Birmingham BA v Bristol BA

Solihull Municipal hosted the latest BBA fixture, against the City & County of Bristol. On a lovely afternoon, both in terms of weather and good company, the BBA representative team emerged victors by 124 to 92, winning on five of the six rinks.

Martin Clark (Rowheath), Roy Stiles (Solihull Municipal), Joe Morris (Tamworth) and Bob Morris (Blossomfield) were 8-0 down after three ends but won 15 of the remaining 18 ends to come out as the highest rink with a 29-13 scoreline.

Neil Ballinger (Erdington Court), Paul Brown (Sherwood Park), Geoff Wyatt (Solihull Municipal) and Ian Brown (Kings Heath) started well to lead by eight after eight ends, and although Bristol had a good second half winning nine of the next 13 ends, Brown and co won 20-16.

The President’s rink of Allen Onion (Erdington Court), Jules Gregory (Tamworth), Roger Hill (Sherwood Park) and skipped by President Paul Jones had a close match, nine all at the half way stage, but although Bristol won more ends, the BBA four scored heavy with four triples and a four to win by 21-15.

Chris Wright (Solihull Municipal), Jack Banks (Blossomfield), Roger Reade (Solihull Municipal) and Bob Allcock (Tamworth) were 10-1 down after six ends and 14-6 after 11, but a strong second half, including a three on the penultimate end, brought them back level at 17 all going into the final end, A four saw another win for the BBA by 21-17.

John Godfrey, Roy Kenyon, Jim Ward and George Morrison (all Sherwood Park) had a tight game through the 21 ends, with the lead changing six times and never more than two shots between the teams. With the match tied at 16 all going into the final end, the BBA four played a perfect end to score a three and win by 19-16.

Bristol was short of one player so Ken Osborne, Terry Wilder and Grahame Spiby (all Solihull Municipal) played a triples match. From 6-1 down after six ends, they pulled back to level after 10 ends and again after 16, but Bristol edged the scoring on the final two ends to win by 14-15.

An enjoyable afternoon for all, rounded off by a meal and the awarding of Colt badges to Ken Osborne, Grahame Spiby, Jules Gregory, Roger Hill and Jack Banks, with full badges awarded to Allen Onion, Roy Stiles and Geoff Wyatt.