Match Reports (A Team)

MATCH REPORTS (A TEAM)

16TH SEPTEMBER - HOME TO GLOUCESTER 31-9 WIN)

The A team’s campaign got off to a flying start with a 31-9 win at home to a Gloucester side that last year had given them real problems.

It followed the usual format of Singles and Pairs in the first session, and both singles players were obviously well on form. Although Andrew Shorney (North End) won an end less than his opponent the 13-8 scoreline was very pleasing given that he never dropped more than 1 shot. Brian Brown (Portsdown) stormed to a 17-2 advantage at 8 ends but then took his foot off the gas a little and won 20-11. Newcomer to the team John Burrowes and Tony Wall (both P&D) had a slightly cagey game but ran out winners 13-11. At 13 ends though, they had been 13-8 up so it was a little disappointing to concede 3 shots in the final two ends. June & Roger Messenger had a see-saw game but ran out 10-8 winners having always been just ahead of their opponents, showing good defensive qualities again losing more ends than they won but never more than one shot.

It had been a very positive start to the match. Would it inspire the other members of the team to achieve?

The second session saw the Triples and Fours take to the mats. Whilst Jan Bunker (Southampton) Faye Ray (North End) and Dave Sperry (Bellinger) stormed into a 9-3 lead at 6 ends (having picked up a five on that end) they frittered away their advantage by dropping 6 shots over the final three ends to lose 12-13. Fortunately the other triple of John Bucknall (Crown), another P & D newcomer, Ron Tipper and Lorraine Shorney (North End) always had the better of their opposition in a high scoring game (only 2 ends being a single shot) and won 19-13. Points shared for the triples. The fours won on both mats with Anita Bucknall (Crown), Matthew Hardman, Julie & Martin Grange (all North End) picking up two 5’s in their 16-8 victory, and Gail Evans (Marnell) Frances Coomber & Dave Jelley (both P & D) and team manager Glo Fowler (Crown) after being 0-2, won 6 consecutive ends to lead 15-2 before winning 18-6, dropping shots on
two ends only.

A very happy team manager reflected on a staggering 14-2 points scoreline. Could the team hold it’s nerve in the reverse games in the afternoon?

Andrew Shorney certainly seemed to think so although for the first two ends he failed to score (0-3). The middle section of his game saw him pick up 16 shots for the loss of only a further shot so at 11 ends he was 16-4 up. Then he took his foot off the gas as he dropped 8 shots in four ends to finish 16-12. Brown won 7 of the 15 ends and came away with a draw 10-10 having picked up a single on the final end to gain the point. It was safe to say the singles bonus points were definitely staying in Hampshire’s pocket. Burrowes & Wall showed their class in an 18-9 win pressing on from being 8-2 up at four ends, to 16-3 up at nine ends. Unfortunately the Messengers struggled all the way through their game only scoring on 4 ends, and ultimately lost 7-19. It could have been a disappointing result for the pairs but the discipline was won by 1 single shot overall and so the bonus points were in Hampshire’s tally as well.

The final session took to the mats and saw Sperry’s triple assert their supremacy in a 16-6 victory only conceding 6 shots over three ends. Shorney’s triple however just could not hold on for the win and despite being 8-7 up at 11 ends, dropped singles on the final two ends to lose 8-9. Grange’s foursome fought for every shot and won 12-7 only conceding shots on two ends. The other rink (Dave Jelley) however had a frustrating end to their game. They had only been two shots adrift at 7 ends, but then lost 9 shots over the final four ends and finished with a 7-18 defeat. Nevertheless, the bonus points for the fours also stayed home

The overall score of 31 points to 9 (215 shots to 168) was extremely gratifying. Next week the team travels to Gloucester for the return match.