other winning Triple was that of Sue Kiernan, Bill Thorne and Skip Steve Chamberlain. They had a winning purple patch from the ninth to the fifteenth end and went from 5-11 down to 19-11 up and despite losing two of the closing three ends they won 22-14. Things did not go that well for Rachel Jones, Paul Wright and Skip Jim Adams. They led 16-10 with four ends to go but lost the next three ends, including dropping a five on the third of those ends, they did win the last end, but only picked up one shot, so lost 17-18. Peter Large, Gill Parsley and Skip Les Parsley could do nothing to stop themselves losing 8-28. Ann Poulton, John Alden and Skip Nigel Poulton nearly suffered a very fate. They only managed to pick up four single shots in the first fifteen ends, but somehow managed to pick up seven shots in winning the last three ends to lose 11-23. The worst defeat was suffered by Derrick Elms, Doreen Hodson-Smith and Skip Derek Henley. They were 7-14 down after twelve ends, but they conceded a further seventeen shots over the closing six ends, including a five on the last end, to lose 7-31.

Match Teams for week ending 24th July 2011

Datchworth Blue 43 B.S.P. 25
M.Mahoney, B.Gilbert & P.Hills beat K.Grethe, J.Hadland & B.Worsley 23-10; S.Arnold, R.Andrews & L.Parsley beat K.Olney, D.Miller & G.Smith 20-15.

Datchworth Green 17 DeHavilland 33
C.Hills, J.Cooper & J.James lost to A.Dew, M.Scandrett & S.Smale 10-11; B.Cooper, P.Wright & J.Nash lost to K.Woodbridge, C.Goode & D.Croft 7-22.

Datchworth 66 Three Horseshoes 68
B.Thorne, J.Cooper & S.Arnold beat G.Thurgood, M.Martin & C.Cooper 15-12; J.Whittle, J.James & J.Nash beat M.Cooper, B.Eddington & D.Eddington 24-17; J.Russell, J.Adams & B.Gilbert lost to S.Cole, D.Wilkinson & C.Cole 11-21; G.Parsley, J.Russell & S.Chamberlain lost to P.Stacey, G.Waugh & B.Maylard 16-18.

Datchworth Green 41 Knebworth ‘B’ 24
P.Wright, J.Russell & S.Arnold beat H.Miester, P.Edwards & P.Durrance 29-8; J.Mahoney, J.Russell & M.Mahoney lost to B.Weston, G.Stevens & T.Playle 12-16.

Datchworth Gold 50 Hertford 31
R.Bailey, J.Adams & S.Chamberlain beat K.Hammond, J.Smith & R.Pedder 27-15; D.Henley, P.Fox & D.Wright bet A.Millington, D.Watson & N.Cook 23-16.

Datchworth 80 Sele Farm 122
J.Whittle, E.Alden & S.Arnold beat H.Graves, R.Clift & J.Parsley 15-8; S.Kiernan, B.Thorne & S.Chamberlain beat B.Riley, J.Lonergan & R.Pratt 22-14; R.Jones, P.Wright & J.Adams lost to J.Squires, D.Lacey & J.Dunne 17-18; P.Large, G.Parsley & L.Parsley lost to J.Sell, N.Lonergan & D.Pratt 8-28; A.Poulton, J.Alden & N.Poulton lost to M.Sell, E.Dunn & S.Duck 11-23; D.Elms, D.Hodson-Smith & D.Henley lost to P.Pratt, J.Parsley & J.Smith 7-31.

