SECOND-placed Broughton’s Mid Wilts League promotion hopes received an unexpected setback on the 27th July following the visit to bottom club Calne’s Recreation Ground.
A soggy green, which was the consequence of afternoon downpours and long grass resulted in a heavy playing surface that wasn’t conducive to good bowling. Calne coped with the difficult conditions better than the visitors and played to a standard which belied their lowly league position. Final score Calne 11 Broughton 3. This disappointing result was offset by the welcome return to the green of popular team captain Steve Hockings after a long period of enforced absence. With just three league games left to play, Steve’s timely return will no doubt boost team morale in the quest to gain promotion.
The following afternoon, third placed Broughton ladies continued their fine home league form, winning an even match against Warminster by 32 shots to 26 and 4-2 points. On the 3rd August an away trip to Bradford for the final league match of the season resulted in two more points, bringing the total for the season to forty two, an increase of three on last season’s total. Congratulations to team captain Gwenda Kelley and her squad on a fine season.
Visitors Spencer Melksham were favourites to win a recent West Wilts 4×4 quarter final tie. The first nine ends of the scheduled eighteen were close, with the home team just edging ahead by four shots. Broughton grew stronger as the game progressed, winning conclusively by 25 shots, thereby booking a semi-final place in the competition. Rinks and scores: N Parkinson, H Arlett, R Thomas & T Cooke 15-14; K Darby, M Davies, V Davis & K Holmes 14-15; G Whitfield, R Warburton, D Alford & N Yeoman 22- 10; E Jones, T Stanley, P Rigby and N Hughes 22-9.
Broughton Gifford Bowls Club
