Maldon B Division 4

May

Tuesday 13th   Home v  Lionmede - The 2025 season kicked off for the Maldon B team with a home game v Lionmead. The sun was shining and the mood for victory was strong. On one rink the captain put out a 4 with vast experience with Trevor Matthams skipping backed up by John Blighton at No.3. The rink was completed by a Moyra Underdown at lead and David Sargood at 2.  These two proved so effective delivering solid ends from which John and Trevor could only build upon. This combination stopped the opposition from scoring a point until the 7th end and then only bothering the scoreboard twice more during the match. On the other rink the 4 players could not boast of the experience and expertise of Trevor's rink . Despite this they quickly found their form and begun to pull away from the opposition and by the 11th end had a comfortable lead of  21 to 6. Special mention must go to Paul Callow who playing his first league game, played a game which a much more experienced player would be proud of. Helen Philpott, playing lead, and Paul at 2, always had the better of their opposite numbers making Ron Thackray ,at 3, and Simon Ash, skip, jobs much easier.

The final scores were 23-6 for Trevor's rink and 25-11 on Simon's rink resulting in a convincing  48-17 win and all 8 points for Maldon B. Thanks go to Lionmead who's company made our evening enjoyable.

Next game at home against Great Baddow.

 

Tuesday 20th   Home v Gt. Baddow C - Maldon B welcomed a Green Baddow team for our second home match with high hopes of repeating our success from last week.Trevor Matthams had his trusty deputy John Blighton at 3 but a new look front end saw Dave Bruce in an unfamiliar lead position and a debutant, Susie Timkle, start at 2. Despite the new look rink by the half way point Trevor was made to look good by his fellow team mates with a healthy 13-5 lead. This lead was never under threat and although the last 3 ends were lost it was as too little too late for the 4 from Green Baddow. Final score22-12. On the other rink Simon Ash had a more familiar looking rink with just one change seeing Bobby Bruce making her debut at lead. Paul Callow was once again solid at two, leaving Ron Thackray and Simon to try and add to the points the lead two had bowled. This rink was a tighter game and after 10 ends played nothing separated the teams. However, a run of five scoring ends for Maldon put the game to bed with the final score 19-13 in Maldons favour.So another 8-0 win and a healthy aggregate score and another selection headache for Captain Simon for next weeks match, our first away at Stock.

Well done and thanks to Gt Baddow for an enjoyable evening.

Tuesday 27th   Away v Stock C - Maldon B travelled to Stock to take on their C team. A wet and windy day had slightly improved to gray and breezy. With a rather heavy green, Trevor Matthams, John Blighton, David and Moyra Underdown  took control from the first bowl and didn’t loose the mat until the eighth end.  Loosing 3 points over the next 3 ends before restoration of the mat, they restricted their opponents to only a further 3 points over the remaining 8 ends. ‘New boy’, David Underdown was under scrutiny not only from his wife but also team Captain Simon after his whinging over the previous week about his lack of opportunity to show his skill . I am pleased to report that he has created yet another selection headache for Captain Simon. Well played David.

Final score for Trevor’s rink 20-6.

The other rink saw another married combo making a ‘playing couple’ debut. Dave and Bobby Bruce along with Helen Philpott and Simon Ash also had a strong start but by the halfway point all was square at 7-7. However, it definitely was a game of two halves as Simon’s happy crew only relinquished the mat once over the next 9 ends. As the author of this report I have to admit that I had all the rub of the green and Tony ( Stock skip) had none!!). This good luck and the solid support of his rink resulted in a dominant display reflected in the 24-8 win.

So the aggregate score of 44-14 gave Maldon all 8 points and kept our position at top of Div4 . Thanks to the Stock team who played better than the score suggests and yes Simon’s luck may have been mentioned over the beers after the match!!

June 

Tuesday 3rd     Home v Witham B - 

Maldon B welcomed the Witham B team to our green. On rink 6 saw a familiar skip and No. 3 in Trevor and John with the ever present Moyra at lead. Paul Callow made a welcome return at 2 and as usual Trevor guided his rink onto a lead early doors. However, once the opposing skip had found the green he began  playing some blinding shots which cut down, and in some cases, reversed a healthy head in Maldon’s favour. The experience of this rink ment that they took these reversals in their stride and held into win by 5 points: 14-9.

On rink 5 Helen and Bobby continued to play positive bowls. Bobby putting her brand new purple bowls to good effect despite flinching each time another bowl even slightly brushed up against them!

A new face was at No.3 saw Richard Beckwith making his debut in this position. With Simon at skip they made a positive start and were not headed until the eleventh end. From then on we chased to catch the Witham 4 but ran out of ends . Final score 11-16.

