Season Updates
2024 SEASON
Match Report: Hexham Elvaston (A) - Clegg League - 24 April '24
We got our longest trip of the season out of the way in just our second game - and achieved our first win at the same time. A strong team performance all round earned a 9-5 victory with a 69-59 shot aggregate, and like the previous week we were so close to making it even better.
Our only rink winners were Neil, Keith & Tom who took control from the 5th end and eased away to a comfortable 23-10 victory. On the adjacent rink Connor, Richard and Ronnie also looked set for victory but their opponents played an inspired final end to grab 3 shots and a 16-16 draw.
The other two rinks saw very narrow defeats. Chris, Sue and George were 6-16 down after 12 ends but then remembered how to bowl and staged a great comeback to lose by just 1 shot, 17-18.
It was similarly close on the final rink which, after an opening 0-5 run to their opponents, saw Alan, Dave K and Reg keep it close throughout and eventual go down by just 2 shots, 13-15.
So 1 rink win, a draw and the aggregate meant 9 points earned and a healthy middle-of-the-table spot after just two games. This one could easily have been 14-0.
The conclusion has to be we've started well and we're a long way from being out of our depth!
Next week (1 May) we're back at home as we welcome Westerhope to the Northumberland Park Stadium.
Match Report: Tynemouth (H) - Hateley League - 18 April '24
What a lovely afternoon. About 7 degrees and constant rain. Just what you need for the opening of the Hateley (over 50s and therefore more likely to feel the cold) League.
However the team didn't let the conditions put them off and turned in a superb performance to deliver a thumping 12-2 (70-31) victory over local rivals Tynemouth.
Biggest winners were Reg, Colin (home debut) and Kev who won 26-3 on Rink 1. Strong wins also came from Chris, Paz and George who romped home 21-4 on Rink 3, and from Neil, Ian and John T on the delightful Rink 2 who triumphed 15-7.
Our only losers came on Rink 4 where Ron, Lynn and Keith found themselves up against Tynemouth's strongest 'three' and went down 8-17.
Overall it was a really good afternoon, and if the conditions had been better we'd have played full games instead of 15 ends and we'd (probably) have won by a lot more.
There's no game next week, so we next play on 2 May when we travel to Rockcliffe Rollers. Let's keep up the good start to the season.
Match Report: Seaton Sluice (H) - Clegg League - 17 April '24
And so it begins!!
Our first season up in the dizzy heights of Division 3 began with a 2-12 loss to Seaton Sluice (who had dropped down from Div 2 last year - so to put it mildly, they were no mugs!) There was no shame though as we ran them close and lost by just 2 shots on the aggregate 66-68. So near and yet so far.
On a cold but mercifully dry evening we began with shade at the Pavilion End and bright sunshine at the Old Pavilion End - where it was about 5 degrees warmer. Sadly this only lasted for about 4 ends as the sun soon scuttled behind the houses, at which point the whole green plummeted into relative gloom.
In terms of the play, we learned how much a jump in standard this might be this season. We had just 1 winning rink on the night with Chris, Sue and Kev running out 20-12 winners (the opposition only had 2 players so they lost 1/3 of their score). The other 3 rinks, however, were very tight.
Neil, Keith & Tom went down by just 1 point (16-17) and Ronnie, Richard and Connor were just one worse at 15-17. In the final game Alan, Geoff and Reg found themselves 1-11 down after 8 ends but then staged a strong comeback. Alas it wasn't to be and they eventually went down 15-22.
So, a defeat but an honourable one. Let's hope we can gain our first win next week (24 April) when we're Away at Hexham Elvaston.
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2023 SEASON
Match Report: Heaton Victoria (A) - Knott Cup - 4 September '23
Our Knott Cup campaign, and with it our league bowling season, finally drew to a close on a muggy evening in Heaton as we claimed our third successive Knott Cup victory.
We played just 15-end games due to the fading light after 8pm (a good decision as we'd never had managed 21 ends) on a green which was much quicker than it looked. Our only losers were Chris, Anthony and Michael who allowed themselves to fall 3-13 behind after 11 ends. Fortunately they then woke up and managed to claw 8 shots back in the final four ends and lost 11-13. If only they'd woken up 2 ends earlier.
Biggest winners were Ron, Ryan and Dave K who also gave themselves a mountain to climb (a recurring theme of which there is more later). Trailing 2-9 they then went on a 13 shot run to charge into a 15-9 lead with one end to play and eventually ran out 15-10 winners.
The closest game of the night saw Alan, Dave Wyatt and Tony H just pip their opponents 12-11 in a game which was close throughout.
Last off the green were Neil, Connor and Tom who also managed to find themselves with a sizeable deficit, not helped by the '6' they gave away at one end. However, they remained focused and after 13 ends had still managed to build a 14-13 lead. Losing 1 at the 14th, they needed a strong final end to take the game, which is what they did. Two great lead bowls from Tom were backed up by Connor meaning Neil just needed to protect the end to take the game - which of course he did, meaning we actually took 4 shots and the game 18-14.
The final result was an excellent 12-2 win with a 56-48 shot aggregate - and a special mention to Ryan who played really well on his debut and made a great contribution to the rink and team wins.
We finished the season with 5 wins out of 12, an improvement on last year, and we secured 6th place in the league.
Match Report: Willington Quay (H) - Hateley League - 28 August '23
Our Hateley (Thursday) League programme came to an end on Bank Holiday Monday with a rearranged home match against potential champions Willington Quay, who needed a minimum of ten points to pip Crawford Park and claim the title. We'd lost 1-13 to them earlier in the season, so a Linskill victory always looked a tough task - and so it proved.
Our only winners were Chris, Sue and Dave Wilson (on a 'moist' Rink 6) who needed to bowl well to win 26-21. In truth it could have been by a larger margin against good opponents but they relaxed and gave up 4 shots on the final end. Still, a win's a win.
On the other side of the green Rink 1 saw a close struggle with John T, Tony H and Paz initially building a big lead before being pegged back. Going into the final end they trailed 18-19 but managed to pick up 1 shot and draw the game. Well played.
That, sadly, was as good as it got and we were unable to do Crawford a favour. Ron, Lynne and John C enjoyed a close game but in the end went down 16-24; and Eddie (in his 1st game as skip), Anthony and Kevin found themselves up against what was probably WQs best trio. Despite their excellent efforts they finally succumbed to a heavy defeat.
Overall Willington Quay took the match 3-11 (68-103 shots) and won the title. Congratulations to them, well deserved, but we've made great strides this year and we're not too far behind them.
We finished the season with 8 wins and 8 defeats, 108 points and 5th place in the league - bang in the middle. Well done to all who played, we now have a target for next season.
Match Report: Heaton Victoria (H) - Clegg League - 23 August '23
Close, but not close enough! Wednesday evening saw another really good performance in our final Clegg League match of the season, but a resounding 13-1 victory was not quite enough to grab 2nd place in the league.
