Winter League Season 2025/26
Match Report 4 - Highwoods v Langham - Friday 22nd November 2025
Highwoods were back in action, at home to Langham, and after a close match the team were able to record a good 6 - 2 victory, their first of the season.
The match saw one comfortable win by the second Pair, but the other three were all level going into the last end.
Session 1 saw two of the close matches.
The first Pair of Marilyn Bennet & Peter Orrin were involved in a low scoring but quality match. Throughout the match there was never much in it and the scores were level at 5 - 5 going into the last end. With some excellent bowling Marilyn was able to get the important bowl into the head and Peter was then able to trap the important shot bowl which made it impossible for the opposing skip to get in. That one important bowl ensured a 6 - 5 victory for the home pair.
The first Four of Christine Woodrow/David Rule/Lin Hill/Diane Orrin were also involved in a last end decider but in a high scoring game. They started well taking 5 shots in the first two ends and were leading 8 - 2 after fours ends. However the away team picked up their game in the next three ends to take 10 shots and a turnaround lead of 12 - 8. The Highwoods four rallied in end eight taking 4 shots to even the match at 12 - 12 going into the last end. An exciting finish saw the away skip pick up 2 shots with his last but one bowl, with the Highwoods team losing 12 - 14.
Session 2 saw a comfortable win and a close decider.
The second Pair of Sheila Near & Greg King were in good form after an even start and the home pair 3 - 4 down after three ends. However with some excellent bowling thereafter they won each of the final six ends to record a comfortable 14 - 4 victory.
The whole match result then rested on the final Fours match. The Highwoods Four of Colin Hawkins/Brenda Kettle/Glenyce King/Martin Bennet played well throughout a low scoring and exciting match. There was never more than a shot between the teams and after end seven the home team were 4 - 5 down. The last two ends proved decisive for Highwoods taking one shot on end 8 to go into the last end level at 5 - 5. Again the whole team kept their composure to take two more shots to record an excellent 7 - 5 victory.
Well done to the entire team, all playing well to record the first victory of what is proving a very close season.
The next match is in two weeks time when the team play Lawford at home before a break until the new year.
Match Report 3 - Paxman v Highwoods Friday 7th November 2025
The Highwoods team were in action last night away to Paxman. After a close match Highwoods were able to snatch a 4 - 4 draw with the last bowl of the night.
The first session saw the Highwoods Pair of Ron Hill & Greg King losing 4 shots on the first three ends. Playing a strong home pair they fought back with 2 shots on end four and after the fifth end trailing 2 - 5 they were very much in the game. However end six proved decisive with the home pair taking four shots and Ron & Greg not able to recover losing 4 - 10 in a good quality match.
However the Highwoods Four of Marilyn Bennet/Brenda Kettle/Glenyce King/Martin Bennet faired much better. In a close start the Highwoods four were leading 4 - 3 after five ends. From end six the Highwoods four exerted their authority with 11 shots over the next three ends to win by the comfortable margin of 15 - 5.
The Highwoods second pair of Sue Miller & Sheila Near also faced a strong home team pair and struggled in the first few ends of the match being 0 - 9 down after four ends. They did well to get into the game from end five but were never able to recover and ultimately lost 3 - 13
It was the second Highwoods four of Christine Woodrow/David Rule/Lin Hill/Diane Orrin where the match was decided thanks to an outstanding revival by the Highwoods team. The match started with the home team taking control and after four ends the Highwoods four were losing 2 - 8. However the match turned on end six when the home team skip holding shot opted to bowl his last wood and gave away one shot. Instead of being six shots down the Highwoods four were only four shots down at 4 - 8 with three ends to go. They lifted their game with excellent bowling by all four players and going into the last end were just one shot down at 7 - 8. An exciting last end saw Highwoods surrounding the jack but the home team had just one bowl in the head which was holding shot. It all came down to the last bowl of the match when Diane produced the shot of the night (& the season so far) to take out the home team bowl and recorded five shots to win the match 12 - 8 (having been 0 - 8 down).
