...Match Reports...

Website Report for week 22 April 2018

President 79 Captain 80
We started our 2018 Outdoor season on Saturday afternoon with our traditional opening match of our President’s team versus our Captain’s team. It was played on probably the best opening day, weather-wise, it has been played in for a few years and the Captain’s team edged it by a single shot 80-79. Of the five Rinks played the Captain’ team won two of them, the President’s also won two and one was drawn, that coincidently being the Rink where the President and Captain were the opposing Skips. The Rink of Sylvia Barsby, Richard Brewster, Ian Williams and Skipped by Ken Hammond was the highest scoring for the Captain’s team, winning by 24 shots to 10, while the Rink of Devon Cooper, Jim Whittle, Aaron Prowle and Skipped by Ken Ryder was the President’s team highest winning Rink, winning by 25 shots to 8.
Rink scores, President’s team first:
D.Cooper, J.Whittle, A.Prowle & K.Ryder beat R.Hutchinson, B.Thorne, A.Hutchinson & S.Chamberlain 25-8; J.Akers, P.Holzbauer, J.James & D.Henley lost to D.Kingsland, G.Akers, D.Jackson & R.Harper 10-21; E.Alden, M.Ward, C.Hills & P.Hills drew with S.Wray, R.Jones, J.Nash & S.Arnold 16 all; S.Campbell, D.Elms & J.Alden beat L.Tyler, I.Tyler & R.Hazeu 18-11; J.Holzbauer, S.Kiernan, G.Campbell & C.Townley lost to S.Barsby, R.Brewster, I.Williams & K.Hammond 10-24.

Datchworth 69 Baldock Town 134
On Sunday afternoon we travelled to Baldock Town for a Mixed Friendly and came away after a something of a hammering after losing every Rink in a 69 shot to 134 defeat. Two of the five Rinks played only lost by three shots while the other three lost by between 15 and 28 shots.
D.Kingsland, G.Akers, A.Hutchinson & S.Chamberlain lost to M.Haskings, M.Wintrip, D.Davies & S.Page 9-24; D.Jackson, S.Kiernan, I.Tyler & S.Arnold lost to I.MacKinnon, A.Cross, J.Turner & P.Andrews 17-20; S.Campbell, L.Tyler, R.Brewster & R.Harper lost to M.Haskings, P.Page, B.Todd & M.Parsons 14-42, J.Akers, B.Thorne, I.Williams & J.Smith lost to J.Haskins, J.Russell, S.Budge & P.Haskins 12-28; S.Barsby, R.Hutchinson, M.Gordon & D.Henley lost to S.Andrews, J.Crosby, D.Turner & R.Dempster 17-20.

Website Report for 29 April 2018

Datchworth 36 Rosehill 25
On a somewhat miserable Saturday afternoon, not suited to bowls, we hosted Rosehill for a Mixed Friendly and won by 36 shots to 25. Because of the inclement weather tea was taken after ten ends and that is where the match was stopped. Jan Mahoney, Maurice Gordon and Skip Steve Arnold lost just three of the ends they played and ran out winners by 14 shots to 3. Edie Alden, Rob Hazeu and Skip Mick Mahoney shared the ends equally but came out on top by 9 shots to 5. Sylvia Barsby, John Alden and Skip Steve Chamberlain also shared the ends equally but they lost by 6 shots to 9. Another Triple to share the ends equally was that of Rachel Jones, Derek Elms and Skip Julian Hales, but they lost by 7 shots to 10.
J.Mahoney, M.Gordon & S.Arnold beat A.Edwards, P.Watson & P.Tilley 14-3; E.Alden, R.Hazeu & M.Mahoney beat D.Howe, L.Knight & J.Ash 9-5; S.Barsby, J.Alden & S.Chamberlain lost to L.Clark, B.Edwards & D.Ayres 6-9; R.Jones, D.Elms & J.Hales lost to D.Smith, M.Johns & F.Clark 7-10.

Datchworth 134 Buntingford 72
On Sunday afternoon Buntingford were the visitors to the Turkey Farm for a Mixed Friendly. The weather was not that much better than the day before but at least the match went the full distance and we came out winners by 134 shots to 72. Dickie Jackson, Phil Holzbauer and Skip Neil Mean won just four more ends than they lost but picked up over three times the shots than they dropped in their 27 shots to 8 win. Edie Alden, John Alden and Skip Ken Hammond lost two more ends than they won but still managed to come out on top by 16 shots to 13. George Campbell, Sue Kiernan, Joan James and Skip Steve Arnold also won just four more ends than they lost but picked up nearly twice as many shots than they dropped in their 22 shots to 12 win. Graham Akers, Julian Hales and Skip Peter hills went from4-7 down after six ends to 16-7 up after twelve ends. But they came close to losing after dropping six shots over the closing two ends, but they held on to win by 18 shots to 16. Chris Hills, Ian Williams and Skip Steve Chamberlain only lost five ends as they ran out winners by 32 shots to 11. Another team to win just four more ends than they lost was that of Carol Hammond, Jenny Holzbauer, Ken Ryder and Derek Henley as they won by 19 shots to 13.
D.Jackson, P.Holzbauer & N.Mean beat J.Watkins, J.Wilson & E.Amos by 27-8; E.Alden, J.Alden & K.Hammond beat D.Bantik, J.Newington & D.Murphy 16-13; G.Campbell, S.Kiernan, J.James & S.Arnold beat R.Webber, R.Bantik & G.Amos 22-12; G.Akers, J.Hales & P.Hills beat A.Wilson, R.Bedborough & G.Warrender 18-16; C.Hills, I.Williams & S.Chamberlain beat J.Weaver, J.Thomas & R.Watkins 32 11; C.Hammond, J.Holzbauer, K.Ryder & D.Henley beat S.Baker, J.Akers, M.Cheeseman & J.Collins 19-13.

Website Report for 6 May 2018

Both of our East Herts Bowls League teams started their season on Wednesday night; our Div. 1 Blue team travelled to Sawbridgeworth to take on their Red team and our Div. 2 Gold team hosted Shire Park at our Turkey Farm green.

Datchworth Blue 32 Sawbridgeworth Red 30
Our Blue team started with a 4 point, 32 shots to 30 win. Mike Mahoney, Les Parsley and Skip Peter Hills lost the first five ends, to trail 0-10, and they had reduced the deficit to 7-12 by the twelfth end, but ended up losing by 8 shots to 19. Richard Brewster, Derek Henley and Skip Ken Hammond built up a healthy 15 shots to 2 lead by the ninth end, but that was cut down to 17-11 with two ends to go. They then picked up 2 shots on the penultimate end and 5 shots on the last end to win by 24 shots to 11 and turn an overall shot deficit into an overall shot advantage to win the match by 32 shots to 30.
M.Mahoney, L.Parsley & P.Hills lost to R.Chalcraft, M.Harris & D.Fox 8-19; R.Brewster, D.Henley & K.Hammond beat I.Casey, J.Godden & G.Lepley 24-11.

Datchworth Gold 34 Shire Park 28
Our Gold team started with a maximum 6 point 34 shots to 28 win. Although George Campbell, Rob Hazeu and Skip Steve Arnold lost the end-count 8-10 they picked up more multiple shots than they dropped and after taking the lead on the second end they were never caught, eventually winning by 18 shots to 15. It was a similar story for Dickie Jackson, Steven Hunter and Skip Steve Chamberlain as they too lost the end-count 8-10. It was another case of picking up 5 shots making all the difference. This time they did it twice, on the fourteenth and fifteenth ends, to turn a 4 shot to 12 deficit into a 14 shot to 12 advantage. They then held on to win by 16 shots to 13.
G.Campbell, R.Hazeu & S.Arnold beat K.Brazier, T.Canton & F.Goodege 18-15; D.Jackson, S.Hunter & S.Chamberlain beat G.Daniels, M.Reeve & A.Wells 16-13.