Playing away from/towards the clubhouse, and in the context of the previous evening at Tynemouth, it was nice to play on a green that didn't require bowlers to have muscles like The Hulk to get the bowls from one side of the green to the other!
We went into the game knowing only the full 14 points and a shot aggregate of at least +52 would be enough - and we came very close.
We had three really good rink wins with pride of place going to Ron, Sue and John C who enjoyed a thumping (and high speed) 31-8 victory. Well played.
Strong results also came from Keith, Connor and George and from Neil, Sean and Tom. Neither team ever looked in trouble and both eased to excellent 22-10 victories.
In the final match Chris, Geoff and Michael came up against what was probably Heaton Vic's strongest trio (look, it's true and it's not just because I'm writing this!). Quickly falling 0-6 and then 2-9 behind our three began to fight back against some really good bowling but still found themselves 11-16 down with three ends to play. However, Chris trailed the jack with his final wood of the 19th end to turn 2 down into 3 up - 14-16. Unbelievably the 20th end was tied, so still 14-16 down. The final end, now being played in proper darkness, saw excellent woods from Michael & Geoff, but also from our opponents, meaning we lay 1 up with just the skips to play. Chris rolled in to make it two but was unable to make it three and the game was tied 16-16.
So, we finished on 13 points with a 91-44 shot aggregate (+47 shots) - 1 point and 5 shots shy of what was needed. We couldn't really have come any closer.
All this means we finished 3rd in the league, 1 point behind Crawford Park. Over the season we played 56 rinks and won 36 of them. Had we won one more we'd have finished 2nd. Tiny margins! We now have to wait for the league AGM for confirmation of the number of teams getting promotion. If it's two we'll play in Division 4 again next season - but we will have lower petrol costs!
Onwards and upwards - it's been a good Clegg season.
Match Report: Tynemouth (A) - Clegg League - 22 August '23
Well that wasn't in the script! A difficult evening on a slooooowwwww green resulted in a 2-12 defeat (-23 shots) to local rivals Tynemouth.
The good news? Well played Keith, George and Connor who bowled well to win 18-13 and secure our only points of the evening.
The bad news? The rest of us couldn't cope with good opponents and the pace (or lack of it) of the green.
This means we have one game left - tomorrow vs Heaton Vic at home. We have to win all 4 rinks and achieve a shot aggregate difference of at least +53. Difficult, but far from impossible. If we do it we'll finish second and be assured of promotion to the dizzy heights of Division 3. Fail to do it and we'll be left waiting for the league decision about how many clubs go up - two or three.
At least we have something to play for - time to stand up and be counted. Gulp!
Match Report: Tynemouth (A) - Hateley League - 17 August '23
The 'sort of rehearsal' for next Tuesday's crunch Clegg League match vs Tynemouth didn't quite go to plan this afternoon as we slumped to a second successive 2-12 defeat.
Our top performers were the Clarkes, Geoff and Anthony, ably supported by Dave Wyatt, who claimed our only points of the afternoon with a solid 25-16 win. Well played chaps.
Chris, Sue and George also ran their opponents close and were just 13-14 down after 18 ends. However, they proceeded to give 3s away at the next two ends a1nd despite getting two back at the final end they lost 15-20.
Our other two rinks also lost with John T, Tony H and Eddie losing 12-22; and Keith, Lynne and John C losing 12-27, despite a spirited late comeback.
Ah well, not to worry, it was just a bit of fun in the occasional sunshine on a Thursday afternoon. Lovely views of the sea though. And on to next Tuesday night when we could really do with winning!
We have just one Hateley League match left this season - a rearranged fixture on 31 August vs Willington Quay (H) who are top of the league and who at the last count had won 13 out of 13 fixtures. Dead easy then!
Match Report: Crawford Park (A) - Clegg League - 16 August '23
We suffered only our second defeat of the season this evening as we went down 2-12 in a tight game away from home.
Despite Monday's monsoon the green was lovely and surprisingly quick - and at the halfway point we were still in with a good shout on all four rinks; however, our opponents finished strongly and eased away from us.
First the good news; Chris, Michael and Geoff bowled really well to take their game by just one shot. With Michael leading strongly, Geoff backing him up well and Chris coming up with the odd good shot when needed they managed to keep themselves in the game in the face of some excellent opposition bowling. After 19 ends they were 13-14 down, but took 1 shot at the 20th to tie 14-14. Finding themselves 2 shots down at the final end, Chris drew his first wood to about 12" away to take shot. Happily for us the opposition skip unable to respond we took the two points.
In their game Neil, Connor and Tom were in with a chance of winning until the final end. Trailing 15-16, Neil needed to take out the shot wood but was unlucky to miss by a whisker, meaning instead of taking the 2 shots we were looking for we lost one and thus the match 15-17. Really close.
Our other two rinks battled to the end but were unable to match some excellent Crawford bowlers. Ron, Sue and John went down 13-20; and Keith, George and Alan lost 8-24. Just one of those nights.
The result was a 51-75 shot aggregate and a 2-12 loss. Disappointing but all is not lost. We have two games left and we need 17 points to be certain of 2nd place. In the games played against the same opponents earlier this season we took 25 pts.; we can do the same again.
So onto next week and our two final matches.
On Tuesday (22 Aug) we have a rearranged fixture vs Tynemouth (A); and our season comes to a close the following evening (Wed 23 Aug) when we face Heaton Victoria.
Calm!
Match Report: Whitley Bay Monkseaton (H) - Hateley League - 10 August '23
Well that was fun! A great team performance this afternoon saw us gain our first win over Whitley Bay Monkseaton for many a year.
The team coped well with the sticky, muggy weather (let's be honest, the nylon shirts don't help!), a damp-ish green (due to the watering) as well as the holes dug by the s***ing birds (we need a scarecrow - any volunteers/suggestions?). Having said that, the green was in lovely condition - and we took full advantage.
Biggest winners were Neil, Michael and Anthony who played on Rink Neil, started very strongly and strolled to a superb 32-11 victory.
On the adjacent rink (No. 2) Chris, George and Sue started similarly strongly and bowled consistently well to gain their 27-9 win.
As is common now we avoided the middle of the green so Ron, Lynne and John C found themselves using Rink 5 (marked up as 3) and had to bowl well to earn their 20-13 win.
Our final team of John T, Tony H and Paz (Rink 6 marked up as 4) couldn't quite keep up with their opponents and went down to a 14-27 defeat. A good effort though on an unfamiliar rink.
All of that meant a resounding 12-2 victory, 93 shots to 60. That's 8 wins out of 14 for the season; 4 out of the last 5; and a really strong end to the season.
We now have just two games to go - so it's Tynemouth (A) next Thursday (17 August).
Match Report: Innisfree (H) - Clegg League - 9 August '23
Well, that was tense, but we got there in the end with a 12-2 win. Of course, it wasn't tense for everyone - just a few of us.
In full-on relaxed mode were Neil, Sean and Tom (Rink 4, 33-8 winners) and Ron, Sue and John C (Rink 1, 33-12 winners). Excellent performances from all and two big aggregate victories which made the overall team victory secure.