After 3 hours on the green we finished 25-25 and sheared the points 4-4. So to the bar to discuss the closeness of the game and for Bobby to check for any scratches on her new bowls.

Tuesday 10th   Home v Chelmsford C - A ‘bum squeaker’ this week v Chelmsford C team. A few new faces and old faces in different positions this week as Captain Ash tweaked the team from last weeks draw.

Tony Broome made a welcome return to league bowls playing at No. 3 and Dave Bruce skipped for the first time on a CMBL night. With Bobby leading and Simon playing at two this rink definitely had a fresh look about it.

 An absent Moyra saw Helen playing with Trevor and John for the first time and Peter Pask making a debut No2 with his shiny new bowls on rink 2.

Throughout the 18 ends there was never more than a 3 point difference between the teams on rink 5. Going into the final end Maldon had a slender 2 point lead when the skips took to the mat. Chelmsford’s Barry sent one down to cut the deficit to one. Dave’s first bowl was a metre short. A big bowl for Barry on his last bowl. Both teams watched a good out and it was looking good to be in the count. However, Dave’s cunning plan to leave his first bowl short paid dividends as Barry’s bowl knocked Dave up to put us up by two. Dave sensibly put his bowl in his pocket ( Australian for ‘taking it’ ). Later in the bar, Dave claimed that his short bowl was actually deliberate , some debate followed, perhaps we will never know!!

On rink two an unfamiliar start for Trevor, going down 4 on the first end  and not regaining parity until the 7th end. From then on in it was a mirror image of what was happening on rink 5 in that it was never more than 1 point which separated the teams. On the completion of the 17th end all was square. Chelmsford had the mat so their skip sent his first wood down followed by Trevor, Chelmsford one up. Second bowl from Chelmsford saw them still holding one. By this time rink 5 has finished and so Trevor with his last bowl had to get one in, in front of the whole B team and the spectators with the knowledge that this would be an 8 point bowl. Did he disappoint, of course not. The ‘Cool Hand Luke’ of the B team sent one down. Silence across the green as his bowl tracked in, to the eruption of players and spectators, to take shot and a one point win and securing all 8 points. Phew!

Commiserations to Chelmsford. The final points of 8-0 to Maldon didn’t reflect the closeness of the game with just a 3 point difference in the score 33-30.

Tuesday 17th   Away v Mill Lane - 

An away game at a new green for a few of the Maldon B team at Mill Lane in Witham.

Trevor’s band of merry bowlers played to form getting off to a quick start, not allowing the opposition to score until the 5th end. Moyra was her normal accurate self setting up good heads for Richard to build upon leaving John to look good and Trevor to confirm to his team he will help out soon!! Mill Lane fought back to be in a 3 point lead on the last end. For the second week running Trevor was left with his last bowl. a view from the mat to get a 4 point turn around. Could he do it again? Moyra, Richard and John could only watch as Trevor launched his bowl. It came into the head at speed and accuracy. A few seconds silence was broken by cheers and Richard running up the green to embrace Trevor. A 4 point turnover, or was it. Controversy, Mill Lane saying it was only 3, Maldon claiming 4. Bowls moved, 4 claimed. A one point win, 16-15. Phew!

On the other rink saw Helen and Bobby making Simon and Dave look good. It was rare that we left the head down and sometimes 4 or more up. Mill Lane’s skip, Andrew, stayed calm and cut this down and on too many occasions turned it completely around. The whole game was tight with Maldon keeping in front. We managed to protect our lead and ran out rink winners by 6, 19-13.The score for ends was 9 each on both rinks. Aggregate score 35-28 in Maldon’s favour and all 8 points.

Thanks to all players from Mill Lane for giving us a good game and a pleasant evening.

Thursday 19th  KO Shield Preliminary Home & Away v Falcon D - The home and away format of this competition saw Trevor, John, David Underdown and Paul Callow take the home game while Helen, Richard, Simon and Dave Bruce travelled to Falcon to take on their D team.

This was a tight game from the first to last end at both venues. Trevor just kept in front till the fourteenth end when Falcon took a four followed by a single to jump into the lead which they maintained until the final end. Trevor once again faced the prospect of turning a deficit into a win albeit only by one point.

Unsurprisingly, the Maldon players took six points on the last end and secured the rink win 21-16.  The ‘away’ game was just as tight but with Falcon D keeping the Maldon 4 behind them. It wasn’t until the 16th end that Maldon took a one point lead and managed to keep a slim lead and the win.  A very close game played in good spirits. We not the next round.

Tuesday 24th   Away v Southminster - A top of the league clash saw an unbeaten Maldon B travel to unbeaten  Southminster. As expected a close game ensued.