Both of our Welwyn Hatfield Bowls League teams also started their season this week; on Thursday night our Div. 2 Yellow team travelled to Welwyn and District to take on their Wanderers team and on Friday night our Div. 1 Green team hosted Welwyn and District’s Woods at our Turkey Farm green.

Datchworth Yellow 45 Welwyn Wanderers 28
On Thursday night our Yellow team started their season with an away match against Welwyn and District’s Wanderers team in a Welwyn Hatfield Bowls League Div. 2 match and came away with a maximum 6 point win by 45 shots to 28. The Triple of George Campbell, Rob Hazeu and Skip Steven Hunter picked up two 5s in the first six ends to lead 13-2. They never lost that lead and capped off their win by picking up 7 shots on the last end to come home by 28 shots to 16. The Triple of Dickie Jackson, Julian Hales and Skip Steve Chamberlain took the lead on the third end and never lost it, winning by 17 shots to 12
G.Campbell, R.Hazeu & S.Hunter beat C.Russell, R.Russell & P.Russell 28-16; D.Jackson, J.Hales & S.Chamberlain beat R.Venting, B.Bennett & P.Bowyer 17-12.

Datchworth Green 31 Welwyn Woods 33
On Friday night it was the turn of our Green team to play their first Welwyn Hatfield Bowls League Div. 1 match of the season, at home to Welwyn and District’s other Woods team and unfortunately they could not make it four wins out of four as they lost by 2 shots, 31 to 33. Andrew Phillips, Neil Mean and Skip Jim Smith won seven ends in a row, from the fourth end to the tenth, to lead 10-5. After that they won just three more ends but held on to win by 17 shots to 14. Bernie Drummond, Jeff Nash and Skip Mike Mahoney lost the lead on the third end and never got it back. With two ends to play they were 9-19 down, but they managed to win them and by picking up five shots in the process they cut their losing deficit down to 14-19.
A.Phillips, N.Mean & J.Smith beat I.Kilford, M.Clements & M.Clements 17-14; B.Drummond, J.Nash & M.Mahoney lost to I.Whitcombe, V.Challacombe & A.Challacombe 14-19.

Datchworth 49 Shephalbury 70
On a surprisingly hot Bank Holiday Weekend Saturday afternoon we made the short trip down Broadhall Way to play Shephalbury in a Mixed Friendly and came away after losing by 49 shots to 70. Ian Tyler, Julian Hales and Skip Rob Hazue were 6-2 up after six ends then lost the next five to trail 6-8. With two ends to play they were 10-14 down. They then won the last two ends, including picking up 4 shots on the final end to sneak a 15-14 win. Phil Holzbauer, Rachel Jones and kip Neil Mean lost the end-count 6-12 but managed to draw their game 14 apiece after picking restricting their opponents to just two of those twelve ends where they picked up multiple shots, the other ten were just single shots. Linda Tyler, Maurice Gordon and Skip Steve Arnold had a close game for fifteen ends when the score was 10 apiece; but they lost it big time over the closing three ends as they dropped almost as many shots as they had over the previous 15 ends to lose 10-19. Jenny Holzbauer, Richard Brewster and Skip Chas Townley were only 3-5 down after seven ends before they lost the next three ends to trail 3-12. They never got back in the game after that and eventually lost by 10 shots to 23.
I.Tyler, J.Hales & R.Hazeu beat J.Desborough, T.May & M.Coy 15-14; P.Holzbauer, R.Jones & N.Mean drew with M.Chapman, I.Blagden & C.Howman 14 all; L.Tyler, M.Gordon & S.Arnold lost to C.Desborough, S.Coy & M.Shelly 10-19; J.Holzbauer, R.Brewster & C.Townley lost to C.Blackmore, M.Stokes-Geddis & A.Brown 10-13.

Datchworth 74 Howard Garden 74
On Sunday afternoon we travelled up the A1 to take on Howard Garden in their first Stevenage and District Mixed Bowls League match of the season and came away with a hard fought 74 shots apiece draw. Sylvia Barsby, Derek Henley and Skip Les Parsley went in to tea just 11 shots to 12 down. After tea they won all but three of the ends played and came out on top by 25 shots to 16. Edie Alden, Richard Harper and Skip Steve Chamberlain picked up a 5 on the first end and were never headed and despite losing the closing four ends they still won by 21 shots to 15. Dawn Kingsland, George Campbell and Skip Steve Arnold were 11-7 ahead after twelve ends but they lost the next four ends, conceding 13 shots in the process, before winning the last two ends to end up losing by 15 shots to 20. Bill Thorne, John Alden and Skip Neil Mean were 6-11 down after nine ends, then 15-11 up three winning ends later. They then only won two more ends to finally lose by 17 shots to 23. But, according to the League rules as they were an all-male Triple they had to lose a minimum of 4 shots, meaning the score was recorded as 13-23.
S.Barsby, D.Henley & L.Parsley beat P.Rowe, B.Lindsay & D.Greatrex 25-16; E.Alden, R.Harper & S.Chamberlain beat S.Jordan, B.Marshall & C.Cooper 21-15; D.Kingsland, G.Campbell & S.Arnold lost to B.Roberson, B.Wood & T.Wood 15-20; B.Thorne, J.Alden & N.Mean lost to J.Brothers, D.Weemys & D.Brothers 13-23.

Website Report for 13 May 2018

Datchworth 75 Aston 75
We played our first home Stevenage and District Mixed Bowls League match at our Turkey Farm green on Tuesday night when Aston were the visitors and for the second League match in a row we drew, 75 shots apiece. Jeff Nash, Ken Ryder and Skip Steve Arnold picked up 10 shots over the first three ends and by the fourteenth end they were 25 shots to 7 up. But they lost their way over the closing four ends as they lost them all and ended up winning by 25 shots to 14. It got worse for them as they, according to the League rules had to lose 20% of their shot total because they were an all-male Triple, resulting in the score being adjusted to 20-14. Janet Akers, Julian Hales and Skip Steve Chamberlain got off to a horrendous start losing the first nine ends to trail 0-16 as a consequence. But they fought back and won all but three of the remaining nine ends to eventually lose by 9 shots to 23. Jenny Holzbauer, Rob Hazeu and Skip Les Parsley were involved in a high scoring game where they trailed from the off and it was not until the twelfth end when they picked up a 5 that they held the lead; but lost it the next end when they dropped a 5. They won the next four ends, including picking up a second 5 on the penultimate end, to lead 25-21. They ended up dropping 4 shots on the last end, when the Aston Skip, Paddy Jones, ran the Jack into the ditch and they dropped four shots to draw 25 shots apiece. According to the League rules they played and extra end and lost it, so Aston got the point for “winning” the Triple. Dawn Kingsland, Bernie Drummond and Skip Derek Henley won alternate ends till they won three ends in a row to lead 15 shots to 5 after nine ends. They won five of the closing nine ends to run out winners by 21 shots to 13.
J.Nash, K.Ryder & S.Arnold beat G.Gleghorn, M.Allington & D.Jackson 20-14; J.Akers, J.Hales & S.Chamberlain lost to S.Stevens, P.Wilkinson & L.Grindley 9-23; J.Holzbauer, R.Hazeu & L.Parsley drew with M.Dunne, M.Gleghorn & P.Jones 25 all; D.Kingsland, B.Drummond & D.Henley beat D.Allen, G.Moore & T.Phipps 21-13.

Datchworth 50 Stevenage Veterans 56
On Wednesday afternoon Stevenage Veterans were the visitors to our Turkey Farm green for a Mixed Friendly and returned home after beating us by 56 shots to 50 win. Carol Hammond, Phil Berry and Skip Steve Arnold won five ends in a row to lead 17-2 after nine ends. But after that they only won four more ends to win by 22 shots to 12. Dawn Kingsland, Chris Hills and Skip Chas Townley picked up three 3s between the sixth and tenth end, to lead 11 shots to 8. It was a lead they held onto, eventually winning by 19 shots to 14. Nicki Berry, Bill Thorne and Skip Julian Hales were out-bowled as they only won 6 of the 18 ends played and as a result they crashed to a 9 shot to 30 defeat.
C.Hammond, P.Berry & S.Arnold beat D.Brundritt, A.Langthorn & E.Dyer 22-12; D.Kingsland, C.Hills & C.Townley beat J.Moor, I.Thompson & B.Fletcher 19-14; N.Berry, B.Thorne & J.Hales lost to D.Emery, M.Emery & P.Jaques 9-30.