On Rink 3 (Rink 5 normally), Chris, Geoff and Michael found themselves in a tough game and after 14 ends they were 11-14 down - squeaky bum time. However, End 15 yielded a crucial and match-breaking '5' and they went on to build a 21-15 lead with just one end left before finally grabbing a valuable 21-18 win. Phew!
On Rink 2 Keith, George and Alan also came up against tough opponents and fought back from an early deficit to be within a point; however, their opponents, particularly the 'skip', pulled it out when it mattered and our trio fell to a 14-22 defeat.
All in all, it was a good night. We took the match 12-2 (which was what we were looking for) with a 101-60 (+41) shot aggregate. Our 10th win of the season from 11 games.
(Interestingly, we've hit the 100 shot mark twice this season - both times against Innisfree, both times with a 12-2 win).
This puts us on 121 points, just 6 points behind Crawford Park. We have 3 games left; they have 1 - and we play each other next week. Whatever happens next week, if we're to finish 2nd we need 21 points (possibly less depending on next week's result) from 3 games. What a finish to the season.
Next week - Crawford Park (A) on 16 August. Big game!
Match Report: Wallsend Park (H) - Knott Cup - 7 August '23
The penultimate Knott Cup match of this season saw the team take on Wallsend Park at home on (for once) a dry and bright, if a little nippy, evening. On paper this looked like a tough fixture as we'd lost heavily in the reverse fixture in Richardson Dees Park, but happily the evening turned out to be highly satisfying.
Playing towards the houses/park (depending on your perspective), Rink 3 (No. 5 really) saw our only losers of the night. Keith, Dave Wilson and Tony Hall kept their game tight but ultimately lost narrowly 14-18.
Rink 4 looked like being a valuable win for Ron and the Daves (Wyatt and Keillor). A slow start saw them behind but they quickly took control and led until the final two ends before their opponents pinched 3 shots and managed to sneak an 17-17 draw. Still, a valuable point gained.
Our closest win of the evening was on Rink Neil where Neil (how strange), Sue & Michael took on what was probably the opposition's strongest team. However, thanks to some excellent bowling by our team a safe 24-15 lead was taken into the final end where the opposition took a '4' to give the game a more respectable look but nonetheless a 24-19 win for us.
Finally, playing on Rink 2, Chris, Anthony and John C began steadily and after 5 ends were just 5-3 ahead. John and Anthony quickly realised that a long jack was a good idea - and so it proved as our trio built an unassailable lead, including the Holy Grail of a '6' at one end, and finally ran out 30-7 winners.
So 2 rink wins, 1 draw and and a shot aggregate of 85-61 in our favour - and so an 11-3 win.
Our final Knott Cup game of the season is next week (14 August) where we travel to Heaton Victoria in search of a third successive win and a strong end to the season.
Match Report: Percy (A) - Knott Cup - 31 July '23
Amazingly, given the appalling weather, we managed to play our much-anticipated return fixture vs Percy on Monday evening, and how glad we were! Despite playing under a leaden sky in almost constant drizzle, the green (playing away from/towards the Clubhouse) ran well and helped the match become a tight affair throughout ... but we won!
Starting with the not so good news; Keith, John T and Dave Wilson came up against a strong Percy trio who led throughout, eventually taking the game 12-24 ... but the 12 shots for our trio were crucial. (See later).
A particularly squelchy Rink 4 saw Ron, Sue and Dave K take an early lead which they held until the final end. 15-14 up, they held 2 shots until the Percy skip (Mick Brodie) rested on the jack. (His bowl that is, not him). Ron tried his best but was unable to shift him and the game was tied 15-15.
On Rink Neil (No. 1 to the rest of us), Neil (obviously), Tom and Kevin took on a strong Percy team of Amy, Tracey and Gill. Our trio bowled well from the first end and deservedly took the game 20-14.
Finally, our biggest win of the evening came on the delightful Rink 2 where Chris, Anthony and Michael took the honours in a relatively low-scoring affair. Trundling into a 7-0 lead after 6 ends our team never looked back and secured a comfortable 22-5 win. Special mentions for Anthony and particularly Michael whose 'leading' was exceptional and which placed our opponents on the back foot at virtually every end.
The final score was a 69-58 (+11) win - meaning the 12 shots gained by our only losers were absolutely vital. Overall we gained an excellent 11-3 win, reversing the 3-11 defeat to Percy in May.
However, there will be no triumphalism here. Other than to say that in league games this season, as noted above, we stand level 1-1 with Percy. But of course, we won the Caush Cup in April, so in reality we're 2-1 up and can claim bragging rights. Not that we'd brag, we're above that sort of thing [sniggers].
There are only two more Knott Cup matches remaining, and the penultimate one in vs Wallsend Park (H) on 7 August. Lets finish the 'Monday' season on a high.
Match Report: Forest Hall (A) - Knott Cup - 29 July '23
There was disappointing news from Forest Hall today as a lovely warm afternoon playing on an excellent green in a lovely sheltered setting was marred slightly by the thumping defeat we incurred!
We found ourselves in the unique circumstances of playing a Monday evening match on a Saturday afternoon. Clutching at straws desperately, the subconscious confusion this caused is probably/possibly/not at all (delete as you see fit) the reason why we lost.
There were honourable losses for Geoff and the two Tonys who went down 18-21 and for Dave K, John T and Michael whose game was even closer at 20-22.
Sadly it was a different story on the other two rinks as Chris, Eddie and Dave Wyatt (13-29) and Ron, Dave Wilson and John C (11-28) came up against players who were just too good for them.
We'll write this one off as just a bad day and look forward to the Percy rematch on Monday evening.
Next match, therefore, is Percy (A - but still at home) on 31 July. COME OOOONNNN!
Match Report: Crawford Park (H) - Hateley League - 27 July '23
Mission accomplished this afternoon as we lulled Clegg League promotion rivals Crawford Park into a state of false security by going down to a 2-12 (61-74) defeat.
Only Neil, Geoff and Michael missed the briefing as they enjoyed the delights of Rink 2 and took a convincing 25-14 win. It's fair to say their opponents didn't really enjoy the rink quite as much.
Our other three mini-teams remembered the script and duly lost. Ron, Lynn and Anthony by 11-24; Chris, Sue and Eddie by 10-16; and John T, George and Tony H by 13-21.
Our opponents thus went away full of confidence for when we meet in the Clegg League in three weeks' time. Ha!
Next match: Astley Park (A) on 3 August.
Match Report: Astley Park (H) - Clegg League - 26 July '23
Another superb win tonight against Astley Park, the team one place below us in the table.
In brief, everyone played well and secured the points on all four rinks which resulted in a resounding win - 14-0 and 98-54 on shots scored.
Neil, Tom and Sean played their usual rink (obviously!!) and built a big lead before their opponents mounted a comeback of sorts. It was all in vain though as our team eventually won 27-14.