Trevor, John. David Sargood and Moyra were up against a solid team who kept them behind until the twelfth end when Maldon got there noses in front. However, over the next 4 ends saw 15 points go on the scoreboard. Unfortunately only 6 were for Maldon. Going into the 16th end we were 5 down and despite a 3 on the 16th end Trevor could not produce another miraculous escape and for the first time this season his rink went down. Score, 17-21.

Dave Bruce skipped next door with Helen, Bobby and Simon providing the good looks and skill(!!). Helen and Bobby held their own against their opposite numbers but Southminster’s number 3 (Matt) and Skip (Clive) were on form often turning the head to their advantage. Simon and Dave tried to protect our advantage but too often Matt or Clive came in and took it from us.

Despite Maldon winning the last 4 ends Southminster managed to limit the win to just one point although we often left the head with 2 or more. This turned out to be crucial in the final reconning and this rink went down 10-16. A mighty clash at the top of the table which you can watch on ‘Match of the Day!’

So a first loss was experienced by the intrepid Maldon B players but we still sit strongly in second behind the still unbeaten Southminster.

Final score 27-37. We look forward to the return match at home which will be the last game of the season.

July

Tuesday 1st    Away v Lionmede - The first return match saw Maldon B travel to bottom of the table Lionmead. Dave Bruce’s rink of Helen, Bobby and Simon had a good first half of the game mainly due to Dave playing some lovely stuff.

However, the last 7 ends saw us lose the lead and only scoring 4 points! Final rink score 13-16.

Trevor’s band of happy soles saw a new face in Brian Cullinbine at 3, birthday boy Paul Callow at 2 and the steady hand of Moyra at lead. The usual confidence inspired by Trevor’s leadership was sapping away due to both the intense heat and humidity and the depressing site of the scoreboard. Not to go into too much detail but by the end of the game double figures on our scoreboard we’re just a dream and Paul’s birthday celebrations were a little dampened!!

Final rink score 6-23. On a bright note Trevor’s rink did win the final end but couldn’t make up the 18 point deficit!!

So an 8-0 loss. We have had better days.

Well done to Lionmead.

Thursday 3rd  KO Shield 1st Round  - Home and Away to Writtle -  Helen , Paul, Simon and Dave B travelled to Writtle while Moyra, Dave U, Tony B and Trevor were the home rink.

At Writtle it was a tight match throughout. Maldon making it hard for themselves as when they had the lead or caught back up inevitably dropped a 4 or 5 to let Writtle off the hook. However, a very satisfying 6 pointer on the 16th end saw Maldon move back into the lead.

Simon contacted Trevor for a score update. Only 3 points in it, all to play for.

At Writtle we went into the final end 2 up. However, a message from Maldon reported that the home team had dropped 2 followed by a 4 on the last two ends which meant that the away team needed an eight to force an extra end, a big ask. Eventually Writtle took a two on the final end making the score at Writtle 20-20 and an overall loss by 10 and our exit from the cup. Shame as the team captain was hoping to go deeper into the competition. Just have to focus on the league then!

Congratulations to Writtle C team and good luck in the next round.

Tuesday 8th    Away v Gt Baddow C - The return match at Great Baddow saw us face a rather different 8 from our home match which we took all 8 points. The Maldon lineup had a familiar look with Tony Broom coming in at 2 for Trevor’s usual suspects. Dave Bruce’s rink also maintained a familiar lineup.

What a rollercoaster of a game, especially for the four on rink 5. Trevor and Co’s  usual quick start deserted them and were 10-0 down by the 4th end. However, over the next nine ends they scored 17 points and were 17-11 up. BUT by the 17th end Gt Baddow had crept to within 2 points as they started the final end.

A containment was all that was needed to secure the 2 points for the rink win. Gr Baddow took 3 points!!!!

Dave’s rink , despite loosing the first two ends, were very much in control and were 18-8 up after the 14th end. As we passed in the middle his instructions to his fellow Maldonions  was ‘containment’.

So to the final end we were 6 up and looking at 6 out of the possible 8 points.

What was to follow needed a health warning as although Bobby had put both her bowls near the Jack Gt Baddow’s No3 knocked it back to change the head to 5 down!! Dave had two woods and only needed one in the head to secure those 6 points. Helen, Bobby and Simon were confident that our reliable skip would not only put one in but both, as the head had plenty of room. Let’s just say Dave has had (much) better ends. so after 18 ends and 205 minutes of play we ended up even. 37-37 and shared the points.

The author of this report was reminded as he left for home that if his big feet hadn’t touched and (very slightly) moved two of our bowls when measuring, the 4 we got might have been a 6. But we will never know and I’m sure this will never be mentioned again!!

Roll on next week at home to Stock.

Tuesday 15th  Home v Stock C -  Coming off a string of disappointing results Maldon B were determined to get back on the promotion track. However, Stock had other ideas!