Datchworth Blue 29 Sele Farm 39
On Wednesday night our Blue team travelled to Hertford’s Hartham to play Sele Farm in an East Herts Bowls League Div. 1 match and came away empty handed after a 29-39 defeat. Robin Gray, Mike Mahoney and Skip Ken Hammond led from the off and were 15 shots to 9 up with four ends to play, but the wheels fell of their waggon with a bang as they lost them all dropping eleven shots in the process to lose by 15 shots to 20. Aaron Prowle, Les Parsley and Skip Peter Hills drew level for the second time on the sixth end but fell behind again on the seventh end and never recovered, eventually losing by 14 shots to 19.
R.Gray, M.Mahoney & K.Hammond lost to M.Sell, J.Jones & J.Parsley 15-20; A.Prowle, L.Parsley & P.Hills lost to R.Clift, T.Clift & H.Wright 14-19.

Datchworth Yellow 39 Parkside Woods 30
On Thursday night our Yellow team travelled to W.G.C’s KGV greens to play Parkside Woods in a Welwyn Hatfield Bowls League Div. 2 match and came away with another maximum 6 point win by 39 shots to 30. Chris Hills, Rob Hazeu and Skip Julian Hales won eight ends in a row, from the sixth to the thirteenth end, to lead 19-8. They then lost the remaining five ends but held on to win by 19 shots to 16. Janet Akers, Graham Akers and Skip Ian Williams shared the ends equally but as they picked up more multiple shots than they dropped they came out on top by 20 shots to 14.
C.Hills, R.Hazeu & J.Hales beat L.Shepherd, J.McCrossan & N.Dickinson 19-16; J.Akers, G.Akers & I.Williams beat C.England, E.Burke & B.Clarke 20-14.

Datchworth Green v Knebworth Yellow
There was some confusion as to the venue for this Welwyn Hatfield Bowls League Div.1 match on Friday night as both teams turned up at their own greens to play it. This confusion has since been resolved and it will be re-arranged for later in the season at Datchworth.

Datchworth 20 Norton 15
On a somewhat miserable afternoon for bowling Datchworth travelled to Norton for a Mixed Friendly. It was miserable enough for the match to be stopped at the tea break. At that point Phil Holzbauer, Chris Hills and Skip John Alden were 3 shots to 7 down; Graham Akers, Chas Townley and Skip Julian Hales were 8 shots to 4 up against a Triple Skipped by Sylvia Barsby, who we loaned to them as they were a player short; Edie Alden, Ian Tyler and Skip Neil Mean were 9 shots to 4 up.
P.Holzbauer, C.Hills & J.Alden lost to J.Jackson, K.Williams & B.Hart 3-7; G.Akers, C.Townley & J.Hales beat W.Symonds, T.Billows & S.Barsby 8-4; E.Alden, I.Tyler & N.Mean beat G.Greaves, P.Cross & V.Meek 9-4.

Datchworth 57 Willian 59
On Sunday afternoon Willian were the visitors to our Turkey Farm green for a Stevenage and District Mixed Bowls League match and our poor start to the season continued with a 57 shot to 59 defeat. Carol Hammond, John Alden and Skip Neil Mean had a close game for eleven ends as the score stood at 7-6 in their favour. But they failed to win another end and lost 7-17. Dickie Jackson, Annette Hutchinson and Skip Ken Hammond lost five of the first six ends to trail 1-9. They then won the next four ends to lead 12-9. A lead they would hold on to despite winning only three of the remaining eight ends, eventually winning by 21 shots to 16. Chris Hills, Ken Ryder and Skip Steve Arnold led 5-3 after four ends then trailed 5-8 three ends later. It was a deficit they could not overcome as they lost by 13 shots to 14. Edie Alden, Bernie Drummond and Skip Derek Henley only won four of the first twelve ends to trail 6-10. But they fought back to win all but two of the closing six ends to come from behind and win by 16 shots to 12.
C.Hammond, J.Alden & N.Mean lost to S.Salmon, B.Middleton & J.Skingsley 7-17; D.Jackson, A.Hutchinson & K.Hammond beat G.Dann, A.Kitchener & R.Murden 21-16; C.Hills, K.Ryder & S.Arnold lost to L.Jones, D.Pollard & J Atkinson 13-14; E.Alden, B.Drummond & D.Henley beat D.Mann, J.Avis & M.Thrush 16-12.

Website Report for 20 May 2018

It was a busy week of bowling for our members with nine matches played over the seven days.

On Monday night there was a double-header of East Herts Bowls League matches at our Turkey Farm green, our Div. 1 Blue team were up against B.S.P. and our Div. 2 Gold team were up against Northaw and Cuffley.

Datchworth Blue 16 B.S.P. 36
For our Blue team, who lost by 16 shots to 36, it was a combination of the visitors finding the green better than them and whatever they tried to do to win and end hardly ever came off. As a result Robin Gray, Bernie Drummond and Skip Les Parsley lost by 7 shots to 19 and Andrew Phillips, Mike Mahoney and Skip Ken Hammond went down by 9 shots to 17.
R.Gray, B.Drummond & L.Parsley lost to G.O’Leary, B.Reeves & G.Smith 7-19; A.Phillips, M.Mahoney & K.Hammond lost to P.Matthews, B.Clark & D.Miller 9-17.

Datchworth Gold 45 Northaw & Cuffley 24
It was a different outcome for our Gold team as they picked up their second maximum 6 points in their first two matches of the season, with a 45 shot to 24 win. Dickie Jackson, Ian Williams and Skip Steve Chamberlain won the first four ends, to lead 7-0. It was a lead they increased substantially over the closing five ends to win by 27 shots to 15. The other Triple of Graham Akers, Rob Hazeu and Skip Steve Arnold lost the lead on the fourth end and trailed until they got it back by picking up three shots on the tenth end to lead 9-6. Once they got the lead back they never lost it; but increased it by winning the closing three ends to win by 18 shots to 9.
D.Jackson, I.Williams & S.Chamberlain beat R.Munt, D.Taylor & R.Brewer 27-15; G.Akers, R.Hazeu & S.Arnold beat D.Hollinrake, T.Gray & T.Pugh 18-9.

Datchworth 42 Bishop’s Stortford 26
It was more East Herts Bowls League action for our Men on Tuesday night when they played Bishop’s Stortford in the League’s Ranson Cup, with one Rink at home and one Rink away. At our Turkey Farm green Mike Mahoney, Bernie Drummond, Steve Arnold and Skip Les Parsley won the first five ends and the last five ends and lost five ends in between as they ran out winners by 23 shots to 11. At Bishop’s Stortford Dickie Jackson, Steve Chamberlain, Steven Hunter and Skip Ken Hammond took the lead on the third end and were caught on the eighth; they regained the lead on the ninth end and held onto it until they were caught for the second time on the seventeenth end. They regained the lead for the third time on the eighteenth end and held onto it till the end, winning by 19 shots to 15 and overall win by 42 shots to 26.
M.Mahoney, B.Drummond, S.Arnold & L.Parsley beat T.McKenzie, B.Bennett, T.Moranda & K.Tyrell 23-11, D.Jackson, S.Chamberlain, S.Hunter & K.Hammond beat D.McKenzie, M.Farrow, D.Hunt & D.Chandler 19-15.