Datchworth Bowls Club Report for week ending 7th August 2011

On Wednesday night Datchworth’s East Herts Bowls League Div 2 Gold team travelled to Bishop’s Stortford to play their Ospreys team and were beaten 26-45. Jim Whittle, Phil Fox and Skip Jim Adams dropped a five on the first end but fought back to 8 all after eight ends and were 10 all after ten ends. But they won only one more end of the remaining eight, dropping twenty shots in the process, to lose 12-30. Robin Bailey, Derek Henley and Skip Steve Chamberlain were level on six separate occasions, the last being at 12 all with two ends to go. But they dropped three shots on the penultimate end and only picked up a two on the final end to lose 14-15.
Also on Wednesday night Datchworth’s Welwyn Hatfield Bowls League Div 2 Green team were at home to Welwyn Garden City’s Crusaders and were beaten on both rinks to lose 23-39. Beverley Tapper, June Russell and Skip Steve Arnold had a disastrous start winning just two of the first ten ends and went 2-15 down. They then managed to get their act together and won five of the last eight ends to cut their losing deficit down to 12-18. It was all too similar story for Bill Tapper, Jim Russell and Skip Joan James as they too only won two of the first ten ends to go 4-16 down. They shared the last eight ends four apiece as they lost 11-21.
On Friday night Datchworth’s East Herts Bowls League Div 1 Blue team travelled the short distance to Aston to play their Whistlers team and suffered a two shot 33-35 defeat and put a dent in divisional aspirations, as they currently sit second in Div 1. Mike Mahoney, Richard Andrews and Skip Peter Hills took the lead early and were 15-6 ahead after eleven ends. Which was good as the home team fought back and won the next six ends to lead 16-15, but they lost the last end, dropping four shots to the Blue team such that they won 19-16. Bill Thorne, Brian Gilbert and Skip Les Parsley had a much closer game in the sense that there were never more than two shots separating the teams for fifteen ends, when the scores were level at 11 apiece, but two losing ends saw them drop eight shots and fall behind 11-19. Picking up three on the last end only saw them reduce their losing tally to 14-19.
On Saturday afternoon Three Horseshoes were the visitors to the Turkey Farm for a Stevenage and District Mixed Bowls League match and returned home after sharing the rinks played two apiece, but beaten 82-74. J.Whittle, Arthur Lewis, Jean Cooper and Skip Brian Gilbert won four of the first six ends to lead 10-6 but then only managed another five winning ends as they lost 20-23. Dawn Kingsland, Derek Henley, John Alden and Skip Les Parsley also won four of the first six ends to lead 9-1, but then lost the next five ends to trail 9-12. They followed that by picking up seven shots on the following end and one shot on the next four ends saw them lead 20-12. They then lost the remaining five ends, dropping just one shot each time, to win 20-17. By dropping eight shots over three ends saw Edie Alden, Derrick Elms, Chas Townley and Skip Jim Adams go from 8 all to 8-16 after fourteen ends. But they fought back winning all but one of the next six ends to go in to the final end 19-17 up, only to drop two on the last end to draw 19 all. This meant they had to play an extra end to decide who won the point for winning the rink and they lost it. Brian Cooper, Gill Parsley, Nigel Poulton and Skip Steve Chamberlain won six of the first seven ends, to lead 9-2, and never lost the lead from then on, eventually winning 23-15.
On Sunday afternoon Datchworth travelled to Hoddesdon and Rye Park for a Mixed Friendly and lost 70-98 after a mixture of Fours and Triples games were played to cater for the numbers of bowlers on both sides. Bill Tapper, Bob Waller, Edie Alden and Skip Jean Cooper won the first two ends to lead 4-0 but found themselves 8-10 down after ten ends despite sharing the ends played equally. They then only won two of the remaining eleven ends and lost heavily 12-28. Despite losing the end-count 10-11 Sylvia Barsby, Jane Waller, Paul Wright and Skip Steve Chamberlain picked up one shot on all but two of those ends and two shots on those two ends while dropping one shot on just four ends and two or more on the other seven, as they lost 12-21. Beverley Tapper, Arthur Lewis and Skip Joan James were just 7-6 ahead after eleven ends but could only win a further two ends as they lost 10-16. Jim Whittle, Doreen Hodson-Smith and Skip John Alden were 10-6 ahead after eight ends before losing five ends in a row to go 10-13 down and then leading 14-13 three ends later. They were tied at 16 all with three ends to go but they lost the first two of these and the damage was done by dropping a five on the last of the two, to go 12-22 down. Despite winning the last end it only meant they lost 17-22. Datchworth’s only winning team was the triple of Dawn Kingsland, Bill Thorne and Skip Jim Adams. They won the first five ends to lead 7-0 and were never troubled after that as they ran out 19-11 winners.

Datchworth Gold 26 Bishop’s Stortford Ospreys 45
J.Whittle, P.Fox & J.Adams lost to J.Flack, M.Farrow & A.Hutchinson 12-30; R.Bailey, D.Henley & S.Chamberlain lost to J.Humphries, E.Harvey & R.Scott 14-15.

Datchworth Green 23 Welwyn Garden City Crusaders 39
B.Tapper, J.Russell & S.Arnold lost to B.Hughes, T.Saggers & R.Griffiths 12-18; B.Tapper, J.Russell & J.James lost to W.Goodyear, T.Hughes & A.Budge 11-21.

Datchworth Blue 33 Aston Whistlers 35
M.Mahoney, R.Andrews & P.Hills beat L.Grindley, M.Dunne & T.Phipps 19-16; B.Thorne, B.Gilbert & L.Parsley lost to P.Smith, M.Allington & P.Jones 14-19.

Datchworth 82 Three Horseshoes 74
J.Whittle, A.Lewis, J.Cooper & B.Gilbert lost to M.Wilkinson, A.Lane, P.Wilkinson & C.Cooper 20-23; D.Kingsland, D.Henley, J.Alden & L.Parsley beat A.Lane, F.Naylor, K.Wilkinson & B.Eddington 20-17; E.Alden, D.Elms, C.Townley & J.Adams drew with S.Cole, E.Iontton, P.Stacey & D.Eddington 19 all; B.Cooper, G.Parsley, N.Poulton & S.Chamberlain beat L.Wolfe, B.Naylor, P.Ellis & C.Cole 23-15.

Datchworth 70 Hoddesdon and Rye Park 98
B.Tapper, B.Waller, E.Alden & J.Cooper lost to A.Hinman, A.Morrow, G.Hardy & J.Stevenson 12-28; S.Barsby, J.Waller, P.Wright & S.Chamberlain lost to A.Bull, D.Lofthouse, C.Milner & D.Fussell 12-21; B.Tapper, A.Lewis & J.James lost to J.Jones, A.Richardson & R.Izzard 10-16; J.Whittle, D.Hodson-Smith & J.Alden lost to C.Francis, J.Mathews, W.Richardson & T.Maynard 17-22; D.Kingsland, B.Thorne & J.Adams beat P.Francis, M.Smith & R.Rogers 19-11.

