Hello everyone, As surely as Summer rolls into Autumn and the leaves begin to fall, the competition season gets rolling again for Hertfordshire Short Mat Bowlers. This Saturday (04th) sees our first I.C.C. game away to Suffolk, and only two weeks later the Over 55’s Pairs competition on the 19th will be the first of our six annual National Qualifier/ County competitions.
The competition that gets our season started however is our as every popular Barnet League Competition. Yes I know it’s held at Stevenage but it started many years ago in Barnet. This Tuesday saw the first round with eight of our thirteen teams bowling their first game. As many of you know this season the format has been adjusted slightly. Once we get to February every team will have played each other once. At this point the top half of the table will be placed in Division one and the lower half will be placed in Division two. The teams will then play each other in their division once again. What, I hear you all asking will happen to that team in seventh place? Well I don’t know, perhaps they will be eliminated or maybe play in both divisions😂, I am sure our League Secretary will inform us as the competition rolls on. Watch this space.
Mat one and Greenwood Peckers Audrey, Sue and Brian were playing Shillington Red’s Tom, Carol and Neil. Reds started well with a single and followed this with a second single, Peckers went on the attack and pulled back with a single of their own on the third end. Reds pushed again for a third single on end four which Peckers matched on end five in this close fought game. Reds took their fourth single and followed this with a triple and a fifth single for an 8 – 2 lead after eight ends. Peckers fought back and took a triple on end nine only to see Reds instantly reply by taking a four increasing their lead to 12 – 5 after ten ends. Peckers dug in and took a second triple on end eleven. Reds came straight back and took their sixth single of the game and were 13 – 8 in front with three to play. Peckers pushed again and took two consecutive singles to reduce Reds lead to 13 – 10 with one end to play. Peckers attacked hard and took a hotshot six on the last end to win the game 16 – 13. What a turnaround
Mat two had St Margaret’s Tony, Lyn and Jeanette playing Letchworth Tigers Lisa, Andrew and Alan H. Tigers got their season underway with a four on the first end. St Margaret’s held the second end for a single but Tigers came back with a double followed by a single for a 7 – 1 lead after four ends. St Margaret’s took a second single on end five but Tigers replied by taking two further singles. St Margaret’s pushed again and held a double on end eight to reduce Tigers lead to 9 – 4, they followed this with two more singles and had reduced their deficit to three shots. The last five ends saw Tigers attack, they started with a triple and followed this with two more singles, a four and finished with a triple on the last end for a 21 – 6 win.
Mat three and Shillington Black’s Toni, Rob and Bill were playing Letchworth Lions Alan S, David and Margaret. Black got the game started by taking the first end for a single. Lions replied by taking a double followed by a single. End four saw Black fight back for a single but the following end saw Tigers take their second double. Black held a single on end six which Tigers matched on end seven. End eight and it was Blacks turn to take a double to reduce Lions lead to one shot at 6 – 5. Lions pushed and held the first triple of the match. Blacks came back for a single followed by a double and were back within one shot at 8 – 9 after eleven ends. Lions took their second triple of the game but Blacks came straight back again. This time they took a double followed by a single to take them into the last end only one shot behind at 11 – 12. The last end and it was Lions that held on for their third double of the game and a 14 – 11 win.
Mat four had Potters Bar Kestrels Frank, Steve and Dave playing Northiam East’s Mike, Martin and Jan. East got their season under way with a single, they followed this with a four and a double. End four saw Kestrels get on the scorecard with a single which East matched on end five. End six and Kestrels closed the gap by taking a four which they followed with a single, reducing Easts lead to 8 – 6. East went on the attack; they started with a double and followed that with a single and a four. End eleven and Kestrels replied by taking a double. With the score at 15 – 8, East pushed harder. Taking the final four ends for two singles, a double and a triple they had the win at 22 – 8.
Well, there you are our first week of the season has been completed. Next week there are three more games, so watch this space to see how our Barnet League progresses.
Good luck to the team at Suffolk on Saturday, keep an eye out on the WhatsApp group for live reporting during the day.
Best Wishes from the Webmaster.