Datchworth 65 Luton West End 60
On a somewhat chilly Wednesday afternoon we made the trip to Luton to play Luton West End in a Mixed Friendly, just under the flight path to the airport, and came away with a 65 shot to 60 win. Dawn Kingsland, Ian Williams and Skip Julian Hales shared he 18 ends equally and after the shot adjustment that was made because they were playing against two players they edged their game 16-14. Linda Tyler, Richard Harper and Skip Steve Arnold twice lost four ends in a row which did not help their cause as they went down by 11 shots to 25. Richard Hutchinson, Ian Tyler and Skip Chas Townley lost the end-count 8-10 and lost their game by the odd shot, 12 to 13. Dickie Jackson, Annette Hutchinson and Skip Ken Ryder won twice as many ends as they lost and ran out comfortable winners by 26 shots to 8.
D.Kingsland, I.Williams & J.Hales beat J.Spendley & R.Stokes 16-14; L.Tyler, R.Harper & S.Arnold lost to R.Kingston, A.Lelliot & R.Dodd 11-25; R.Hutchinson, I.Tyler & C.Townley lost to T.Cooper, L.Berry & R.Spendley 12-13; D.Jackson, A.Hutchinson & K.Ryder beat G.Jones, S.Stokes & J.Jones 26-8.

Datchworth Yellow 24 Sele Farm 33
On Thursday night our Yellow team travelled to Hertford’s Hartham to play Sele Farm in a Welwyn Hatfield Bowls League Div. 2 match and came away empty handed after a 24 shots to 33 defeat. Dawn Kingsland, Richard Harper and Skip Steve Chamberlain were level for the third time, at 8 apiece after eleven ends. But they only won two more ends after that, going down by 10 shots to 16. Graham Akers, George Campbell and Skip Julian Hales lost the first end and trailed till they picked up 4 shots on the thirteenth end, to lead 12-11. They held that lead until they dropped two 2s on the last two ends to lose by 14 shots to 17.
D.Kingsland, R.Harper & S.Chamberlain lost to M.Lake, J.Lake & H.Wright 10-16; G.Akers, G.Campbell & J.Hales lost to P.Wright, D.Lee & J.Jones 14-17.

Datchworth 1 Point Potters Bar 3 Points
On Friday night our Men were in action again, this time they were away to their counterparts from Potters Bar in the County’s Team Ten competition where they lost by 1 discipline to 3, on a green that was bowling fast for this time of the season. The first to finish was Mike Mahoney in the Singles. He never really got into his stride; he fell behind on the third end and although he got within a shot of Potters Bar’s Ron Golden twice, on the eighth end at 4-5 and the sixteenth end at 13-14, he never led and eventually lost by 14-21. The next to finish was the Triples of Steve Arnold, Jim Smith and Skip Les Parsley. They too took time to adjust to the speed of the green and were 7-17 down by the fourteenth end. But picking up 7 shots on the fifteenth changed things dramatically. They then won the next two ends to go into the final end just 16-17 down. With the Potters Bar Skip, Brian Tomlinson, having the last wood of the end and the result of the game in his hand, he was looking at three or four shots down and a game losing lie. But he managed to get through a narrow gap, pick the Jack up, keep it on the Rink by inches and they picked up one shot to win by 18 shots to 16. The next to finish were the Four of Aaron Prowle, Bernie Drummond, Steven Hunter and Skip Peter Hills. They had a tight game for fourteen ends, when they were 10-11 down. Things changed significantly after that as they won the next five ends to lead by 23 shots to 11 and despite losing the final two ends they held on to win by 23 shots to 13. At that time it meant that we had to win the Pairs to have a chance of winning the match; but Derek Henley and Skip Ken Hammond were trailing 13-21 with three ends to play. They dropped 3 shots on the next end, to trail 13-24 with two ends to play. After picking up just 1 shot on the penultimate end they decide to call a halt to their game as a win was unobtainable; which resulted in an overall 3-1 win for Potters Bar.
M.Mahoney lost to R.Golden 14-21, D.Henley & K.Hammond lost to D.Salmon & R.Pearce 14-24; S.Arnold, J.Smith & L.Parsley lost to B.Maule, C.Burden & B.Tomlinson 16-18; A.Prowle, B.Drummond, S.Hunter & P.Hills beat C.Malone, B.Vince, B.Bowman & T.Barker 23-13.

Datchworth 77 Royston 65
On Saturday afternoon Royston were the visitors to our Turkey Farm green for a Mixed Friendly match and were beaten by 77 shots to 65. Jim Whittle, Richard Harper and Skip Neil Mean shared the ends equally but dropped more 2s and 3s than they picked up and as a result they lost 14-24. Carol Hammond, John Alden and Skip Steve Chamberlain not only shared the ends equally they also shared the shots equally as they drew 19 shots apiece. Sylvia Barsby, Steve Arnold and Skip Ken Hammond were 9-10 down after twelve ends then they picked up a 6 on the next end and a 4 two ends later, to lead 19-12. It was a lead they held onto till winning by 21 shots to 16. Edie Alden, Chas Townley (who replaced Derrick Elms after he had to pull out after four ends) and Skip Julian Hales lost only five ends as they ran out winners by 23 shots to 6.
J.Whittle, R.Harper & N.Mean lost to N.Glazier, M.Skinner & E.Hyde 14-24; C.Hammond, J.Alden & S.Chamberlain drew with A.Lewis, A.Warner & S.Whitehouse 19 all; S.Barsby, S.Arnold & K.Hammond beat D.Goodwin, Y.Whitehouse & C.Moore 21-16; E.Alden, C.Townley (D.Elms) & J.Hales beat T.Williams, G.Lewis & S.Pawson 23-6.

Datchworth 47 Holwell 38
On Sunday morning our Men were in action again; this time they travelled to Holwell to take them on in Bowls England’s Men’s Club 2 Fours competition and beat them by 47 shots to 38. Steve Arnold, Steven Hunter, Derek Henley and Skip Ken Hammond were 3 shots to 7 down after six ends. They then won six ends on the trot to lead 17-7. They lost just three more ends after that to run out winners by 26 shots to 15. Mike Mahoney, Steve Chamberlain, Jim Smith and Skip Les Parsley were 8 shots to 3 up after five ends before they lost six out of the next seven ends, to trail 9-13. They then won five of the next seven ends to lead 21-19 with two ends to play. They lost the last two ends and their game by 21 shots to 23; but it was an overall win by 47 shots to 38.
S.Arnold, S.Hunter, D.Henley & K.Hammond beat E.Pearson, P.Gilbert, A.Pearson & C.Males 26-15; M.Mahoney, S.Chamberlain, J.Smith & L.Parsley lost to S.Bailey, D.Hooper, J.O’Dell & M.Reidy 21-23.

Datchworth 76 Letchworth Garden City 72
On Sunday afternoon we were at home to Letchworth Garden City in a Stevenage and District Mixed Bowls League match and narrowly scraped home by 76 shots to 72, after winning just one of the four Rinks played. Edie Alden, Dickie Jackson, George Campbell and Skip Steve Chamberlain lost the first three ends and never caught up. Despite winning five of the last six ends they lost by 22 shots to 24. Bernie Drummond, Chris Hills, Richard Harper and Skip Steve Arnold only dropped six singles shots as they ran out comfortable winners by 28 shots to 6. Carol Hammond, Andrew Phillips, John Alden and Skip Julian Hales went 3 shots to 14 down after seven ends and were chasing their opposition from then on. Picking up five shots over the last two ends reduced their deficit down to 17 shots to 22. Sandy Campbell, Sylvia Barsby, Jeff Nash and Skip Rob Hazeu only lost the end-count 9-12, but as a result of only picking up a shot on each of the ends they won they finished up losing by 9 shots to 20.
E.Alden, D.Jackson, G.Campbell & S.Chamberlain lost to P.Bailey, J.Ashworth, H.Castle & G.Cataldo 22-24; B.Drummond, C.Hills, R.Harper & S.Arnold beat S.Sinclair, J.Burdick, R.Williams & T.Sinclair 28-6; C.Hammond, A.Phillips, J.Alden & J.Hales lost to M.Garlick, J.Ferguson, J.Rogan & D.Haggar 17-22; S.Campbell, S.Barsby, J.Nash & R.Hazeu lost to L.Bailey, P.Haggar, B.Rogan & B.Bargery 9-20.