Match Reports for week ending 14th August 2011

Datchworth Blue 31 Sele Farm 33
Sele Farm were the visitors to the Turkey Farm on Monday night for an East Herts Bowls League Div 1 match against Datchworth’s Blue team and came out on to with a 33-31 shot win. Mike Mahoney, Brian Gilbert and Skip Peter Hills despite winning only three of the first eight ends only trailed 6-8, but then lost the next four ends to trail 6-14. The final six ends went 4-2 in their favour, but it was not enough to prevent them losing 11-16. It was brother against brother as Les Parsley Skipped Bill Thorne and Richard Andrews against a Triple Skipped by his brother Jim. Things went the way of Les first, as his Triple led 10-1 after seven ends and 13-8 after ten ends. But a run of four losing ends saw them trail 13-17 with three ends to play. They won those and by picking up two threes on the final two ends they first went to 17 all then winning 20-17. This was the Blue team’s second two shot defeat in four days, but it still was not enough to drop them from second place in Div 1.

Datchworth Yellow 33 Shamrock 33
There was a double header of Welwyn Hatfield Bowls League action on Wednesday night when both Shamrock and DeHavilland were the visitors to the Turkey Farm; Shamrock for a Div 1 match against Datchworth’s Yellow team and DeHavilland for a Div 2 match against Datchworth’s Green team. In a close fought contest between the Yellow team and Shamrock both teams scored 33 shots apiece. Dawn Kingsland, Phil Fox and Skip Jim Adams shared the ends equally in their game, but their downfall was helped by dropping two fives. The first early on when they were leading 3-1 and the second two ends from the end, when they were 11-15 down, and despite winning the final two ends they lost 15-20. Bob Downes, Doreen Hodson-Smith and Skip Steve Chamberlain finally got the better of their opposition by winning five of the last six ends to go from just 11-10 up, after twelve ends to winning 18-13.

Datchworth Green 47 DeHavilland 24
It was a different story for the Green team against DeHavilland as one Triple romped home and the other suffered a late one shot defeat as the Green team won 47-24. Brian Cooper, Mike Mahoney and Skip Joan James only lost six ends, dropping just one shot each time, in contrast to them picking just four single shots and eight multiple shots of twos through to a six; which was the reason they crushed their opposition 30-6. In contrast Janet Mahoney, Paul Wright and Skip Jean Cooper had built up a halfway lead of 15-5 and looked like they were cruising also, but they dropped a five on the twelfth end and never recovered, losing four of the remaining six ends to lose 17-18.

Datchworth 70 Holwell 56
On Friday night Datchworth’s Men played Holwell’s Men in a Semi Final of Letchworth and District Bowls Association’s Cairns Cup, with two Triples at home and two away and won through to the Final with a 70-56 shot win. At Datchworth’s Turkey Farm green Derrick Elms, Jim Adams and Skip Steve Chamberlain had a comfortable 25-8 shot win after losing only four ends, thanks in part to some very good bowling from Jim Adams; who had one of those games where he could hardly put a wood wrong. Jim Whittle, Jeff Nash and Skip Brian Gilbert got off to a good start and led 8-3 after seven ends, but they were pegged back to 9 all after eleven ends. They dropped a six on the next end, followed by two ones and their will appeared broken but they fought back and won the closing four ends to reduce their losing deficit to 14-17. So that gave Datchworth a 14 shot advantage over Holwell. At Holwell it was a much closer affair all round. Mike Mahoney, Peter Hills and Skip David Wright found themselves 2-6 down after five ends before rallying and winning the next five ends to lead 10-6. The last eight ends were shared four apiece and they held on to win 18-15. Up to the thirteenth end Derek Henley, Richard Andrews and Skip Les Parsley did not win or lose more than two ends in a row and led 12-8. But they lost the next four ends, dropping eight shots, to go 12-16 down with one end to play. They won that end, but only picked up one shot to lose 13-16. That made the scores all square at Holwell and meant Datchworth won through to the Final.

Datchworth 64 Holwell 81
As a club Holwell did not have to wait long to seek revenge as they were back at the Turkey Farm on Sunday afternoon for a Stevenage and District Mixed Bowls League match. Revenge was achieved as Datchworth lost 64-81. Derrick Elms, Beverley Tapper, Jim Adams and Skip Les Parsley had a tight first eleven ends and were tied at 8 all. They then lost the next four ends to trail 8-15 before getting their act together and winning the closing six ends to win 19-15. Edie Alden, Arthur Lewis, John Alden and Skip Brian Gilbert started well and led 9-3 after nine ends. But they only managed to win one of the next six ends to trail 10-15. The remaining five ends were won alternately and they picked up seven shots, while dropping just three, but it was not enough to stop them losing 17-18. Gill Parsley, Bob Waller, Steve Arnold and Skip David Wright could hardly find a thing between them as they could only manage to win six ends and were crushed 8-28. Jim Whittle, Bill Tapper, Joan James and Skip Steve Chamberlain got off to a good start and had built up a 14-6 lead after ten ends. It was 19-12 after seventeen and things looked good, but it was not to be. Somehow the visitors picked up five shots on the next end and then won the next two to go into the last end one shot to the good. But the home team won the end by one shot, to draw 20 all, and then proceeded to win the extra end to claim the point for winning the Rink.

Match Teams for week ending 14th August 2011

Datchworth Blue 31 Sele Farm 33
M.Mahoney, B.Gilbert & P.Hills lost to M.Sell, D.Lee & H.Wright 11-16; B.Thorne, R.Andrews & L.Parsley beat D.Lacey, T.Clift & J.Parsley 20-17.