It was a similar story on Rink 2 where Chris, Geoff and Connor started really well, gaining two '5s' in the first five ends. The game settled down after that and a bit of late relaxation from our trio allowed their opponents to get a few shots back - but they still won 25-16.
Rink 3 (Rink 5 in reality) saw Keith, Kevin and Alan shoot into an 8-0 lead which they also never looked like giving up and they romped to an excellent 25-11 victory.
The story of the night was on Rink 4 where Ron, George and John C began by going 7-0 down. After a few more ends they were still behind but following what appears to have been some highly effective (and direct) motivational speaking from Sue, they roared back to take a convincing 20-13 win. A brilliant effort from a tough start.
So, 14 more points to add to our promotion bid. 4 games to go.
Next week ... a tough one, Tynemouth (A).
Match Report: Forth (A) - Hateley League - 20 July '23
An excellent, if a little damp, afternoon at Forth this afternoon where we came away with a well-deserved 12-2 win ... but it was very close throughout.
First off the green with a win were Ron, John C and Lynn who took control late in their match and were leading by 6 with just one end to play. They lost 2 shots at the final end but that didn't take the gloss off an excellent win.
Chris, Sue and Anthony were losing 5-2 early in their game but then took control thanks to the superb play of Anthony and Sue. At every end if one of them wasn't close the other one was. The outcome was they took 9 or 10 ends with no reply and established a good lead which they never looked like relinquishing and eventually took an 18-12 win.
On Rink 1 it was close all afternoon but Keith, Michael and John T looked to be in charge with a 2-shot lead after 20 ends. Alas the opposition had other ideas and took 3 at the final end, meaning a 15-16 defeat for us.
The final game was also close but there was no panic and Geoff, Kevin and Tony H continued to play well to hold off pressure from their opponents and take their game 21-19.
12-2 to Northumberland Linskill (73-62 aggregate) and another W in the result column.
Next match - Crawford Park (H) on 27 July and an opportunity to avenge a 14-0 thumping earlier in the season!
Match Report: Heaton Victoria (A) - Clegg League - 19 July '23
The Northumberland Linskill machine rumbled along successfully again on Wednesday evening as we gained 13 points and maintained the pressure on the top two.
The game began in gloomy conditions which turned to irritatingly steady drizzle before brightening up - which perfectly matched our mood. Unfortunately Heaton Vic were two players short so they played two triples and two pairs - which appeared to help as their 'pairs' played well. More of that later.
Biggest winners of the evening were Chris, Geoff and Connor who led from the off, never gave their opponents a sniff and won 28-8. Special mentions for Geoff's laser-like accuracy and Connor's graceful, languid style which had the opposition skip waxing lyrical at virtually every end!
On Rink 1 Keith, Kevin and Geoff found themselves up against one of the pairs and had to bowl well to win 19-17 (19-11.66 once they lost 1/3 of their score).
On the next rink Neil, Sean and Tom had to work even harder to gain the points. Also facing a pair, they found themselves 15-6 down against two good bowlers - a perfect example of when being 1 player short can help - before mounting a comeback. After 20 ends they were 16-17 behind but a superb delivery from Sean saw them lying shot. The opposition skip came close but couldn't beat Sean, leaving Neil to roll his final wood to within 12" and to ensure we took 2 shots and the game 18-17 (but again, 18-11.66 after the 1/3 penalty).
And so to the final rink where Ron, Anthony and John C led for much of the game; however, an opposition 4 on the 19th end made the score close, just 18-17 up. Two shots on the 20th seemed to have settled things as we then led 20-17, but a '3' for Heaton at the final end saw them tie the game 20-20.
The net result was an excellent 13-1 win (85-51.33 on aggregate).
Next up - Astley Park (H) on 26 July.
Match Report: Walker St. Peters (A) - Knott Cup - 17 July '23
Sadly this was the opposite of a fruitful night (fruitless maybe?) as we suffered a 0-14 defeat to a good team. And while our initial reaction to a green that won't win any prizes for its looks was one of trepidation, we can't use this as an excuse as it ran well.
It wasn't all doom and gloom as Neil, Connor and Geoff did really well to be 14-18 behind after 20 ends. They were then lying 4 with the Walker skip having 1 bowl left. And of course, he rolled it in the settle next to the jack and turn a probable 18-18 draw into a 14-19 defeat. Tough to take.
Similarly narrow losers were the Daves (Keillor & Wilson) and John T who made a spirited comeback to eventually go down 19-23. Again, hard lines, it was a great effort.
On Rink 3 Ron and the Tonies (Clarke & Hall) actually won 12 of their 21 ends but lost 12-27. Four ends where they lost 16 shots did the damage. That leaves just Rink 4 where Chris, Sue and Eddie went down 10-27 despite some sparkling play by Sue. In our defence, the opposition were on it from the 1st end and never let up.
The result was a 55-91 thumping, but it could have been much closer. No, honest, it could.
One final point, Walker Park is worth a visit to see the parakeets. We have about 6 in Northumberland Park. They must have close to 100 and they all seem to like the two trees next to the green. It's quite a sight!
We have a bye next Monday (24 July) but we then have two games in three days: 29 July (SATURDAY!!) v Forest Hall (A); and then the rematch with Percy on Monday 31 July. May the best team win (and we all know who that is!!).
Match Report: North Shields West End (H) - Hateley League - 13 July '23
A baking afternoon (not in a Mary Berry way mind) saw our third home fixture of the week, this time against local rivals NSWE - and has happened on two or three other occasions this year, it was a real nail-biter.
Once again the big winner was Neil (again playing on Rink 1 - if this continues we're going to ask for a thorough investigation), partnered by George and Kevin, who romped to a convincing 26-9 win. So, +17 pts to help the aggregate. Remember the number.
On the adjacent rink Ron, Lynne and John C found things tough and went down 13-21 while on Rink 3 (really Rink 5) Chris, Sue and Kostas found their opponents similarly tough and also went down by 8 shots - this time 12-20. It has to be said, they weren't helped much by Chris who was, to be truthful, hopeless.
So we go to Rink 4 (6 really) where Keith, John T and Dave Wyatt had a ding-dong struggle which never had more than 2 or 3 shots in it. With one end to play they were 13-14 down meaning we were just 1 shot ahead on the aggregate, so they HAD to take the final end. Our hero was Dave Wyatt whose second wood finished about 6" wide of the jack. Try as they could their opponents got close but not close enough and we took the end to claim a 14-14 draw - and therefore the match by just 1 shot.
A good and really enjoyable afternoon's work with a 65-64 win, 9 points to us as a result of taking the aggregate + 1 rink win + 1 rink drawn. Happy days.
Next match is Forth (A) on 19 July.
Match Report: Centurion Park (H)- Clegg League - 13 July '23
After two blank weeks we were back in action in the Clegg League and once again the NLBC superstars had a successful evening.