A good result for the team who are next in action on 21st November for a home league match v Langham
Match Report 2 - Highwoods v Elmstead Market - 31st October 2025
The Highwoods team were in action playing their first Home match of the new Colchester League season.
It was a good performance by the team but after some close matches the result was a little disappointing, losing 2 - 6
The first session produced the closest matches of the night, with both Highwoods disciplines losing by the odd shot or two on the last end.
The first Four of Linda Spinks/David Rule/Glenyce King/Lin Hill (making her debut for the Club) started with a poor first end losing 4 shots. However by end four they were back in the match level at 4 - 4. The 5th & 6th ends saw the away team take 3 shots, but two shots on the 7th end brought the score back to 6 - 7 with two ends to play. However end 8 saw the away Four take 2 shots and Highwoods could only manage one shot on the last end to leave Elmstead Market winning a close match 7 - 9.
The first Pair of Marilyn Bennet & Peter Orrin were involved in a quality match which was extremely close from the start to the finish. After the first two ends the Elmstead Market Pair had established a 0 - 3 lead. However Marilyn & Peter fought back to level and by end 7 the sores were even at 5 - 5.
Despite some excellent lead bowling by Marilyn on end 8 the Elmstead Market skip was able to take two shots with the score 5 - 7 going into the last.
The home Pair again put the pressure on early in the last end, again thanks to further excellent lead bowling from Marilyn and Peter was able add a second early on with a draw looking the possible and deserved result. However the away Skip with his last bowl took 2nd shot and despite a valiant attempt the Highwoods Skip was not able to draw in and they finally lost out 6 - 7.
This led into a difficult second session having just lost out on both the first session matches.
However the Highwoods second Pair of Ron Hill (making his debut for the Club) & Greg King were in good form. They started like the previous matches going 0 - 2 down after two ends. However they soon established their authority from end 3 taking five shots and then winning all ends until end seven, when their lead was 11 - 2. They comfortably won the match 12 - 4 with some excellent bowling.
The second Four of Joan Clark/Heidi Woolley/Martin Bennet/Trevor Holbrow changed the Highwoods team trend of the night and won the first end. By end four the scores were level at 2 - 2. However end five saw the Highwoods Four drop 4 shots. They fought back on end six to take 2 shots and reduce the deficit to 4 - 6. However the away Four won the last three ends for the Highwoods Four to eventually lose 4 - 10
The Team play their next match on Friday 7th November 2026 away at Paxman
Match 1 - West Bergholt v Highwoods
The Highwoods team played their first league match of the 'new' season on Thursday 2nd October 2025 away at West Bergholt.
It is always a difficult venue to pick up points and the first session proved this to be the case.
The first Pair of Sue Miller & Sheila Near had a bad start losing 6 shots on the first end. With the West Bergholt lead bowler spot on the jack, the home team won the next five ends to build up a 13 - 0 lead after six ends. Sue & Sheila rallied well in the last three ends but were never able to catch up, eventually losing the match 6 - 13.
The first Four of Joan Clark/Heidi Woolley/John Woodrow/Trevor Holbrow were involved in a much closer match. The scores were level after fours ends and by end seven Highwoods held the lead being 6-5 up. However the home team took 9 shots on the last two ends to win 14-6 although the score flattered the home team in what was a close game.
It left a lot to do in the second session, but the team proved up to it with some excellent bowling.
The experienced Pair of Marilyn Bennet & Peter Orrin were initially involved in a close start with the score at 4 - 4 after five ends. However end six & seven saw Marilyn & Peter take six shots and were able to win comfortably 10 - 6
The second Four of Colin Hawkins/Brenda Kettle/Glenyce King/Martin Bennet all bowled well from the start and built up an early lead being 6-2 up by end five. Ends seven & eight saw them take a further six shots and they ran out comfortable winners by 12 - 4.
In the end the team can be pleased with the outcome, the 4 - 4 draw was a good result with shots close 37 - 34 in favour of the home team
The next match will be on Friday 31st October 2025 when Highwoods take on Elmstead Market in their first Home match of the season.