Broughton Gifford travelled to Mid Wilts League newcomers Winsley on Thursday evening 3rd May, for the first triples league match of the new season.
Early bright sunshine gave way to increasingly dull and cloudy conditions by the start of play. The green was true and its pace, though characteristically a little on the heavy side for this time of year, suited the visitors, who gained a thirteen shot advantage after six ends, with all four rinks in the ascendancy.
League debutants Tony Day and Richard Brooks, as leads, settled quickly for Broughton and both adapted well to the new experience of competitive bowls. After twelve ends, the Broughton advantage had been reduced to just two shots and two winning rinks as Winsley fought back with strong performances on all rinks. At the conclusion of play Broughton had resisted the opposition fightback, coming away with a nine shot and a 12-2 point victory.
Winning rinks and teams; Richard Mizen, Hayden Arlett and Graham Whitfield 22-13: Richard Brooks, Trevor Cooke and Paul Stocker 22- 19: Keith Darby, Rodney Bourne and Pete Rigby 22-10.
Other results the same week included an 8-2 win for the men over North Wilts in the Wilts 3 Rink League and a 3-1 rink victory over Avon Melksham in the weekend mixed friendly game.
There were three changes to the previous week’s Mid Wilts League winning team for the visit to Westbourne on the 10th May. The game was played under strong evening sunshine on a true but slow surface, which required the delivered bowl to be played with no little effort to the longer length jacks.
At six ends Broughton were in front on three rinks with a thirteen shot advantage, which increased to twenty five shots at twelve ends. There was a late surge towards the end of the game by Westbourne skip Terry Wiltshire’s rink. By scoring four on the last end, his trio secured a last gasp narrow victory. However, this wasn’t enough to prevent the final match score of Broughton Gifford 10, Westbourne 4.
Rinks and scores: Neil Parkinson, Richard Mizen and Graham Whitfield 34-9; Richard Brooks, Trevor Cooke and Steve Hockings 12-15: Tony Day, Keith Darby and Ray Thomas 13-17; John Stewart, Mervyn Davies and Paul Stocker 24-10.
For more information on the club and game please contact Vince or Sylvia on 01225 783332.