Biggest winners of the night were Neil, Sean and Tom who triumphed 39-5 thanks to excellent play by all three, but with a special mention for Tom whose 'leading' was exceptional, regularly giving Sean and Neil a perfect platform.
Chris, Alan and George also won well (30-8) after taking control from the fourth end and never letting it go.
Ron, Sue and John C went down 11-23 as they came up against the strongest opposition trio who played very well. Our three did well to stay in touch in the face of some excellent bowling.
On the final rink Keith, Kevin and Dave K started strongly and at one point had a good lead. However, their opponents mounted a late comeback and, after 19 ends, we led by just 17-15. The 20th end saw 1 shot to Centurion and despite our lads' best efforts the final end yielded two more and a 17-18 defeat.
In the end though it was a strong 97-54 aggregate in our favour and a 10-4 win. With the other results last night, including a surprise 2-12 defeat for Crawford Park to our friends from Tynemouth, the top of the league table looks like this.
Plyd Pts Max Pts
1 Crawford Park 11 113 155
2 N Delaval Knights 10 112 168
3 N'land Linskill 8 82 166
4 Astley Park 11 66 108
5 Tynemouth 10 58 114
Promotion is still in our hands - but a big win would be nice for either Crawford or New Delaval when the play each other in three weeks' time!
Next match is Heaton Victoria (A) on 19 July. Come oooonnnnn!!
Match Report: Forth (H) - Knott Cup - 10 July '23
It was another tough Monday night at the 'office' as a good Forth team beat us for the second time this season. Although the recent rain made for a slow-ish green this was no excuse - our opponents just played it better.
Our only winners were Dave K, John T and Michael who played superbly to win 29-12. Alas that was as good as it got.
Narrow losers were Chris, Dave Wyatt and Keith who managed to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory as they lost 3 shots on the 21st end and went down 19-21.
On Rink1 Neil, Kevin and Alan came up against a really good trio and lost 10-23, and it was a similar story on Rink 4 where Ron, Lynne and Dave Wilson had a really good game but fell to a 12-23 defeat.
So overall we secured just 2 points and a relatively narrow 70-79 aggregate defeat - thanks to Dave, John and Michael.
One final point of note - Neil predicted the rain would stop at a specific point and was only about 30 seconds out! If you're at the green on Wednesday evening he'll be handing out next Saturday's winning lottery numbers as well as naming the winner of the 15.10 at Doncaster on Thursday.
Next match is Walker St Peters (A) on 17 July. Oh great.
Match Report: Rockcliffe (A) - Hateley League - 29 June '23
Hateley League action returned on Thursday after a two-week hiatus with a short trip up the coast to Rockcliffe. Alas, things didn't go as hoped and we succumbed to a 4-10 defeat.
On Rink 1 Keith, Michael and JT found themselves up against it from the off and despite bowling well they couldn't match an inspired opposition '1' who was on the jack repeatedly. As a result they slipped to a 9-23 defeat.
It was the other story on the next rink where Geoff and Tony C with Tony H led from the start but had to withstand a late fightback to claim a valuable 18-14 win. This, however, was cancelled out by a 16-20 loss for Chris, George and Kevin who also bowled well but were beaten by marginally better play by their opponents. And a bit a bad luck.
The final rink saw the closest game with Ron, Lynn and John C heading into the final end 14-14. Lying one with the final bowl in his hand Ron, with John horrified at the prospect, tried to make it two. He didn't, although it was very close, but they still won the end and therefore the match 15-14. Much of the credit should go to Lynn for her excellent play at '2' which kept the team in it for long periods in the middle of the game.
And so it came to pass that we lost 4-10 (58-71 on shot aggregate). Never mind, it didn't rain and wasn't blowing a hoolie - which at Rockcliffe it usually is.
Next week's match with Willington Quay has been postponed at their request, so our next game will actually be versus North Shields West End (H) on 13 July.
Match Report: New Delaval Knights (H)- Clegg League - 21 June '23
Thunderstorms and intense heat could not dampen our spirits on a glorious evening in Northumberland Park. After last weeks defeat to Crawford Park only a victory could resurrect our promotion challenge. The team did not disappoint with a resounding 12 : 2 victory despite a few “thunder-bowls” from the Knights as they attempted to demolish the heads. The entire team were stars with victories across 3 rinks, our only losing rink holding back a strengthened Knights team to limit their advantage. The overall score being 71 : 60 in favour of Northumberland Linskill.
Rink scores as follows:
Rink 1. 18:17 (John C, Connor M, Ron D)
Rink 2. 9:19 (Alan R, Kevin B, Keith H)
Rink 3. 26:11 (Tom M, Sean D, Neil M)
Rink 4. 18:13 (George D, David K, Geoff C)
Sadly the Knights did not partake of our post match hospitality leaving us to enjoy their tea and biscuits.
Next match is Centurion Park (H) 12 July.
Match Report: Crawford Park (H)- Clegg League - 13 June '23
In what may have been a crucial match for our promotion hopes we encountered an in form Crawford Park team on our home green. Stars of the evening were Anthony, Kostas and Geoff who bossed their rink taking our only points of the evening with an impressive 22:14 victory. All other rinks were dominated by Crawford Park whose players were consistent and accurate. Overall we lost 56 to 80 and took only 2 of the 14 match points available.
Next match is New Delaval Knights (H) on 21 June.
Match Report: Tynemouth (H) - Hateley League - 08 June '23
In a season which has featured more than one close finish, this was the closest yet as we took the match against our local rivals by just 1 shot!
Playing on Rink 5, John T, Kevin and Dave Wyatt led throughout before their opponents completed their comeback on the final end to claim a 17-17 draw. On Rink 4 Ron, Lynn and John C matched their opponents for long periods but went down 16-21; however next door to them (on Rink 3) Geoff and the Tonies (H & C) played well to win 16-11.
That left the final rink which saw and incredibly close game. After 20 ends Keith, Eddie and George were 12-13 behind, meaning overall we were 1 shot behind on the aggregate. No pressure then! To the surprise of nobody, our lads did the business and took 2 shots on the final end to win their game, and the match, by 1 shot.
Overall we won 63-62 and earned an 11-3 points win. Well played all - again showing that every single shot can count.
That's the first half of the Hateley League season complete as we've played all the other teams once and we have a respectable record having won four of the eight games played. Let's see if we can at least keep that going in the second half of the season.
We now have two Thursdays off, so our next match is Rockcliffe (A) on 29 June.
Match Report: Innisfree (A) - Clegg League - 07 June '23
Our 100% record in the Clegg League was maintained in convincing style this evening as we beat Innisfree 12-2 with a 103-54 shot aggregate.
Once again all players had to cope with a chilly game played under gloomy skies - albeit on a fast but sometimes tricky to read green.
Our only losers were Ron, Sue and John C who played well but came up against a very good opposition lead. In addition our trio didn't get the rub of the green (geddit?) and so they ultimately succumbed 13-22.