Datchworth Yellow 33 Shamrock 33
D.Kingsland, P.Fox & J.Adams lost to J.Flint, J.Dolan & T.Ready 15-20; B.Downes, D.Hodson-Smith & S.Chamberlain beat D.Walker, M.Meaney & K.Ames 18-13.

Datchworth Green 47 DeHavilland 24
B.Cooper, M.Mahoney & J.James beat B.Ardouren, I.Currie & D.Croft 30-6; J.Mahoney, P.Wright & J.Cooper lost to M.Scandrett, P.Croft & C.Goode 17-18.

Datchworth 70 Holwell 56
D.Elms, J.Adams & S.Chamberlain beat D.Webb, P.Gilbert & C.Males 25-8; J.Whittle, J.Nash & B.Gilbert lost to M.Sugden, B.Wright & M.Reidy 14-17; M.Mahoney, P.Hills & D.Wright beat B.Smith, A.Pearson & J.O’Dell 18-15; D.Henley, R.Andrews & L.Parsley lost to C.Salter, S.Wright & N.Houghton 13-16.

Datchworth 64 Holwell
D.Elms, B.Tapper, J.Adams & L.Parsley beat J.Dodds, D.Griffiths, P.McGuire & A.Waldock 19-15; E.Alden, A.Lewis, J.Alden & B.Gilbert lost to M.Griffiths, M.Sugden, H.Dodds & M.Reidy 17-18; G.Parsley, B.Waller, S.Arnold & D.Wright lost to R.Waldock, D.Worker, S.Houghton & C.Males 8-28; J.Whittle, B.Tapper, J.James & S.Chamberlain drew with B.Wright, A.Gilbert, P.Gilbert & N.Houghton 20 all.

Match Reports for week ending 21st August 2011

A busy week of bowling for Datchworth this week including five matches involving all four of their East Herts and Welwyn Hatfield Bowls League teams over three nights a Cup Final on Friday and two Friendly fixtures at the weekend.

On Monday night there was a Welwyn Hatfield Bowls League double header at their Turkey Farm green when Hertford Castle’s Harlequins team and Welwyn and District’s Woods team were the visitors for a Div 1 and Div 2 matches against Datchworth’s Yellow and Green teams respectively.

Datchworth Yellow 41 Hertford Castle Harlequins 25
Despite having a strong Harlequins team up against them the Yellow team came out on top with an impressive 41-25 win. Sue Kiernan, David Wright and Skip Derek Henley won the first four ends to lead 6-0 before losing the next two ends. But that did not stop them building a commanding 22-5 lead with three ends to go. A touch of complacency may have then set in as they lost those three ends and ran out 22-13 winners. Doreen Hodson-Smith and Skip Steve Chamberlain on the other hand went 2-7 down after their first four ends before they too got their act together and won eight ends to lead 17-7 after twelve ends. They then only won another two ends but still ran out 19-12 winners to complete a decent win and maximum league points.

Datchworth Green 44 Welwyn Woods 21
At the same time Datchworth’s Green team were completing a 44-21 shot win over Welwyn and District’s Woods team. Bill Tapper, June Russell and Skip Steve Arnold were leading 12-9 going in to the thirteenth end but dropped a five, they then got a five of their own on the next end and followed that by winning the next two ends, taking a 20-14 lead into the last two ends. They lost those but still won 20-16. Beverley Tapper, Jim Russell and Skip Jean Cooper had an easier time of it as they only dropped five single shots and ran out comfortable winners by 24-5.

Datchworth Yellow 43 Knebworth ‘A’ 27
Datchworth’s Yellow team were back at the Turkey Farm on Tuesday night to play Knebworth’s ‘A’ team in a re-arranged Welwyn Hatfield Bowls League Div 1 match and won for the second night running, this time 43-27. Dawn Kingsland, Jim Adams and Skip Steve Chamberlain won eight of the first eleven ends to lead 17-5 and were still comfortably 20-10 ahead with one end to play. They picked up five shots on that end to increase their winning margin to 25-10. Bill Thorne, Derek Henley and Skip David Wright won the first four ends to take the lead 5-0 before being winning only one of the next six ends to trail 7-9. They then won the next three ends to lead 15-9 before sharing the next four ends equally, to take an 18-16 lead into the final end, which they lost, but only by one shot to win 18-17.

Datchworth Blue 29 Hertingfordbury 36
On Wednesday night it was the turn of Datchworth’s Blue team to play at the Turkey Farm, against Hertingfordbury in an East Herts Bowls League Div 1 match which they lost 29-36. Both teams, Bill Thorne, Steve Arnold & Skip Les Parsley, Paul Wright, Jeff Nash and Skip Brian Gilbert lost the first two ends and despite Les Parsley’s Triple drawing level at 10 all after twelve ends neither Triple ever led and lost 15-18 and 14-18 respectively. This was their third defeat in a row and not good for the team currently sitting second in the division, with only two more matches to play. The first at home to Welwyn and District’s Stags, who are just below them with games in hand over them and who could overtake them. Their final match is against the current runaway divisional leaders Allenburys, who have lost just one match out of the twelve they have played, according to the latest league table issued.

