HERTFORDSHIRE COUNTY

SHORT MAT BOWLING ASSOCIATION

Hertfordshire County Short Mat Bowling Association News story


Barnet League Week Six

22 Oct 2024

Week six and our Barnet League is well under way. This week had another four matches played at Hatfield along with a roll up mat in use and a few spectators

Mat one had Potters Bar Kestrels team of Bernice, Pam and Mike playing Shillington Red’s Tom, Carol and Neil. With both teams looking for their first win of the season there was a lot at stake. Reds took the first end for a four and followed this with a triple. End three and Kestrels went on the attack they took a double and followed this with a single. Reds attacked and took a second four to go 11 – 3 up after five ends. Reds continued the attack taking a single and a triple. Kestrels pushed harder and took a double following this with a single they had increased their score to six and were playing their best game so far this season. Reds pushed again, the last six ends all went Reds way with the final score being 30 – 6.

Playing on Mat Two were Harpenden Eagles Val, Deirdre and Gordon playing St Margaret’s Mars Brian, Paul and Tony. Eagles started well with a single. Mars came straight back for a double and followed this with a second double. Eagles flapped their wings, took a triple and it was four all after four ends. Mars fought back, they slowly pulled in front taking three singles in a row. With ruffled feathers Eagles got their talons out and pulled back a single, they then went level by holding a double and took the lead with a single on end ten to be 8 – 7 up. Mars replied on end eleven by regaining the lead with a double and reinforcing it with a single. Eagles talons came out again taking a double on end thirteen it was all square at ten all with two ends to play. The penultimate end saw Eagles take the lead with their third double of the game. Mars reddened and pushed hard on the last end, finishing the game with their fourth double they had forced a draw at twelve all in this very exciting game.

Mat three saw Shillington Black’s Julia, Toni and Bill play St Margaret’s Mercury’s Lynn, Terri and Roger. Black started well, taking a triple, followed by a double and a single they were 6 – 0 up after three ends. Mercury then started rising, starting with a single and followed by two doubles they had reduced Black’s lead to 6 – 5 after six ends. Black dug deep, they took two singles and a double to pull out a lead of 10 – 5 after nine ends. Continuing their run they took a further single followed by a four a single and a double to be 18 – 5 up with two ends to play. Feeling warmer, Mercury rose higher in the glass by taking the last two ends for a single and a double. Blacks however had the win at 18 – 8.

Mat four had a match between our two most northernly teams in the county. Fairfield Falcons Gordon, Gill and Bev took on Letchworth Lions Lisa, Alan S and Alan H. Don’t know what the Lions had had for breakfast but they started with a roar. Taking a triple, two doubles, a four and a five which they followed with a timid single they were 17 – 0 up after only six ends. Falcons swooped about and managed to hold a double on end seven. Lions however arose from their mid evening nap, they took a single, two doubles a triple and a four to be 29 – 2 up with three ends to play. Lions now had their second nap of the evening as Falcons swooped in for their second double of the game. Lions came to and held a double and finished with a single to take the win at 32 – 4.

Well what an evening one very exciting close game resulting in a draw and three ‘slightly’ one sided ones resulting in some good shot differences for three of our teams. Letchworth Lions have now raced to top spot although they have played five games. Our second and third placed teams did not play today and remain the only teams yet to lose a game. As they play each other next week that should change unless we get another draw to add to our table. See you all next week.