Latest bowls news from Merrow, Burpham and Stoke Park clubs

Published on: 29 May, 2018
Updated on: 29 May, 2018

Merrow Bowls Club report from David Raison

We made contact with Westfield Bowls Club last season and invited them to Merrow for a friendly. This culminated in the two clubs agreeing to play home and away matches in 2018.

Westfield verses Merrow. Ken Burburry with a great delivery.

On Wednesday, May 23, Merrow bowlers travelled to Westfield for the first of our two matches, this one starting at 6pm.

Merrow had expected to be playing four rinks of triples, but somewhere along the way Westfield had got the feeling that we were only going to be playing three rinks and had organised a ladies final on one of their four rinks. As a result, six Merrow players agreed to play for half of the match, which wasn’t a great outcome for them, with one team’s players being spread out across the other three teams.

Eventually the match got under way. The weather looked threatening, but within a few minutes the skies cleared and we had a fine evening for bowls.

Merrow’s captain David Raison (left) and Bruce, team captain of Westfield.

It was nip and tuck for most of the match, but eventually Westfield came out on top, winning on all three rinks. Fortunately, the captain’s rink was our best performing, saving some embarrassment, losing by just two points, so well done Ken B, Richard D (first half), Debbie E (second half), and David R.

A very welcome tea was provided after the match by Ken, who was also manning the bar.

Although we lost this match, the score was a vast improvement over our previous meeting, so there’s a lot for us to celebrate. The pictures, taken by Ben Hosking, gives a flavour of the evening.

On a gloriously sunny Saturday afternoon (May 26) we entertained our close rivals from Burpham for a match of four rinks of triples.

Merrow verses Burpham. A firm delivery.

Merrow made an excellent start and at tea were up by 22 points overall. Unfortunately, the tea break gave the Burpham bowlers an opportunity to refocus, so although Merrow ended up winning on three rinks, overall Burpham won by 3 points.

Burpham’s Tony Usher using a text book delivery against Merrow.

Many thanks to Joan and Lesley for providing a lovely tea and congratulations to Merrow’s top triple of Ken, Mike and Debbie.

Burpham Bowls Club report by Ian Mackrell

On Sunday, May 20, in the Bowls England Club Two Fours competition, saw us drawn against Egham.

It was a very tight game, with Burpham winning the singles and the rinks, but losing the pairs. It was “all to play for” in the final game – the triples – and despite holding a lead of 4 shots, we somehow managed to lose 5 shots on the last end. Great effort, nevertheless, against one of the country’s top clubs.

A friendly followed, where, of necessity, a depleted Burpham team lost, for the first time this season, to Westfield, 44-53. The good run had to end at some stage.

Visitors Cranleigh, on Wednesday May 23, received a drubbing, with Burpham running out winners by 64-51 shots.

Former Hants county player Shelagh Spencer battling with inclement weather on May 24.

The following day, Thursday, May 24, both of our Knaphill Triples teams acquitted themselves well, in awful playing conditions. The A team thrashed Tongham B by 45-13 shots, while our B team secured a hard fought draw, 33-33.

See Merrow’s report above for our match against them.

And in glorious weather on Sunday, May 27, Burpham hosted Woking Park in a four triples friendly.

It turned out to be a very one-sided Burpham victory, 102-41 shots, with us winning all four rinks comfortably.

Stoke Park Bowling Club’s new fast-paced version of lawn bowls

Described as bowls’ answer to Twenty20 cricket, a fast-paced version of lawn bowls – featuring quick games, half-time bar breaks and prize money – has been launched by Stoke Park Bowling Club.

Called Top10, the club says it is “a social-competitive form of the game aimed at attracting a wider audience to the sport”.

Players can simply turn up, be drawn into a team, and play. Dress code is described as ‘strictly casual’.

Stoke Park Bowling Club was formed in 2016 from the merger of Guildford and Astolat bowling clubs. The club says while it is a traditional bowling club, it’s noted for its youthful membership, innovative competitions and community involvement.

The competition has been organised by 30-year-old club treasurer Alfie Simmons. He said: “What bowls suffers from is that it’s seen as traditional, and just for the retired. In reality, bowls is a great game for everybody, and a perfect way for the after-work crowd to enjoy some friendly competition in the evening sunshine.”

The club hope the league will spread to other clubs, and encourage those with limited time to enjoy a snapshot of bowls in their weekly schedule.

To give it a try, go along to Stoke Park Bowling Club, in Stoke park on Wednesday evenings at 6pm. More details on its website.