Datchworth Gold 38 Welwyn Bucks 27
It was another Datchworth versus Welwyn and District match on Wednesday night when Datchworth’s East Herts Bowls League Div 2 Gold team travelled to Welwyn’s Ottway Walk green to take on their Bucks team. It was a good night for the Gold team as they beat one of the teams above them in the division 38-27. Bill Tapper, Jim Adams and Skip Steve Chamberlain won twice as many ends as their opposition in a game where only ones and twos were scored they ran out 16-8 winners. It was a different story for Derek Henley, Phil Fox and Skip David Wright. They could not have got off to a much better start than they did, as they picked up a seven on the opening end. But it did not last as four ends later they were 7-8 down. They won the following three ends, including picking up a five, to lead 14-8. Their lead was then 19-13 after thirteen ends before dropping a five to go into the last four ends just 19-18 up. They won three of them to hold on to the lead and win 22-19.

Datchworth 67 Baldock 66
On Friday night the Men of Datchworth took on their counterparts from Baldock in the Final of Letchworth and District Bowls Association’s Cairns Cup, with two Triples at home and two away. The last time Datchworth got to the Final of this competition they faced the same opponents and despite winning three out of the four Triples played they lost. This time some sort of retribution, if that is the correct term to use, was achieved as they again won three of the four Triples but this time won by the narrowest of margins 67-66. At the Turkey Farm Derrick Elms, Jim Adams and Skip Steve Chamberlain won four ends less than their opposition but still suffered an almost identical defeat at 8-24 as they imposed on their Semi Final opponents (25-8) that helped the Club get to the Final. Jim Whittle, Jeff Nash and Skip Brian Gilbert lost the first two ends before winning the next seven to lead 13-4 at the halfway stage. The remaining nine ends were shared 5-4 in their favour and despite dropping a five and a three they held on to win 21-16. At Baldock both games were tight and were only decided, along with the match result, over the closing five ends; as at that point the two Datchworth Triples were only two shots to the good overall. Mike Mahoney, Steve Arnold and Skip David Wright were level for the fourth time after the twelfth end before going 9-10 down after the thirteenth end. They then won the next three ends to lead 14-10 before dropping a shot on the penultimate end and then picking up two on the final end to win 16-11. They then lost the extra end that they played in case the overall scores were tied after all Triples had played eighteen ends. Derek Henley, Richard Andrews and Skip Les Parsley took the lead for the fourth time at 13-12 when they picked up two shots on the eleventh end and extended it to 16-12 on the next end. They dropped one shot on the thirteenth end, to lead 16-13, before winning four of the closing five ends to win 22-15. So with a combined thirteen shots picked up and only three dropped over those last five ends it meant ten shots were added to the two they were already ahead and the eleven shot deficit at Datchworth had been wiped out and Datchworth had won the Cairns Cup by just one shot and the fact that the extra end was lost was irrelevant.

Datchworth 92 Ware 115
Ware were the visitors to the Turkey Farm on Saturday afternoon and although the match started in the rain it finished in sunshine and in good spirits if the banter between the teams was anything to go by and with a comfortable 115-92 shot win for the visitors. The tea-break did not bode well for half of the Datchworth rinks. Bob Waller, Bill Tapper and Skip Doreen Hodson-Smith went in to the tea-break just 6-8 down but could only muster another two winning ends as they lost 8-18. Sylvia Barsby, Paul Wright and Skip Steve Arnold fared just as badly as they went in to tea 10-3 up and proceeded to lose 11-14 after winning just one more end. A similar fate befell Jim Whittle, Peter Large, Edie Alden and Skip Chas Townley. They went in to tea 9-7 up, but they too could only win one more end, the last, as they were crushed 11-30. Dawn Kingsland, Derrick Elms, Nigel Poulton and Skip Jeff Nash led 12-9 after fourteen ends but four losing end later they were 12-16 down. Thanks to picking up a four followed by a five they went into the final end 21-16 up. Dropping a three on the last end meant they won 21-19. Thanks to picking up four shots on the first end after tea Arthur Lewis, June Johnson, Ann Poulton and Skip John Alden went from 1-12 down to just 11-12 down but they lost the next four ends to go 11-16 down. They fought back to win all but one of the closing five ends to win 20-17. Beverley Tapper, Judy Simms, Bill Thorne and Skip Steve Chamberlain picked up five shots on the eleventh end to lead 11-8 before losing the next five ends to go 11-16 down. They then won all but one of the closing five ends for a come from behind 21-17 win.

Datchworth 57 Sele Farm 95
Sele Farm were the visitors to the Turkey Farm on Sunday afternoon for the second Mixed Friendly of the weekend and for the second time of the weekend they lost to the visitors, this time 57-95. The game involving Beverley Tapper, Georgina Gilbert, Derek Henley and Skip Steve Arnold was close for the first seven ends when the scores were level at 8 all. But it all went wrong for them after that, but not for the lack of trying, as they only managed to win another two ends as they lost heavily 9-25. Janet Mahoney, Peter Large, Edie Alden and Skip Brian Gilbert lost the first three ends to go 0-8 down and never got back into the game and lost 20-29. But they did pick up a six on the sixteenth end immediately after dropping a five on the fifteenth end. Despite leading for twelve ends Dawn Kingsland, Bill Tapper, John Alden and Skip Mike Mahoney could not hold on to it till the end as they lost the last two ends to go from 16-15 up to losing 16-20. Derrick Elms, Sue Kiernan, Doreen Hodson-Smith and Skip Steve Chamberlain went through a bad patch of eight losing ends to go from 4-5 down to 4-19 down after fourteen ends and despite winning the closing four ends still lost 12-21.