Our other three rinks went well. While they had to work hard for it, Neil, Connor and Geoff came from behind to take their game 24-14; while in a similarly tight game Chris, Tom and George managed to turn a game tied at 8-8 after 12 or so ends into a healthy 27-11 victory.
Our stars of the evening, however, were Alan, Kev and Keith who started superbly and didn't let up. While Alan (Skip) did what was needed when he had to, he was largely given an armchair ride by Keith and Kevin and the team cruised to a 39-7 win.
So, another 12 points, 5 wins out of 5, and we're 3rd in the league just 3 points behind Crawford Park and 14 behind New Delaval Knights with a game in hand on both ... and it's Crawford at home next week!
Next game: Crawford Park (H) on 14 June.
Match Report: Wallsend Park (A) - Knott Cup - 05 June '23
It was another tough one in the Knott Cup (Monday league) this evening as we lost 4-10 (51-81 aggregate) to a very experienced and skilful Wallsend Park team.
The game began in beautiful sunshine before, typically, ending under grey, overcast skies - much in line with our mood. Wallsend only played with 10 players (the minimum) which can be an advantage if your 'pairs' (using three woods each but losing a third of their score) are good. And they were - with the net result that Wallsend's two pairs played extremely well and enjoyed big wins.
On the other two rinks, however, we managed to come away with the points. On Rink 1 Alan, Dave K and Connor trailed before coming back strongly to win 22-17, while on Rink 4 Chris, Kev and Tony C also recovered from an initial deficit to take a tight game 17-14.
Next match: Heaton Victoria (H) on 12 June.
Match Report: Whitley & Monkseaton (A) - Hateley League, 01 June '23
It was a tight game in Monkseaton this afternoon, and in the end it went against us. All of the four rinks were close but not quite close enough as we succumbed to a 12-shot deficit on the aggregate and a 2-12 defeat.
On a good green which ran slower than it first appeared, Rink 1 saw John T, Dave Wyatt and Michael lose 10-19. There were only a couple of shots in it until the 15th end but our hosts then pulled away. Our other defeat came on Rink 3 where Neil, Tony H and Geoff led for much of the game before their opponents sneaked in front and took the game (15-18) in the final few ends.
Rink 4 saw John C, Lynn and Ron 11-18 down at the 15th end, but they made a great comeback to earn a 20-20 draw. And it was also a draw on Rink 2 where Chris, Sue and Tony C took 4 shots at the 20th end to lead 17-16. They were then lying shot at the final end before the halfwit playing Skip tapped their opponents in for 1 and for a 17-17 draw. [Sighs, shakes head] Oh well.
Next match: Tynemouth (H) on 8 June.
Match Report: Tynemouth (H) - Clegg League - 31 May '23
Well that was close! In the end it was a successful evening at home to Tynemouth with 3 rink wins and a 12-2 victory overall, but for long periods the win was anything but secure.
Starting with the not so good news, Chris, Tony C and George were well beaten on Rink 3 by their opponents who adjusted to the pace of the green far better than our trio who, despite a handful of end-saving woods, never got into it and were thumped 12-33. We promise to be better next time!
However, our other nine bowlers did us proud. Playing on Rink 4 Neil, Geoff and Connor initially found things difficult but soon took control and won 21-10, while on Rink 2 John C, Sue and Ron led throughout to take the game 19-11. And so to Rink 1.
With the other three games finished, and the final end to be played, the aggregate score had us 1 shot ahead, meaning Keith, John T and Alan needed to win the end to ensure we took the match. And our lads didn't let us down. After Keith and John had played we were lying 2, and Alan's second wood duly rolled in to make it 3. The Tynemouth skip was unable to affect the outcome and so we took a 21-15 victory in the game and an overall 4-shot victory in the match, 73-69.
Well done everyone, an excellent (if a little heart-stopping) victory.
Next match: Innisfree (A) on 7 June.
Clegg League Update (31 May): sadly, Alnwick BC has withdrawn from the league. As a result we lose our 14 pts, but we will save on petrol money. Swings and roundabouts etc. Onwards and upwards!
Match Report: Percy (H) - Knott Cup - 29 May '23
Monday evening saw the first of two scheduled league fixtures against Percy. Given we share the green, this was the bowling equivalent of the Milan derby and was keenly awaited by all in this corner of Northumberland Park.
As the strains of Handel's 'Zadok the Priest' (it's the Champions League theme, heathens) faded, both teams stood for the national anthem, performed abysmally by a small child from a local primary school. And then we started.
On Rink 1, playing across, Chris, Tony C and Dave K quickly conspired to find themselves 4-15 down after 11 ends. Deciding this couldn't go on they woke up and made a stirring comeback but ultimately went down 17-20.
Rink 2 saw Neil, Geoff and Connor enjoy a game that was almost a mirror image of Rink 1. This time they stormed into a strong lead before having to hold off a spirited Percy rally before grabbing a valuable 20-17 win.
Family ties held no sway on Rink 3 as Dave Wilson, Tony H and Ron came up against Amy and her teammates, Onlookers were aghast as a close 7-7 game turned on the 8th and 9th ends where Percy claimed 10 shots. Our team, despite battling on, couldn't get back into it and went down 14-29.
And finally to Rink 4 which was close throughout until Percy took control at 17-11 after 19 ends. However, Alan, John T and Eddie were far from finished and took a 3 at the 20th to be 14-17 down with 1 end to play. As the final end progressed we looked down and out as Percy held shot, but with the his final wood Alan picked up the jack taking it through for 3 - to which Percy were unable to respond - and our team claimed our third point of the evening with a 17-17 draw. John T's shouts of delight were heard south of the river.
The evening finished as an 3-11 defeat with a 68-83 shots deficit. Congratulations to our Percy compatriots who played well. It was a good game which, sadly, generated a disappointing result. But we get the chance for revenge later in the season!
Next game: Wallsend Park (A) on 5 June.
Competitions Update #2 - 28 May '23
A quieter week for club competitions in the last seven days with just four games played.
In the Club Championship it was disappointment for the Clarke brothers as Connor squeezed past Tony 18-16 and Chris took his game with Geoff 20-11. In the Club Handicap there were two excellent games with Andrew beating Lynn 21-15 and Keith coming out on top against Amy (21-16) despite having to give her a 1 point head start!
In County competitions progress was made by our bowlers. This afternoon (Sunday 28) Neil played his Round 2 'Champion of Champions' game at home against A Oliver (Rothbury). After racing into a strong lead Neil had to remain focused as his opponent found the pace of the green and began to make a comeback. Happily Neil remained fully switched on and took and excellent game 21-13. He now travels to Gosforth to play their champion. Played earlier in the week (Thursday 25), Chris and Sue got their Mixed Pairs campaign (campaign??) underway against Byron & Anna Weites (N Shields WE). Scheduled for 18 ends, Byron & Anna conceded after the 12th end as they were 6-23 down. While Chris and Sue played well, special mention should be made for Anna - 13 years old and playing her first competitive game. Give her a couple of years and she'll be a really good bowler.
