Highwoods Carpet Bowls Club

 

The Highwoods team played their first away match of the 'new' Colchester league season away at West Bergholt.

The outcome was a little disappointing with the team losing 2 - 6.

 

In the first session of Fours the Highwoods team of Sue Miller/David Rule/Lin Hill/Diane Orrin played on the more difficult carpet and initially found problems with the line and length. After the first four ends they were 0 - 7 down, but recovered thereafter to eventually lose 4 - 9.

 

It was the other Highwoods Four of Colin Hawkins/Brenda Kettle/John Woodrow/Glenyce King who produced the teams only win of the night in an exciting match that went to the very last bowl. The West Bergholt four took 4 shots on the first end but the Highwoods Four won the next six ends to lead 7 - 4 after end seven. The Home team took 3 shots on end eight to set up an exciting last end with the score level at 7 - 7.

In a close finish & the West Bergholt skip took shot with his first bowl, only for Glenyce to take out his shot. The home team skip again took shot with his last bowl and Glenyce followed up with the shot of the night to take 2 shots with Highwoods winning 9 - 7.

 

The Triples followed a similar pattern with the Triple of Joan Clark/Sheila Near/Greg King playing on the more difficult carpet. After taking shot on the first end they were 1 - 7 down by end five and never recovered losing 4 - 10.

 

The other Triple of Irene Rule/Heidi Woolley/Peter Orrin were involved in a close match which again went to the last bowl. After seven ends it was level at 7 - 7. On end eight the home team took one shot to lead 8 - 7 into the last end. It all started well for the Highwoods triple as Peter was able to move the jack with his first bowl to near the end of the carpet to hold the 2 shots needed to win the match. However the home team skip took shot with his last bowl leaving Peter to draw close to try to draw the match. His bowl was just to heavy leaving the home team winning the match 9 - 7.

 

The team have a break of a few weeks before they take on Paxman at home in mid November.

The Highwoods League team played their first match of the 'new' Colchester league season at Home to Elmstead Market.

Playing for the first time with the 'new' league format of Fours then Triples.

 

Having won the league for the last two seasons it was always going to be a 'big ask' for Highwoods playing against the runners up Elmstead Market.

 

Both teams had a full compliment of 14 players.

 

However it did not start well for Highwoods with the 2 x Fours playing first and in both cases losing close matches.

 

The Four of Irene Rule/Heidi Woolley/Lin Hill/Diane Orrin started well winning the first two ends and were 4 - 2 up by end five. However they dropped three shots on ends six & seven to be 4 - 8 down with two ends to play. They took one shot on end eight and were holding three shots on the last end when the Elmstead Market skip was able to cut it down to two shots with her last bowl and the Highwoods Four eventually losing 7 - 8 in a match that so easily could have been drawn.

 

The Four of Colin Hawkins/John Woodrow/Glenyce King/Martin Bennet did not start well and dropped 4 shots on end one and a further two shots on end two. This pattern carried on until end six by which time they were 2 - 10 down with just three ends to go.

However the Highwoods four rallied  well to take 5 shots on the last three ends to make the score more respectable, eventually losing 7 - 10.

 

It was not the start that the team was hoping for and it needed a good response from the Triples to even the match.

Fortunately they were both on good form and had comfortable wins to earn a much deserved overall draw 4 - 4 (points).

 

The Triple of Marilyn Bennet/Brenda Kettle/Peter Orrin started well and were 6 - 2 up by end five. It was end six when they took 5 shots eventually winning 13 - 4 after some excellent bowling throughout the match

A similar pattern was established by the Triple of Sue Miller/Sheilai Near/Greg King who again produced excellent bowling leading 7 - 3 by end seven and finally winning by a comfortable 10 - 4.

 

Well done to the team who next play their first away match on Thursday 22nd October away at West Bergholt