Match Teams for week ending 21st August 2011

Datchworth Yellow 41 Hertford Castle Harlequins 25
S.Kiernan, D.Wright & D.Henley beat J.LeGallais, S.Crowther & D.Whitehouse 22-13; D.Hodson-Smith & S.Chamberlain beat G.Butt, C.Brewster & G.Weaver 19-12.

Datchworth Green 44 Welwyn Woods 21
B.Tapper, J.Russell & S.Arnold beat A.Wilding, B.Marvel & C.Duxbury 20-16; B.Tapper, J.Russell & J.Cooper beat D.Squires, J.Jennings & S.Noel 24-5.

Datchworth Yellow 43 Knebworth ‘A’ 27
D.Kingsland, J.Adams & S.Chamberlain beat R.Hand, B.Butler & P.Barritt 25-10; B.Thorne, D.Henley & D.Wright beat P.Veale, A.Pease & J.Matthews 18-17.

Datchworth Blue 29 Hertingfordbury 36
B.Thorne, S.Arnold & L.Parsley lost to T.Kiernan, T.Hartfield & J.Smith 15-18; P.Wright, J.Nash & B.Gilbert lost to R.Hankin, K.Hartfield & N.Lonergan 14-18.

Datchworth Gold 38 Welwyn Bucks 27
B.Tapper, J.Adams & S.Chamberlain beat N.Noel, G.Hart & N.Woor 16-8; D.Henley, P.Fox & D.Wright beat M.Baldwin, T.Summerfield & S.Kenworthy 22-19.

Datchworth 67 Baldock 66
D.Elms, J.Adams & S.Chamberlain lost to D.Davies, B.Baxter & B.Todd 8-24; J.Whittle, J.Nash & B.Gilbert beat R.Dempster, J.Russell & J.Carter 21-16; M.Mahoney, S.Arnold & D.Wright beat B.Leadley, P.Riley & M.Parsons 16-11; D.Henley, R.Andrews & L.Parsley beat J.Moorley, S.Budge & J.McIntyre 22-15.

Datchworth 92 Ware 115
B.Waller, B.Tapper & D.Hodson-Smith lost to L.Saville, G.Blackburn & E.Wright 8-18; S.Barsby, P.Wright & S.Arnold lost to M.Marriott, C.Warman & J.Saville 11-14; J.Whittle, P.Large, E.Alden & C.Townley lost to S.Daniels, J.Etridge, L.Charlton & J.Warman 11-30; D.Kingsland, D.Elms, N.Poulton & J.Nash beat C.Mason, D.Cleair, B.Morrison & J.Daniels 21-19; A.Lewis, J.Johnson, A.Poulton & J.Alden beat J.Aldred, T.Merrion, M.Gill & S.Wright 20-17; B.Tapper, J.Simms, B.Thorne & S.Chamberlain beat K.Davidson, S.Merrion, T.Blackburn & H.Mason 21-17.

Datchworth 57 Sele Farm 95
B.Tapper, G.Gilbert, D.Henley & S.Arnold lost to J.Parsley, M.Lake, J.Smith & J.Parsley 9-25; J.Mahoney, P.Large, E.Alden & B.Gilbert lost to J.Sell, D.Lacey, E.Dunne & H.Wright 20-29; D.Kingsland, B.Tapper, J.Alden & M.Mahoney lost to M.Sell, S.Lacey, R.Clift & R.Pratt 16029; D.Elms, S.Kiernan, D.Hodson-Smith & S.Chamberlain lost to P.Wright, P.Pratt, P.Close & J.Dunne 12-21.

Match Reports for week ending 28th August 2011

Another busy week of midweek League bowling for Datchworth saw them play seven matches, involving all four of their East Herts and Welwyn Hatfield Bowls League teams, over five nights followed by their Club Finals at the weekend.

Datchworth Blue 18 Welwyn and District Stags 52
Welwyn and District Stags were the visitors to the Turkey Farm on Monday night for the penultimate East Herts Bowls League Div 1 match for Datchworth’s Blue team. It was second against third, as they had moved above the Blue team in the most recently issued League tables and it remained that way as they crushed the home team 52-18; as the Blue team continued their poor finish to their League season, after being first or second for so much of it. Even when Paul Wright, Steve Arnold and Skip Brian Gilbert were holding shots either the Stags’ Barry Smith or mainly Skip Chris Sherriff would come in and change the shot count in their favour and as the home Triple could not counteract them they cruised to an emphatic 34-6 win. It was a similar story for Mike Mahoney, Richard Andrews and Skip Peter Hills, but this time it would be the Stags’ Skip Phil Russell doing the damage and despite picking up seven shots on the last end, when the Blue’s Skip Peter Hills took out the Stags’ nearest wood, the Stags still got home by 18-12.

A double header at the Turkey Farm on Tuesday night saw an East Herts Bowls League Div 2 match between Datchworth’s Gold team and Stevenage’s Reds along with the penultimate Welwyn Hatfield Bowls League Div 2 match for Datchworth’s Green team against Parkside.

Datchworth Gold 41 Stevenage Reds 24
In contrast to their Blue team’s poor finish to the season their Gold team completed their second maximum points haul in a row with a 41-24 shot win, to continue their good finish to the season. Bill Tapper, P.Fox and Skip David Wright dominated the end-count 13-5 as they won what appears comfortably 20-9. But that was only after doubling their score, from being just 10-9 up after fourteen ends, over the last four ends. Derek Henley, Jim Adams and Skip Steve Chamberlain had a tight game for sixteen ends when the score was just 16-15 in their favour after both teams won eight ends. They then won the last two ends to stretch their winning margin to 21-15.