Match Report: Astley Park (H) - Hateley League, 25 May '23
After last weeks' disappointment it was back to winning ways this afternoon in the Hateley League, and like the previous evening in the Clegg League, it was Astley Park who succumbed to the might of the Northumberland Linskill machine.
This time it was a resounding 12-2 win (86-59 aggregate) with three wins out of the four rinks. The largest winning margin came from Geoff & Tony C and George who won 22-6, including that rarity, a 'dead end' (where the two closest woods to the jack couldn't be split). Not far behind were Ron, Lynn and John C (26-15) with Lynn excelling at carrying the jack on a number of occasions and giving Ron an armchair ride as Skip. Keith, Kevin and Eddie also triumphed, coming from behind to take an excellent 24-18 victory. Our only losers were John T, Dave Wyatt and Michael who went down narrowly (14-20) but kept it close throughout.
On we go, blissfully unaware of where we stand/sit (as you prefer) in the league table as we can't find one. Interpol have been on the case for weeks and even they can't find it. However, I can report that we have 3 wins and 3 losses and 41 pts from 6 games. So we're probably in the middle somewhere.
Next game: Whitley Monkseaton (A) on 1 June.
Match Report: Astley Park (A) - Clegg League - 24 May '23
The team secured an excellent result in Seaton Delaval on Wednesday night as they came away with all 14 points and a very healthy +42 on the aggregate (96-54) - and all against Astley Park, the club one place below us in the league table. (All a but like Newcastle thumping Spurs 6-1!)
First winners were Ronnie, Sue and John C who started slowly before getting to grips with the surface and took a tight game 20-15. Alan, Kevin and Keith were next and provided our biggest win of the night (25-10). They were in control from the start and never looked in danger of relinquishing their lead. Chris, Tony C and George weren't far behind with their 24-13 win. It could have been more as while they were 2-4 down after 4 ends, they quickly took hold of the game and opened up a 22-4 lead. A bit of relaxation then crept in and their hosts made a brief comeback before our trio closed out the game. Last team off the green were Neil, Geoff and Tom who also found themselves up against it at the start but, as in the first game, gradually got into their stride and ultimately coasted to a convincing 27-16 win.
At this early stage of this (currently)16-game season, we sit 3rd in the league on 48 pts from 4 games. The leaders are Crawford Park (5, 61 pts) with New Delaval Knights (5, 58) 2nd. The team behind us in 4th is Astley Park (5,29) - we've opened a healthy gap. And if we win our game in hand we'll be right alongside the leaders. Everything is still to play for.
Next match: our local derby against Tynemouth (H) on 31 May.
Competitions Update
This is the first of a (hopefully) regular update about matches played in club and county competitions.
We'll start with the Club Championship. Five matches have been played to date, all of them keenly contested. Played earlier in the week, Michael H went through 22-10 versus Lynn. Then in a game played this morning (Sat 20/5) Kevin B was leading against Sean D when unfortunately Sean had to retire as he was feeling under the weather. In the other games today Amy triumphed 22-15 against Dave K, while George beat John T by a similar score, this one 22-14. However, game of the week was played on Wednesday evening when our cancelled league match enabled Ronnie and Alan to play their game - and what a game. Played on Rink 1 (going across the green) the game was tied at 17-17 after 20 ends - so everything hung on the 21st. After three woods Ronnie was lying shot, about 20cms off the jack when with his third wood Alan came in about 15cms away and had shot. With his final wood Ronnie carried the jack about a metre through, finishing close to the jack, and was then lying shot and match. And so it was all on Alan's final wood. With only the tiniest gap to go through he managed to hit a perfect line and weight and carried the jack himself to take the game 18-17. Well played Alan and Ronnie - a superb game.
There have also been five matches played in the Club Handicap. In games played last weekend, Amy took revenge on Sue for her defeat last year by taking a 21-11 victory; Connor beat Dave K 21-10; and John T went through against Dave Wilson, despite Dave's beautiful new woods. . This afternoon, Michael came out on top against Tony H in a game where Michael raced into a 16-5 lead before Tony came back to make it 13-16. However, Michael remained calm and took the game 21-13. In the final game of the day Ronnie again featured in another tight one. Trailing 12-18 to Tom M he brought it back to 18-18, before Tom bowled three lovely bowls at the next end, including a perfectly weighted backhand draw, to turn a '2' into a '3' and so take the game. Again well played everyone.
Only one Pairs match played so far, with Chris & Connor taking the match 24-13 against Kevin and Andrew G.
Finally, this morning Chris played his County Singles (4 woods) Round 1 match at home against Frank Buckley (Forth). Despite losing the first two 'practice' ends and therefore being 0-2 down, Chris managed to drop onto a good line and length and took a comfortable victory 21-5. Sadly, holidays mean he'll probably end up forfeiting his Round 2 match. B****r!
More updates to follow when games are played.
Match Report: Crawford Park (A) - Hateley League, 18 May '23
Another tough one as Crawford Park won all four rinks and thus we suffered a heavy defeat. However, it was a good match on a smooth and peaceful (!!) green and we lost to a better team.
Chris, Kevin & George (15-20) and Geoff, Michael & Dave Wyatt (14-19) both went down by 5 shots - and that was as good as it got. Onwards and upwards!
Next match: Astley Park (H) on 25 May.
Match Report: Walker St Peters (H) - Knott Cup - 15 May '23
A tough evening as we lost 59-81 to a competitive Walker St Peters side. Lovely night for it, but in the main we couldn't match the accuracy and consistency of the Walker bowlers. Only Ronnie, Sue and John C managed a point with a 16-16 draw - thanks to a superb penultimate wood from Ronnie to take the final end and the draw. Dave K, Eddie and Tony H also came close but lost on the final end. Hard lines chaps.
22 May we have a bye due to Seaton Sluice's resignation, so our next game is on 29 May (Bank Holiday) versus ....... PERCY!! Bring it on.
Match Report: Forth (H) - Hateley League, 11 May '23
A home game on a warm and sunny afternoon on a drying and speeded-up green. Probably a first for this season and a weird sensation, but one which we enjoyed as we achieved a big 92-48 victory and 12 points.
Star performers were Ron, Lynn and John C whose opponents could neither cope with their play nor the idiosyncrasies and pace of Rink 2. The result was a resounding 32-3 win. On Rink 1 Chris, Kev and George found themselves tied at 10-10 after 11 ends, but then won the remaining 10 ends to take their game 25-10. The other rinks saw a narrow win and a narrow loss: John T, Sue and Eddie taking their game 17-13; and Geoff, Michael and Dave Wyatt just missing out 18-22.
Another very good win and a great afternoon. Well played all.
Next game: Crawford Park (A) on 18 May.
Match Report: Centurion Park (A) - Clegg League - 10 May '23
Another really tight game ... but this time it went our way as we beat Centurion Park by 71 shots to 69.
Played at Innisfree (Longbenton) due to work around Centurion's green, the match was tight all evening and looked like it was slipping away before a late rally saw us nick the aggregate.