Website Report for 27 May 2018

Datchworth Yellow 40 Shire Park 27
On Monday night Shire Park were the visitors to our Turkey Farm green for a Welwyn Hatfield Bowls League Div. 2 match and were beaten by 40 shots to 27. Janet Akers, Ian Williams and Skip Steve Chamberlain were level for the fifth time at 12 shots apiece on the fifteenth end. They won the next two ends and lost the last, but still won, by 16 shots to 13. Graham Akers, Dickie Jackson and Skip Richard Harper won six of the first eight ends, to lead 14-3. It was a lead they never lost and picking up 7 shots on the penultimate end helped them to a 24 shot to 14 win.
J.Akers, I.Williams & S.Chamberlain beat B.Jakes, D.Hedge & T.Canton 16-13; G.Akers, D.Jackson & R.Harper beat R.Shrubsole, J.Pinnell & B.Sinfield 24-14.

Datchworth 90 Co-op Luton 57
On Tuesday afternoon Co-op Luton were the visitors to our Turkey Farm green for a Mixed Friendly match and were beaten by 90 shots to 57. Dawn Kingsland, Bernie Drummond and Skip Rob Hazeu won all but two of the first ten ends to lead comfortably by 25 shots to 3. This turned out to be good for them as they then only won two more ends to win by 28 shots to 11. Carol Hammond, George Campbell and Skip Chas Townley won seven of the first eleven ends, to lead by 16 shots to 7. Then they only won one of the remaining seven ends to narrowly lose by 17 shots to 18. Jim Whittle, Dickie Jackson and Skip Richard Brewster had a see-saw of a game. They trailed 0-8 after three ends. They led 11-9 after ten ends; they trailed again at 11-15 after fourteen ends, led 16-11 one end later, but eventually lost 16-19 after the eighteenth end. Sylvia Barsby, Ian Williams and Skip Steve Arnold only lost four ends, dropping a 7 on one of those, as they ran out winners by 29 shots to 9.
D.Kingsland, B.Drummond & R.Hazeu beat B.Sharp, R.Hough & A.Mattey 28-11; C.Hammond, G.Campbell & C.Townley lost to B.Briggs, S.Sharp & M.Brooks 17-18; J.Whittle, D.Jackson & R.Brewster lost to B.Hough, P.Daniels & J.Croft 16-19; S.Barsby, I.Williams & S.Arnold beat K.Brooks, T.Brooks & R.Clifford 29-9.

Datchworth 55 Aston 51
On a somewhat chilly Wednesday night we travelled the short distance to Aston for a Stevenage and District Mixed Bowls League match and came away with a narrow 55 shot to 51 win, despite winning only one of the four Triple played. That winning Triple was that of Richard Hutchinson, Richard Harper and Skip Steve Chamberlain. They got off to a good start by winning the first five ends to lead 14-0. After that they lost just five ends and increased their winning margin to 29 shots to 7. But as they were an all-male Triple they had to have 20% of their total shots deducted, which meant their adjusted final score was 23-7. Annette Hutchinson, Neil Mean and Skip Les Parsley lost their first four ends and never got back in the hunt, eventually going down by 7 shots to 17. Nicki Berry, Phil Berry and Skip Derek Henley’s game followed a similar pattern as they lost their first five ends but only went down by the odd shot 13-14. Sue Kiernan, George Campbell and Skip Steve Arnold led 9-4 after eight ends before losing the next five ends, to trail 9-11. They were 11-13 down and lying two shots down on the last end when their Skip, Steve Arnold, managed to trail the Jack in the ditch with his second wood, they were holding 1 shot. He failed to get a second shot for the draw, to force the game into an extra end, with his final wood; so they too lost by the odd shot, 12-13.
R.Hutchinson, R.Harper & S.Chamberlain beat G.Moore, P.Wilkinson & L.Gridley 23-7; A.Hutchinson, N.Mean & L.Parsley lost to N.Wray, J.May & P.Jones 7-17; N.Berry, P, Berry & D.Henley lost to G.Gleghorn, M.Gleghorn & D.Jackson 13-14; S.Kiernan, G.Campbell & S.Arnold lost to M.Gridley, M.Allington & T.Phipps 12-13.

Datchworth 23 Garston 46
After less than a week since they knocked Holwell out of the Preliminary Round of Bowls England’s Men’s Club 2 Fours our Men were travelling to Garston on Friday night to play their Men in the 1st Round of that competition. It did not go as well as they lost by 23 shots to 46. Both games followed a similar pattern. Steve Arnold, Steven Hunter, Derek Henley and Skip Ken Hammond led 8-6 after seven ends; they then lost to next seven ends to trail 8-16. They never caught up after that and eventually lost by 15 shots to 21. For Mike Mahoney, Steve Chamberlain, Jim Smith and Skip Les Parsley it was the eleventh end that was the turning point. They led 7-5 after ten ends then they lost the next seven ends, to trail 7-23. They called a halt to their game at 8-25 down with two ends to play.
S.Arnold, S.Hunter, D.Henley & K.Hammond lost to J.Hay, D.Houghton, M.Chard & M.Coles 15-21; M.Mahoney, S.Chamberlain, J.Smith & L.Parsley lost to S.Horwood, G.Edwards, D.Martin & J.Rumball 8-25.

Datchworth 53 Potters Bar 66
On Saturday afternoon we travelled to Potters Bar for a Mixed Friendly and because we were short-handed the match was reduced to three Triples and a Rink and we lost 53-66. Sue Kiernan, Bernie Drummond and Skip Steve Chamberlain lost the end-count 8-10. Because they picked up a single shot on six of those ends they lost by 11 shots to 16. Janet Akers, Richard Brewster and Skip Chas Townley won just three ends and lost heavily by 8 shots to 22. Dawn Kingsland, Graham Akers and Skip Steve Arnold lost the first six ends to trail 0-8. They got back to 8-9 five ends later before dropping 8 shots over the next three ends before winning three of the closing four ends and losing by 13 shots to 19. Dickie Jackson, Sylvia Barsby, Richard Harper and Skip Derek Henley lost just seven ends and picked up a maximum 8 shots on the thirteenth end on their way to winning by 21 shots to 9.
S.Kiernan, B.Drummond & .Chamberlain lost to M.Wood, R.Openshaw & B.Burfoot 11-16; J.Akers, R.Brewster & C.Townley lost to S.Powers, S.Thurlow & R.Golden 8-22; D.Kingsland, G.Akers & S.Arnold lost to J.Golden, R.Smale & M.Eccleshall 13-19; D.Jackson, S.Barsby, R.Harper & D.Henley beat B.Bell, D.Redington, M.Openshaw & C.Malone 21-19.

Datchworth 1½ points Harpenden 3½ points
On Sunday morning our Men were in action again, this time away to Harpenden in Bowls England’s Men’s Top Team and they lost by 1½ points to 3½ points. Aaron Prowle was first to finish in the 2 wood Singles. He trailed 1-10 after eight ends but got back to 9-11 by the sixteenth end. He won only one more end before losing the penultimate end to go 10-14. As he could not win from that position he conceded the game. A similar fate befell Mike Mahoney in the 4 wood Singles. He was 7-15 down after eleven ends but got back to 14-16 five ends later. He then lost the next two ends and the game 14-21. The next to finish were the Triples of Steve Arnold, Steve Hunter and Skip Les Parsley. They led 10-3 after seven ends before winning only one of the next seven ends, to trail 11-16. They got back to 16 all with one end to go but they dropped 2 shots and lost by 16 shots to 18. That meant that Harpenden had won three disciplines and could not be caught, so the remaining two disciplines finished the ends they were on and the match was stopped. At that point the Pairs of Derek Henley and Skip Ken Hammond were level at 12 apiece and the Four of Dickie Jackson, Bernie Drummond, Steve Chamberlain and Skip Jim Smith were 11-10 ahead.