Datchworth Green 53 Parkside 14
At the same time Datchworth’s Green team were completing a comprehensive 53-14 win over Parkside for the second maximum points haul of the night. To say Chris Hills, Jim Russell and Skip Mike Mahoney dominated their game is an understatement as they won all but two ends as they cruised to a 33-2 win. Janet Mahoney, Joan James and Skip Steve Arnold won six ends in a row to go from 4-3 up, after six ends, to 15-3 up after twelve ends and despite losing four of the closing six ends, including dropping a five, they still managed to win by 20-12.

It was another double header on Wednesday night with Datchworth’s East Herts Bowls League Div 1 Blue team in action along with their Welwyn Hatfield Bowls League Div 1 Yellow team.

Datchworth Blue 31 Allenburys 39
Datchworth’s Blue team travelled to Ware to play Allenburys to complete their East Herts Bowls League Div 1 programme in a third plays first clash. It was the current divisional leaders that came out on top with a 39-31 shot win, to continue their pursuit of the Div 1 Championship and complete a poor finish to the Blue’s season. Paul Wright, Brian Gilbert and Skip Peter Hills picked up two five shot hauls on the ninth and tenth ends to lead 14-11. Five ends later they still ahead 17-14, but thanks to dropping one shot on each of the closing three ends they were pegged back to 17 all. Steve Arnold, Mike Mahoney and Skip Richard Andrews won the first four ends to lead 5-0 but lost the next five to trail 5-10. They never got back in the hunt and despite winning four of the last five ends they lost 14-22.

Datchworth Yellow 35 Greenside 34
Datchworth’s Yellow team were at home to Greenside for their penultimate Welwyn Hatfield Bowls League Div 1 game and just edged the match 35-34. Sue Kiernan, Doreen Hodson-Smith and Skip David Wright had a close encounter, as for the majority of their game there was never more than three shots separating the sides for more than two ends. The result was only decided after the visitors picked up two shots on the sixteenth end to stretch their lead to 20-15 and although the home side won the last two ends they lost 17-20. It could be said that thanks to picking up four shots on the first end Dawn Kingsland, Phil Fox and Skip Jim Adams would not have won 18-14 as despite winning the end-count 11-7 they dropped two on every end.

Datchworth Green 29 Kimpton 27
On Thursday night Kimpton were the visitors to the Turkey Farm for Datchworth Green’s final Welwyn Hatfield Bowls League Div 2 match of the season and were beaten 29-27.Bill Tapper, June Russell and Skip Steve Arnold lost the first end but won the next six, to lead 8-1 and were never caught as they ran out winners by 15-11. Robin Bailey, Janet Mahoney and Skip Jim Russell won only one of the first six ends, to trail 1-7, but they fought back and took a 14-11 lead into the final end. But it was not to be as they dropped a five to lose 14-16.

Datchworth Gold 34 Rosehill Badgers 41
On Friday night it was the turn of Datchworth’s Gold team to their penultimate East Herts Bowls League Div 2 match of the season at the Turkey Farm against Rosehill Badgers and a chance for them to gain ground on the six teams above them who have all completed their league fixtures for the season. They needed to collect the maximum 12 points from their two remaining matches to take the Div 2 title and 9 points would see then take second place and promotion to Div 1 to play along side the Blue team. But that dream went out of the window after the Badgers beat them 41-34. As they only picked up the two points for winning one of the two Triples played it means even if they picked up the maximum six points in their final match next week they will equal the points tally of the team currently in second, but miss out on second place on shot difference alone. Robin Bailey, Jim Adams and Skip Steve Chamberlain were leading 6-3 after seven ends but dropping a seven on the eighth end appeared to knock their confidence as they won only more ends before losing 11-21. Derek Henley, Phil Fox and Skip David Wright had an even better lead after six ends, 14-1. But they lost the following three ends, dropping eleven shots in the process. They won the next two ends, to lead 19-12, before being pegged back to 19 all after fifteen ends. They were all square again two end later before winning the final end with a three to win the game 23-20.

