Hello to all you Barnet League bowlers, this week saw the beginning of the new 2021/2022 Barnet League. With a few teams having left, three teams moved up to the first division. With some new team names the fun all begins again. We are expecting great things in the second division as it should fly, what with Eagles and Hawks chasing Blackbirds and Robins. This first week saw two matches in each division.

Division 1

St Margaret’s Rarebits played Shillington Black. New to the first division Black’s got of to a good start taking the first four ends for a single apiece. Rarebits replied taking a double however Black’s came straight back to take a three. End seven saw Rarebits take a single and bring the score to 7 – 3 to Blacks. Blacks replied taking a single and a four to go 12 – 3 up.  The last six ends of the match were even with each side taking a double and two singles. Black’s comfortably winning 16 – 7 and going top in their first week of being in division one.

Northiam East played Letchworth Tigers. East got the bowl rolling taking the first two ends for singles. Tigers came back taking a double and a single to take a one shot lead after four ends. Ends five and six went East’s way with a single each seeing them regain the lead after six ends. Tigers replied with a three to retake the lead however East then took a four to go 8 – 6 up. Ends nine ten and eleven all went Tigers way giving them a 10 – 8 lead. East took a single but followed this with a match winning end of six shots followed by a double. Although Tigers took the last end for a double the final score showed East as the winners at 17 – 12.

Division 2

Harpenden Blackbirds played Greenwood Eagles.

Blackbirds started taking a three, Eagles came straight back for a three of their own. Blackbirds then took a further three followed by a single to go 7 – 3 up after four ends. Eagles then took a single with Blackbirds taking two doubles followed by a dead end. At end eight Blackbirds had stretched a lead of 11 – 4. Eagles then took a three to reduce Blackbirds lead to 11 – 7. The last six ends all went Blackbirds way gaining a further seven shots. Blackbirds winning 18 – 7.

St Margaret’s Wizards played Harpenden Robins.

Robins got of to a good start winning the first three ends to take a 3 – 0 lead. Wizards then got started with a single however Robins replied taking a four to go 7 – 1 up after five ends. Ends six and seven went Wizards way to see Robins lead reduced to 7 – 4. The next three ends saw Wizards taking a single and Robins take a double and a single to give themselves a lead of 10 – 5 after ten ends. The last five ends were all won by the Wizards. Being behind at 5 – 10 they turned the match around going on to win 14 – 10.