Trevor, John, Dave S, and Bobby won the first end but the next time the captain looked over the score was 1-16 to the negative! Murmurs of ‘straight woods’ could be heard floating across the green.

Bobby stepped into the big boots vacated by an unavailable Moyra and played a blinder. However, this good play at lead did not stop the score ticking over for Stock. Towards the last few ends the target became to get into double figures. Unfortunately the ends ran out for Trevor’s intrepid team and the scoreboard was not pretty, 7-29.

Meanwhile the other half of the Maldon team were faring only mildly better. At the halfway point Dave Bruce’s team of Helen, Dave Underdown and Simon were trailing by 8 points.

Helen and David U were setting up good heads and at one or two points Simon added to our advantage. But, Tony the Stock skip played well and combined this with good luck often turned the tide in Stocks favour.

Going into the final end the score stood at 9-17.

A difficult ask to get a hot shot for a draw but we gave it a good go and posted our best end holding and keeping a 4 pointer to make the scoreboard look a bit more respectable at 13-17.

A disappointing evening for Maldon but we maintain our 2nd place in the league (just)

Well done to the Stock team who are now only 2 points behind us.

Tuesday 22nd  Away v Witham B - Back to winning ways and the promotion trail after a bit of a slump for Maldon B this week.

Although all 8 players have been on the team sheets this season the Captain had a reshuffle and with both Trevor and John looking on from the stands (bar) he was perhaps a little anxious that this new look lineup would work.

No need to worry. With the ever reliable Moyra at lead, Paul Callow, a rock at two and Dave Sargood making a debut at 3, skip Simon had little to do but protect some very healthy heads. After the second end we were never behind. A good rink win and two points secured. 20-12.

The other rink had a more familiar look but Bobby played at one with Dave Underdown at two Tony Broom moving into three with Dave Bruce keeping order at skip.

A much tighter game here. Close throughout. Bobby setting up the heads from the start of each end and Tony at 3 having a solid game. We edged ahead by one on the 6th end but immediately dropped a 4 and where chasing until the 14th end. The final 5 ends were tense but ultimately satisfying as we ran out 16-12 winners and claimed all 8 points.

Trevor and John went home satisfied that the ‘youth team’ could cope without them! Thanks for coming to support us chaps on an away game, much appreciated.

Thanks to the Witham team for a pleasant evenings bowls.

Captain Simon.

Tuesday 29th  Away v Chelmsford C - As I sit on the Danube in the middle of the Slovakian Capital Bratislava I am looking at the Score cards of Tuesday’s match. I’m pleased to report that despite my absence I left the team in the capable hands of Dave Bruce to bring home a win. Taking 6 of the 8 points available will be celebrated with a cocktail within the hour.

To the details: Tony Broom skipped a strong team of Moyra, Paul C and John B. From the first to last end they maintained a lead which Chelmsford had no answer to. On ends 10 and 11 the game was won with a 5 followed by a 4. Chelmsford had no reply. Two points secured with a 19-9 win.

Not a great start on the second rink of Helen, Bobby, Dave and Dave dropping a 5 on the first end! Although they  won 9 out of the 18 ends  they just couldn’t pull ahead. The final score was close 16-19 which was good enough to take the aggregate score and as I said take the game 6-2.

I’m off to the bar to celebrate and hopefully not fall overboard on the way to dinner.

Good luck next week against Mill Lane. I might just make it back in time to watch the last few ends if the M25 allows.

Simon's report 

August

Tuesday 5th   Home v Mill Lane - The penultimate game of the season and a possibility of securing second place and therefore promotion. We needed to take maximum points and hope Stock dropped a point.

The team captain sat and watched this game as he had just got back from his river cruise along the Danube. So from a relaxed deposition and a comfy seat he watched with bated breath.

Bobby, Paul Callow, and the two Daves made up one rink while the two Underdowns with John and Trevor made up the other. It was an easy watch as neither Maldon rinks were behind at any point. It only left team captain Simon to congratulate good shots and enjoy the game.

Trevor’s team ran out 24-11 winners and Dave’s team were 21-10 winners. So a reasonable comfortable win and securing the necessary maximum 8 points.

However, we couldn’t fully celebrate as we did not know Stocks score and they had a 10 shot advantage over us in the shot difference column. Are thanks go to Mill Lane for another enjoyable evening of bowling and a friendly drink after the match.

Southminster next week. Last game of the season and we take on the already crowded champions with every intention of causing an upset ( it was close when we played earlier in the season). By the time this is posted the league table will have been up dated and we will know if we are promoted with a game to spare or need to take a point in our last game.

Tuesday 12th Home v Southminster
Saturday 30th KO Finals at Gt Baddow