Datchworth Finals Weekend
The first of the Club’s nine Finals was played on Saturday morning when Mike Mahoney, David Wright and Peter Hills faced each other in the Yardstick Final. The early ends were fairly low scoring such that when the rain forced them off for a short time the scores stood at 8, 10 and 9 respectively after seven ends. That interruption seemed to concentrate their minds and the average scores rose across the board, five ends later it was 16, 17 and 17 respectively. It rose again five ends later with the scores standing at 28, 25 and 28 respectively. Over the closing four ends Mike Mahoney picked up eleven shots, one shy of the maximum, to win with 39 shots, Peter Hills picked up eight shots and take the second place with 36 shots and David Wright picked up only five shots to come third with 30 shots. The three Finals played in the afternoon did not escape the rain either, as it too forced the bowlers off. In the Men’s Pairs Final Mike Mahoney and Steve Chamberlain coped with the change in conditions better than Steve Arnold and Jeff Nash, as they won four ends in a row to go from 8-9 down after nine ends to 16-9 up after fourteen. Despite losing five of the closing seven ends they held on to win 19-16. In the Ladies’ Pairs Final Jane Waller and Joan James had built up a healthy 17-7 lead over Janet Mahoney and June Russell, after fourteen ends. Which was good for them as the heavier conditions began to tell on them and they lost all but one of the closing seven ends; but they too held on to win, 19-15. In the Mixed Pairs Final it was almost a case of you win one end we will win the next for Doreen Hodson-Smith and David Wright as they took a 17-12 lead into the eighteenth end against Chris and Peter Hills, but they could not hold on as they lost the closing four end and the Hills took the final 20-17.
Sunday’s programme started with the Men’s Singles Final between Steve Arnold and David Wright and the Ladies’ Singles Final between Joan James and Beverley Tapper. After losing the first end Steve Arnold won the next three to lead 7-1 in the Men’s Singles Final, four ends later his lead was cut to 8-5. He stopped the rot by winning the next five ends to extend his lead to 16-5. David Wright, try as he may, could not find a way to stop him from completing a 21-8 shot win six ends later. The Ladies’ Singles Final saw Beverley Tapper, playing in her first final since joining the club as a new bowler last year but the experience of Joan James was too good for her as she won 21-5. There was an early afternoon start for the Two Wood Final with Steve Arnold up against Mike Mahoney, both in their third Final of the weekend. Mike Mahoney won four of the first five ends to lead 6-1 and stayed in front, increasing his lead as he built up his lead to 20-11 after twenty-four ends. Steve Arnold then found some of his form that won him the morning’s Singles Final to win eight ends in a row and draw level at 20 all. But he could not win the next end and therefore lost 21-20. In the late afternoon Arnold Memorial Trophy Jane Waller was back for her second Final up against Paul Wright in his first ever Final at the Club. Jane Waller took the early lead, 7-1 after four ends, and held until the scores were tied at 10 all after eleven ends. Paul Wright then took the lead and was leading 16-11 after fifteen ends before Jane Waller fought back and won the next six ends, to lead 20-16. Paul Wright then won the next two ends, to get within one shot at 19-20, but he lost the next end and the Final to Jane Waller 21-19, for her second title of the weekend. There was also a late afternoon start too for the Mixed Triples Finals between Janet and Mike Mahoney and Steve Chamberlain and Dawn Kingsland, David Wright and Jeff Nash; all playing in either their second or fourth Final of the weekend. Janet and Mike Mahoney and Steve Chamberlain came out winners by 20-5 after seventeen ends where just one shot was scored on eleven ends and where everything appeared to go their way and hardly anything went against them. But it could equally be said that when they needed a shot their shot came off while it just did not go for the others.

Match Teams for week ending 28th August 2011

Datchworth Blue 18 Welwyn and District Stags 52
P.Wright, S.Arnold & B.Gilbert lost to J.Lee, B.Smith & C.Sheriff 6-34; M.Mahoney, R.Andrews & P.Hills lost to M.Poole, T.Webb & P.Russell 12-18.
Datchworth Gold 41 Stevenage Reds 24
B.Tapper, P.Fox & D.Wright beat P.Gosling, J.Banks & S.Wilson 20-9; D.Henley, J.Adams & S.Chamberlain beat V.Buckman, B.Gifford & S.Howson 21-15.

Datchworth Green 53 Parkside 14
C.Hills, J.Russell & M.Mahoney beat P.Jones, D.Klein & J.Halliday 33-2; J.Mahoney, J.James & S.Arnold beat K.Clyne, C.Gibbins & G.Polley 20-12.

Datchworth Blue 31 Allenburys 39
P.Wright, B.Gilbert & P.Hills drew with D.Judd, M.Judd & D.Pyne 17 all; S.Arnold, M.Mahoney & R.Andrews lost to F.McGinlay, D.Smith & S.Pyne 14-22.

Datchworth Yellow 35 Greenside 34
S.Kiernan, D.Hodson-Smith & D.Wright lost to R.Gibbins, J.McCrossan & C.Rogers 17-20; D.Kingsland, P.Fox & J.Adams beat M.Stanton, C.Sullivan & D.Shepperson 18-14.

Datchworth Green 29 Kimpton 27
B.Tapper, J.Russell & S.Arnold beat D.Matthews, A.Lennox & M.Ginn 15-11; R.Bailey, J.Mahoney & J.Russell lost to B.Lennox, D.Ginn & B.Pate 14-16.

Datchworth Gold 34 Rosehill Badgers 41
R.Bailey, J.Adams & S.Chamberlain lost to T.Piggott, D.Ayres & M.Songer 11-21; D.Henley, P.Fox & D.Wright beat K.Tilling, C.Edridge & R.Martin 23-20.

Datchworth Finals Weekend
Yardstick: M.Mahoney 39, P.Hills 36 & D.Wright 30.
Men’s Pairs: M.Mahoney & S.Chamberlain beat S.Arnold & J.Nash 19-16.
Ladies’ Pairs: J.Waller & J.James beat J.Mahoney & J.Russell 19-15.
Mixed Pairs: C & P.Hills beat D.Hodson-Smith & D.Wright 20-17.
Men’s Singles: S.Arnold beat D.Wright 21-8.
Ladies’ Singles: J.James beat B.Tapper 21-5.
2 Wood: M.Mahoney beat S.Arnold 21-20.
Arnold Memorial Trophy: J.Waller beat P.Wright 21-19.
Mixed Triples; J & M.Mahoney & S.Chamberlain beat D.Kingsland, D.Wright & J.Nash 20-5.