We were led home by Tom, Geoff and Alan who produced a great 26-13 win. Ron, Sue and John C also produced the goods with a 19-15 win which included a vital 2 at the final end. The other two rinks lost against strong opponents. Keith, Kevin and Connor had a tough start but stayed in touch and ultimately went down 11-23. The final rink saw Chris, Sean and George lose 15-18, but the 4 they gained at the final end proved crucial. So keeping at it and battling for every shot across all four rinks made a difference.
Overall the 2-shot aggregate win plus two rink wins delivered a 10-4 victory. Phew!
Next game - Heaton Victoria (H) on 17 May.
Match Report: Forth (A) - Knott Cup - 08 May '23
After a day of almost constant rain our match away at Forth unexpectedly went ahead. Alas we came up against a good team, good players and a green that, while it ran well, was difficult to judge in the inclement weather conditions.
The final score was a 12-2 defeat, with the only win (22-20) from Chris, Kevin and Connor. In truth it should have been by more after they raced into a 14-0 lead after just 7 ends. The opposition then woke up and snatched 10 shots back in just 3 ends leading to some nervousness! Fortunately the trio held on.
However, overall Forth's strength saw them to a comfortable win with the aggregate score finishing 57-83 in their favour.
Next match is another tough (but winnable) one - Walker St Peters (H) on 15 May.
Match Report: North Shields West End (A) - Hateley League, 04 May '23
On yet another freezing cold and windy afternoon, the team did its best but unfortunately lost a really close match by just 2 shots.
The green was pleasantly quicker than we've experienced in recent weeks - but this brought its own challenges in us having to adjust quickly to its length. And the aforementioned blustery wind didn't help either!
We actually came away with three rink wins: George, Tony C and Chris 19-14; Kevin, Michael and Geoff 18-14; and John C, Lynn and Ronnie 16-13. Alas in the fourth rink John T, Sue and Keith came up against an inspired skip who regularly seemed to nick the end when they were lying shot and as a result they went down 8-22.
A good performance overall against a good team - and 6 points to add to our tally.
Next match - Forth (H) on 11 May.
Match Report: Forest Hall (H) - Knott Cup - 01 May '23
The club finally got its Knott Cup (Monday nights) campaign underway with a resounding and highly encouraging 12-2 win over Forest Hall. As a slow green became gradually slower over the evening, Neil, Geoff and Kevin laid the base for our success with a strong 30-11 victory on Rink 1. Rink 2 saw Alan, Keith & Connor edge a tight game 21-19, with Ron, Sue and Tony H winning 21-11 on Rink 3 - helped by an excellent 5 on the final end. It was on Rink 4 where we had our only defeat, but Chris, Dave Wilson and Tom kept it 'relatively' tight, going down 11-19. Overall it was a hard-fought but ultimately comfortable 83-60 win, with experienced club members left pondering when we had last beaten Forest Hall. They couldn't remember! Finally, thanks to John T for (given the chill) getting the (almost) life-saving teas ready!
Next match - another Bank Holiday outing as we face Forth (A) on 8 May.
Match Report: Willington Quay (A) - Hateley League, 27 April '23
The 100% run had to come to an end at some point - and so it did at Willington Quay. It was an enjoyable afternoon all the same on a good but slow green and played against nice people. We went down 13-1, with the single point coming from Chris, Dave W and Kevin who managed to hold the opposition to a 17-17 draw. It was nearly a win but the opposition 'skip' pulled out two brilliant bowls on the final two ends to save the game for his team. Sometimes you just have to applaud really good play. The other 3 rinks went down despite playing well against some excellent opponents. Next up - North Shields West End at home on 4 May.
Match Report: Alnwick (H) - Clegg League 26 April '23
Not much to report here. We all turned up full of expectation. Alas, Alnwick didn't. Turn up, that is. Following consultation with the league, we get all 14 points. We'd have preferred to play them, but there we go. No Clegg League game next week, so it's Centurion Park (A) on the 10th.
(On 31 May, Alnwick BC withdrew from the league)
Match Report: Percy - Caush Cup, 23 April '23
There was certainly a sense of history in the air, with Northumberland Linskill aiming to win the Caush Cup for the first time in over twenty years. The derby match was played over 5 rinks with the winds of change blowing through a number of Tyneside parks on this day (Newcastle 6-1 Tottenham). The Northumberland Linskill team were clearly fired up for the derby match and their determination paid off, with a well-deserved 104-86 victory. Percy may have underestimated their opponents after taking an initial lead. At 10 ends Percy were ahead 47 to 43, but Northumberland Linskill refused to give up and on the back of two impressive wins earlier in the week managed to turn the game around. Eddie's impressive team (Connor and Ron) performance in his debut match was one of the highlights of the day, with his team achieving a stunning 31-14 comeback victory (they were 0-9 down after 6 ends!). Michael together with his arm extension also proved to be a valuable asset, helping his team (Amy and Iris) secure another important 20-14 win. Be assured there was no cheating here! Michael’s arm extension is Bowls England approved. Despite facing stiff opposition from the Percy teams, Sean, John C and Keith (12-21), as well as John T, Anthony and Geoff (19-24), gave it their all and put up a strong fight to reduce Percy’s points on their two winning rinks. Finally Neil, Kevin and Phil jogged home with a 22-13 win. Thanks to Keith and Carol for organising the day and to all members who contributed to the friendly rivalry and food. (Message to Percy ….. You are not getting the cup back for a long time 😉)
Match Report: Rockcliffe Rollers (H) - Hateley League, 20 April '23
The Thursday league began at home on a beautiful Spring afternoon. Given Rockcliffe’s performances last year this was a tough opening fixture, but like the night before, everyone contributed to a good victory. Geoff, Sue & Tony H led the way with a great 26-9 win, followed by Chris, an outstanding Dave W and John N who won 24-12. Ron, Lynne and Tony C lost narrowly on the final end; and unfortunately, Keith, Kevin & John T faced an inspired opposition skip who led his team to a strong victory. Nonetheless, once again the whole team contributed and we achieved a really encouraging 10-4 win. What a start to the season. Next Thursday (27 April), it’s Willington Quay (away).
Match Report: New Delaval Knights (A) - Clegg League, 19 April '23
Wednesday saw the 1st game of our 2023 bid for promotion – away at the much-fancied New Delaval Knights (new to the league but with an impressive reputation). And what a night! The match was played on a recently spiked and bumpy green which also had signs of having been used for golf practice (yes, really); however, despite this the whole team quickly found its pace and performed well. Chris, Sean & George dovetailed perfectly and came away with a big 26-6 win; while Neil, Geoff & Tom (starting late due to Tom ‘parking’ on the Felling by-pass) took the last 2 ends, in the dark with Geoff shining his phone over the head, to grab a vital 21-19 win. The other two rinks suffered narrow defeats and made vital contributions to our overall 10 – 4 victory. Well played all – onto Alnwick at home next week.