A.Prowle lost to N.Muir 10-14; M.Mahoney lost to J.Osborn 14-21; D.Henley & K.Hammond drew with C.Driscoll & T.Muir 12 apiece; S.Arnold, S.Hunter & L.Parsley lost to K.Brazier, S.Maynard & T.Redford 16-18; R.Jackson, B.Drummond, S.Chamberlain & J.Smith beat W.Donoghue, J.Dobinson, S.Burgess & N.Roberts 11-10.

Datchworth 45 Harperbury 37
On Sunday afternoon three of the men who played in the morning match joined the rest of the team who travelled to play Harperbury in a Mixed Friendly and they had to be joined by two Harperbury bowlers because we were short-handed again. Unfortunately the match was curtailed after 12 ends by a violent thunderstorm, at which point we were ahead by 45 shots to 37. Graham Akers, Kevin Hull (loaned by Harperbury), Julian Hales and Skip Ken Ryder won the end-count 7-5 and the game by 13 shots to 7. John Oliver, June Russell, Andrew Phillips and Skip Steve Arnold also won the end-count 7-5 but only edge the game by one shot, 9-8. Janet Akers, Jim Russell, Neil Mean and Skip Richard Harper only lost four ends as they ran out winners by 13 shots to 8. Richard Jackson, Aaron Langley (loaned by Harperbury), George Campbell and Skip Steve Chamberlain shared the ends equally but lost the game by 10 shots to 14.
G.Akers, K.Hull, J.Hales & K.Ryder beat M.West, D.Agras, T.Plummer & M.Langley 13-7; J.Oliver, J.Russell, A.Phillips & S.Arnold beat K.Williams, R.Langley, P.Roberts & K.Kauder 9-8; J.Akers, J.Russell, N.Mean & R.Harper beat R.Dickinson, G.Carvin, G.Tutt & J.West 13-8; R.Jackson, A.Langley, G.Campbell & S.Chamberlain lost to E.Williams, G.Roberts, A.Wilsher & P.Carvin 10-14.

Website Report for 3 June 2018

On Tuesday night both matches due to be played, our Gold team away to Cheshunt in an East Herts Bowls League Div. 2 match and our Green team at home to B.S.P. in a Welwyn Hatfield Bowls League Div. 1 match, were postponed because of the bad weather and will be re-arranged for later in the season.

Datchworth Yellow 41 De Havilland 16
On Wednesday night our Yellow team were at home to De Havilland in a Welwyn Hatfield Bowls League Div. 2 match and picked up a maximum 6 points with a 41 shot to 16 win. Dawn Kingsland, Dickie Jackson and Skip Richard Harper did little wrong over the first eleven ends, as they won all but one of them as they built up a very healthy 23 shot to 1 lead. After that they lost three of the remaining seven ends and ended up winning by 28 shots to 7. It was a much tighter game for Janet and Graham Akers and Skip Julian Hales as on all but two of the eighteen ends played only one shot was scored by either team and as a result a total of 22 shots were scored and they edged the game by 13 shots to 9.
D.Kingsland, D.Jackson & R.Harper beat S.Venables, D.Venables & I.Currie 28-7; J.Akers, G.Akers & J.Hales beat D.Parsonage, A.Dew & M.Duke 13-9.

Datchworth 88 Whitethorn 64
On Saturday afternoon we travelled to Letchworth to play Whitethorn in a Mixed Friendly and came out on top with an 88 shot to 64 win. Dickie Jackson, Jim Russell and Skip Chas Townley won five ends in a row, from the eleventh end to the fifteenth, and turned a 5-8 deficit into a 12-8 advantage. An advantage they held onto till the final end and a 15-12 win. Ian Tyler, Richard Brewster and Skip Derek Henley only lost three ends as they steamrolled to a 33 shot to 3 win. It was almost the reverse of that for John Oliver, June Russell and Skip Steve Arnold as they trailed 1-17 after eleven ends. But they then found their line and length to win all but two of the remaining seven ends to reduce their losing deficit to 10-20. Sylvia Barsby, Julian Hales and Skip Neil Mean had a tight game and were all square for the third time at 14 all with two ends to go. They won both of those ends to win by 19 shots to 14. Linda Tyler, Richard Harper and Skip Rob Hazeu trailed 5-13 after winning just three of the first thirteen ends. They then won three of the closing five ends to reduce their losing deficit to 11-15.
D.Jackson, J.Russell & C.Townley beat C.Platten, V.Eames & D.Marr 15-12; I.Tyler, R.Brewster & D.Henley beat J.Roebuck, N.Clayson & M.Farron 33-3; J.Oliver, J.Russell & S.Arnold lost to G.Andrews, R.Adams & B.Chaudhary 10-20; S.Barsby, J.Hales & N.Mean beat J.Shepherd, A.Gulliver & A.McLellan 19-14; L.Tyler, R.Harper & R.Hazeu lost to D.Haynes, B.Boughton & B.Platten 11-15.

Datchworth 72 Howard Garden 65
On Sunday afternoon Howard Garden were the visitors to our Turkey Farm green for a Stevenage and District Mixed Bowls League match and were beaten by 72 shots to 65. Edie Alden, Richard Harper and Skip Steve Chamberlain were just 8-10 down after seven ends before losing the next two ends to go 8-17 down. They never got back in the hunt after that and ended up losing by 16 shots to 26. Sue Kiernan, John Alden and Skip Steve Arnold had built up a healthy lead of 18-3 after eight ends before losing the next six ends and have their lead cut to 18-10. The closing four ends were shared equally and they ended up winning by 20 shots to 12. Dickie Jackson, Neil Mean and Skip Peter Hills won the end-count10-8 and won by 21 shots to 17. But as they were an all-male Triple they had to, according to League Rules, suffer a shot deduction of 5 shots, so ended up losing by 16 shots to 17. We had to field an all-male Triple because two of the Ladies scheduled to play had accidents which prevented them from playing and as we only had one spare Lady to replace them, we had to field a male replacement. Susan Wray, Derek Henley and Skip Les Parsley shared the ends equally, but as they dropped mainly single shots on those ends, while picking up multiple shots on their nine ends, they won by 20 shots to 10.
E.Alden, R.Harper & S.Chamberlain lost to B.Roberson, B.Barker & D.Brothers 16-26; S.Kiernan, J.Alden & S.Arnold beat B.Wood, T.O’Shaughnessy & A.Wood 20-12, D.Jackson. N.Mean & P.Hills lost to J.Roberson, B.Lindsay & G.Liddle 16-17; S.Wray, D.Henley & L.Parsley beat S.Jordon, J.Brothers & R.Bloomfield 20-10.

Website Report for 10 June 2018

On Monday night we played three matches. Our Gold team were away to Sawbridgeworth Blue in an East Herts Bowls League Div. 2 match, our Green team were away to Parkside Greens in a Welwyn Hatfield Bowls League Div. 1 match and our Ladies were at home to Hertford in a Ladies County League match.
Datchworth Gold 31 Sawbridgeworth Blue 44
At Sawbridgeworth our Gold team suffered their first whitewash of the season with a 31 shot to 44 defeat to Sawbridgeworth’s Blue team. Dickie Jackson, Jim Russell and Skip Steve Chamberlain drew level for the fourth time at 17 apiece on the penultimate end but could not hold onto the shots they held to win their match as they ended up dropping two shots on the final end to go down by 17 shots to 19. Graham Akers, Rob Hazeu and Skip Richard Harper lost twice as many ends as they won in their 14-25 defeat.
D.Jackson, J.Russell & S.Chamberlain lost to C.Catling, G.Taylor & R.Bailes 17-19; G.Akers, R.Hazeu & R.Harper lost to D.Brampton, M.Cannon & M.Pledger 14-25.

