Tuesday night was another busy evening at Hatfield. We had our five triples matches in play and the rollup mat was being used by four bowlers practicing ready for their games next week. With Potters Bar playing on two mats we were all intrigued to see how the evening would go.
Mat one had Potters Bar Kestrels ‘team one’ of Gill, Pam and Barry playing Greenwood Hawks Barry, Val and Darren. This was a tough game for the Kestrels. After three ends they managed to hang on for a single however this was the only end they won. Hawks on the other hand dominated taking fourteen ends by various margins. With a final score of 49 – 1 Hawks had greatly improved their shot difference.
Mat two had Harpenden Eagles Val, Sue and Gordon looking for another win by playing Fairfield Falcons Gordon, Neil and Bev. Eagles started well with two singles. Falcons pulled level with a double on end three. Eagles went back in front with a single but Falcons held their second double of the game to take the lead at 4 – 3 after five ends. Eagles took the lead back with a double and followed this with a fourth single. Falcons matched their single and then took the first triple of the game for the lead at 8 – 6 after nine ends. Eagles came straight back for a double and it was all square at eight all with five ends to play. Falcons pushed and took their second triple, they followed this with a third for a 14 – 8 lead after twelve ends. Eagles then got going again, taking two singles they had reduced Falcons lead to four shots with one end to play. Eagles continued this short run by taking the last end for a double but Falcons had the win at 14 – 12.
Mat three had St Margaret’s Mars Brian, Tony and Jeanette playing Shillington Black’s Julia, Toni and Bill. Blacks got started by taking a double. Mars replied by taking two singles. End four saw Blacks hold a single of their own but Mars replied for their third single and it was three all after five ends. Black pulled in front with another single but Mars replied with a double and took the lead for the first time in this game. Their lead was short lived, Blacks held a triple for a 7 – 5 lead after eight ends. The next six ends also went Black’s way. Holding four singles and two doubles they had stretched out their lead to 15 – 5 going into the last end. Mars pushed hard and held the last end for a single but Blacks had another win under their belt at 15 – 6.
Mat four and St Margarets Mercury’s Lyne, Steven and Darren were playing second place Letchworth Lions Lisa, Alan S and Alan H. Mercury got this game started with a single. Lions reply was to take the next three ends for singles and follow this with a double for a 5 – 1 lead after five ends. With the heaters on the Mercury started rising in the glass. They started with a double and followed this with a single. They then took the lead with a double and reinforced their position with a second double for an 8 – 5 lead after nine ends. All of the Heaters went off and as the Mercury fell Lions took a single. Lions then roared and held a match winning hotshot six. They followed this with a double and had increased their lead to 14 – 8 with three ends to play. The Lions then took a rest while Mercury started to rise back up the glass, they held a double and followed this with a triple and were only one shot behind at 13 – 14 with one end to play. The last end was hard fought but Lions managed to hold on for a final single and the win at 15 – 13.
Our last game of the evening was on mat five, we had Northiam East’s Mike, Jeff and Jan playing Potters Bar Kestrels ‘team two’ of Bernice, Steve and Mike. East started of by taking a double, Kestrels instantly replied for a single. East then got going, taking the next seven ends they pulled out a lead of 21 – 1. Kestrels fought again for their second single on end ten. East regained their sense of direction and took the remaining five ends giving them the comfortable win of 32 – 2.
Well what an evening. Letchworth Lions win means they are holding onto that second place. Greenwood Hawks large shot difference raises them to third place above Northiam East. Shillington Blacks win keeps them in touch with three of the teams above them. Potters Bar Kestrels teams came up against two of our stronger teams and suffered as a result. However they are still only one point behind Harpenden Eagles. They still have seven games to play this season and could climb out of the bottom spot yet. Next week sees our four teams in positions two to five playing each other. With only one point separating the four of them who will be in that second spot next week. Watch this space.