Datchworth Ladies 18 Hertford Ladies 20
Our Ladies, Dawn Kingsland, Sue Kiernan, Rachel Jones and Skip Chris Hills, had something of a see-saw match for their first Ladies County League match of the season at the Turkey Farm against the Ladies from Hertford. They started off by taking an 8 shots to 2 lead after six ends. Nine ends later they found themselves 9 shots to 16 down. They regrouped to win the next four ends to lead 18-16. But they lost the last two ends and the game by 16 shots to 20.
D.Kingsland, S.Kiernan, R.Jones & C.Hills lost to M.Toynton, G.Medcalf, A.Hudson & P.Worsley 18-20.

Datchworth Green 40 Parkside Greens 41
It was a third defeat of the night for our teams as our Green team suffered the narrowest of defeats at the hands of Parkside Greens at W.G.C’s KGV greens. Janet Mahoney, Andrew Phillips and Skip Mike Mahoney led 12-5 after seven ends and gradually increased their winning margin until they ran out winners by 27 shots to 12. It was the reverse of that for Robin Gray, Maurice Gordon and Skip Aaron Prowle. Despite losing just two more ends than they won they dropped too many multiple shots as they lost by 13 shots to 29.
J.Mahoney, A.Phillips & M.Mahoney beat P.Jones, B.Fuller & E.Anderson 27-12; R.Gray, M.Gordon & A.Prowle lost to D.Robertson, A.Crowshaw & C.Jones 13-29.

There were two matches played on Tuesday. In the afternoon Shire Park were the visitors to our Turkey Fare green for a Mixed Friendly and in the evening our Blue team travelled to ware to take on their Maltsters team in an East Herts Bowls League Div.1 match.

Datchworth 76 Shire Park 56
Shire Park made the short trip from Tewin to play us in a Mixed Friendly and were beaten by 76 shots to 56. Dickie Jackson, Lynda Tyler, John Alden and Skip Chas Townley were playing against three players, as one of the visiting team did not turn up, and they went 6-11 down after ten ends. But they got their act together and drew level, at 16 apiece with three ends to go. They won two of those ends to win by 20 shots to 18. Edie Alden, June Russell, Richard Harper and Skip Peter Hills lost the first four ends, to trail 0-5, and were chasing the visitors tails after that; eventually losing by 13 shots to 19. Dawn Kingsland, Jim Russell, Ian Williams and Skip Steve Arnold won the first nine ends, to lead by 13 shots to 0 and were never caught as they ran out winners by 21 shots to 6. Sylvia Barsby, Ian Tyler, Ken Ryder and Skip Steve Chamberlain took the lead, 7-6 on the sixth end and gradually increased it to 14-8 seven ends later. Losing the next four ends reduced their lead to 14-12. But they won three of the closing four ends to win by 22 shots to 13.
D.Jackson, L.Tyler, J.Alden & C.Townley beat T.Crane, K.Brazier & R.Bramson 20-18; E.Alden, J.Russell, R.Harper & P.Hills lost to A.Hamid, B.Dann, I.Handley & L.Hastings 13-19; D.Kingsland, J.Russell, I.Williams & S.Arnold beat J.Bramson, J.Churchill, T.Canton & R.Kenway 21-6; S.Barsby, I.Tyler, K.Ryder & S.Chamberlain beat M.Churchill, R.Shrubsole, B.Synfield & G.Daniels 22-13.

Datchworth Blue 35 Ware Maltsters 22
At Ware our Blue team were taking on their Maltsters’ team, sitting three places above them in Div.1 of the East Herts Bowls League, and they came away with their first maximum 6 points of the season following a 35 shots to 22 win. Mike Mahoney, Richard Brewster and Skip Les Parsley got off to a dream start winning all but two of the first twelve ends to lead 15-4. It was a lead they held onto, as despite losing four of the remaining six ends they won by 19 shots to 9. Robin Gray, Derek Henley and Skip Ken Hammond picked up 4 shots on the first end and despite losing the end-count 8-10 and having their lead cut to just one shot twice they held onto the lead throughout to win by 16 shots to 13.
M.Mahoney, R.Brewster & L.Parsley beat E.Wright, C.Grose & N.Wareham 19-9; R.Gray, D.Henley & K.Hammond beat D.Edden, J.Edden & S.Stow 16-13.

Datchworth Yellow 33 Sele Farm 31
On Wednesday night it was the turn of our Yellow team to play a Welwyn Hatfield Bowls League Div. 2 match at home to Sele Farm and in a close match they edged a narrow win by 33 shots to 31. It was certainly a game of two halves for Chris Hills, Richard Harper and Skip Steve Chamberlain. Out of the first ten ends they won six of them to lead 9 shots to 5. Over the remaining eight ends they did not win an end and as a result they crashed to a 9 shots to 19 defeat. Luckily for them Dickie Jackson, Ian Williams and Skip Steve Hunter’s game went better. They built up an 18 shots to 3 lead after ten ends and shared the remaining eight ends equally to come home winners by 24 shots to 12 and an overall win by 2 shots.
C.Hills, R.Harper & S.Chamberlain lost to P.Wright, J.Lake & M.Jones 9-19; D.Jackson, I.Williams & S.Hunter beat J.Sell, M.Sell & E.Dunne 24-12.

Datchworth 60 St Albans Townsend 75
On Friday afternoon St Albans Townsend were the visitors to our Turkey Farm green and went home after a 75 shots to 60 win. Janet Akers, Ian Tyler and Skip Steve Arnold trailed for all but one of the first fifteen ends before they picked up a five followed by a three to go into the final end 20 shots to 16 up. They lost the final end but held on to win by 20 shots to 18. Susan Wray, John Oliver and Skip Richard Harper only won five ends as they lost by 10 shots to 20. It was a similar fate for Dawn Kingsland, Derek Elms and Skip Richard Brewster as they only won six ends in their 10 shots to 22 defeat. Datchworth’s only other winning Triple was that of Dickie Jackson, Graham Akers and Skip Derek Henley. They were all-square at 11 apiece after eleven ends before they won four of the closing seven ends to win by 20 shots to 15. There was a fifth Triple played that was not included in the match score and that involved Linda Tyler, Bill Thorne and Skip Ian Williams were up against what ended up as what one might call a “loaded” Triple after we loaned the visitors our Club President Peter Hills to make up a Triple, after he only turned up to do the bar. He, along with two of Townsend’s more experienced players were far too strong for our Triple and as a result they did not get much of a look in and went down by 5 shots to 40.
J.Akers, I.Tyler & S.Arnold beat D.Carter, A.Tucker & T.Marriott 20-18; S.Wray, J.Oliver & R.Harper lost to M.White, P.Waller & B.Padget 10-20; D.Kingsland, D.Elms & R.Brewster lost to B.Martindill, J.Metcalfe & L.Perkins 10-22; D.Jackson, G.Akers & D.Henley beat J.Marriott, C.Martindill & A.Scarborough 20-15; L.Tyler, B.Thorne & I.Williams lost to P.Hills, J.Dixon & R.Lawrie 5-40.

Datchworth 105 Buntingford 100
On Saturday afternoon we travelled to Buntingford for a Mixed Friendly and came away with a narrow 105 shots to 100 win. John Oliver, Jean Cooper and Skip Steve Arnold had a run of four winning ends which took them from 8-6 ahead after eleven ends to 14-6 ahead after fifteen ends and despite losing the final three ends they held on to win by 14 shots to 10. Sue Kiernan, Jim Russell and Skip Steve Chamberlain were leading 12-6 after fourteen ends but they lost the closing four ends to lose by 12 shots to 19. Dawn Kingsland, Ian Williams and Skip Derek Henley only won two more ends than they lost but they picked up twice as many shots than they dropped, including picking up a 7 on the eleventh end, which helped them to win by 24 shots to 12. Graham Akers, June Russell and Skip Peter Hills were just 9-11 adrift with five ends to play but they lost all of those, and conceded just over twice as many more shots than they had already lost, in their 9-24 defeat. Bernie Drummond, Neil Mean and Skip Chas Townley led for all but four ends in their 26-14 win. Brian Cooper, Bill Thorne, Richard Brewster and Skip Ken Hammond held the lead twice and lost it twice over the first seven ends. They were always trailing after that and despite winning the closing four ends they lost by one shot, 20-21.
J.Oliver, J.Cooper & S.Arnold beat D.Marks, D.Ward & T.Keeling 14-10; S.Kiernan, J.Russell & S.Chamberlain lost to R.Bantick, B.Bushell & D.Geere 12-19; D.Kingsland, I.Williams & D.Henley beat V.Moules J.Ward & M.Marks 24-12; G.Akers, J.Russell & P.Hills lost to J.Keeling, P.Besser & R.Clifton 9-24; B.Drummond, N.Mean & C.Townley beat J.Weaver, J.Wilson & M.Cheeseman 26-14; B.Cooper, B.Thorne, R.Brewster & K.Hammond lost to S.Keen, A.Wilson, L.Purdy & J.Collins 20-21.

On Sunday afternoon we held our Club’s 2 Wood Singles competition and with only eight players involved it started with the Quarter-Finals. Les Parsley beat Steve Arnold 15-9, Bernie Drummond beat Steve Chamberlain 17-11, Mike Mahoney beat Steven Hunter 16-7 and Derek Henley beat Aaron Prowle 15-11. In the Semi-Finals Les Parsley beat Bernie Drummond 18-4 and Mike Mahoney beat Derek Henley 14-9. Les Parsley and Mike Mahoney now play each other in the Final on Club Finals Weekend at the end of August.

Website Report for 17 June 2018

Datchworth Gold 48 Rye Park 22
On Monday night our Gold team were at home to Rye Park in an East Herts Bowls League Div. 2 match and gained another maximum 6 points with a 48 shots to 22 win. Dickie Jackson, Jim Russell and Skip Richard Harper led for the first four ends then trailed for the next four. They regained the lead on the ninth end and never lost it as they ran out winners by 21 shots to 11. Graham Akers, Ian Williams and Skip Steve Chamberlain took the lead on the second end and never lost it. But picking up a maximum 9 shots on the penultimate end only helped to substantially increase their winning margin to 27 shots to 11.
D.Jackson, J.Russell & R.Harper beat L.Austin, T.Eldridge & C.Milner 21-11; G.Akers, I.Williams & S.Chamberlain beat F.Watson, J.Mason & M.Mountford 27-11.

Datchworth 66 Hitchin Town 58
On Tuesday afternoon we travelled to Hitchin’s Bancroft Park for a Mixed Friendly and came away with a 66 shot to 58 win. Rachel Jones, Bill Thorne and Skip Steve Arnold led from the start and in a relatively low scoring game came out on top by 17 shots to 8. Chris Hills, Richard Harper and Skip Peter Hills led 7-1 after five ends, but seven losing ends later they were 7-16 down. They then won all but one of the closing six ends but still went down by 17 shots to 19. Sylvia Barsby, Bernie Drummond and Skip Ian Williams led 10-2 after six ends, but six losing ends later they were 10-11 down. They then won four of the closing six ends to win by 19 shots to 14. Dawn Kingsland, Ian Tyler and Skip Ken Ryder won six ends in a row, from the fifth to the tenth, to lead b 11 shots to 8. They then only won another to ends as they lost by 13 shots to 17.
R.Jones, B.Thorne & S.Arnold beat J.Stindler, K.Loosemore & G.Munge 17-8; C.Hills, R.Harper & P.Hills lost to B.Marsden, R.Thorpe & K.Milan 17-19; S.Barsby, B.Drummond & I.Williams beat B.Smith, B.Rundle & R.Cole 19-14;D.Kingsland, I.Tyler & K.Ryder lost to G.Stanton, P.Loosemore & B.Joshua 13-17.

Both of our East Herts Bowls League teams were at our Turkey Farm green on Wednesday night. Our Div.1 Blue team were playing Bishop’s Stortford Ospreys, while our Div. 2 Gold team were up against W.G.C. Tigers.

Datchworth Blue 33 Bishop’s Stortford Ospreys 27
For our Blue team the result against Bishop’s Stortford Ospreys was not determined until the last couple of ends. Mike Mahoney, Peter Hills and Skip Les Parsley went 0-5 down after five ends, then they pulled back to 5 apiece after nine ends, then they went 5-12 down after twelve ends and they were still 10-13 down with one end to play. Somehow they managed to conjure up 5 shots on the final end to win by 15 shots to 13. Bernie Drummond, Derek Henley and Skip Ken Hammond led 10-5 after eight ends; they then trailed 10-11 after eleven ends. They won the next two ends to lead 15-11. A lead they held onto till the end as they won by 18 shots to 14. Which all led to an overall 33 shot to 27 win and a maximum 6 points.
M.Mahoney, P.Hills & L.Parsley beat B.Williams, C.Beers & M.Farrow 15-13; B.Drummond, D.Henley & K.Hammond beat J.Doe, T.McKenzie & B.Mitchell 18-14.

Datchworth Gold 42 W.G.C. Tigers 35
It was a similar story for our Gold team against W.G.C. Tigers. Dickie Jackson, Ian Williams and Skip Steve Arnold were level for the third time at 13 apiece after fifteen ends. They then led 16-13 with one end to play. They dropped two shots on that end to win by one shot, 16-15. Richard Harper, Steven Hunter and Skip Steve Chamberlain were behind from the get go, and despite picking up 6 shots on the twelfth end they were still 13-16 down. They picked up a 3 on the penultimate end, to go into the final end just 19-20 adrift. But they managed to conjure up a 7 on the final end, despite the efforts of opposing Skip, Stewart Parkhouse, to thwart it, to come home 26-20. Which all led to a 42 shot to 35 win and a maximum 6 points.
D.Jackson, I.Williams & S.Arnold beat G.Gladwell, R.Collins & A.Evans 16-15; R.Harper, S.Hunter & S.Chamberlain beat C.Parkhouse, G.Walton & S.Parkhouse 26-20.

Datchworth Ladies 21 Buntingford 1 Ladies 19
Our Ladies travelled to Buntingford on Thursday night for their second Ladies County League match of the season and came away with a hard fought win. Rachel Jones, Sue Kiernan, Annette Hutchinson and Skip Chris Hills went 0-8 down after three ends; fought back to 8 apiece three ends later, they then went 10-13 down after eleven ends. They were all-square for the third time at 15 apiece on the fifteenth end before they took the lead on the sixteenth end. They then held onto that lead till they ended up winning by 21 shots to 19.
R.Jones, S.Kiernan, A.Hutchinson & C.Hills beat D.Marks, C.Hatley, V.Moules & D.Geere 21-19.

Datchworth Green 43 Datchworth Yellow 19
Also on Thursday night there was an all Datchworth clash in Welwyn Hatfield Bowls League’s John Brown Trophy in a repeat of last season’s Final as our Green team, last season’s Winners, took on our Yellow team, last season’s Runners Up, at our Turkey Farm green and it was the Green team that came out on top again following a 43 shot to 19 win. It was pretty much a one-sided affair for both of the Green team’s Triples. Janet Mahoney, Bernie Drummond and Skip Jim Smith came up with the right shots when needed to restrict their opposition of Dickie Jackson, Ian Williams and Skip Ken Ryder to seven winning ends as they ran out winners by 20 shots to 8. It was the same story for the Green team’s other Triple of Maurice Gordon, Aaron Prowle and Skip Derek Henley, as they too came up with the right shots when needed to restrict the Yellow’s Graham Akers, Richard Harper and Skip Steve Chamberlain to just six winning ends as they ran out winners by 23 shots to 11.
J.Mahoney, B.Drummond & J.Smith beat D.Jackson, I.Williams & K.Ryder 20-8; M.Gordon, A.Prowle & D.Henley beat G.Akers, R.Harper & S.Chamberlain 23-11.

Datchworth’s Men 64 Northaw & Cuffley’s Men 64. N & C win through on extra ends won.
On Friday night our Men travelled to Northaw and Cuffley to take on their Men in the County’s Club Championship and lost after extra ends had to be played by all Rinks. Bernie Drummond, Richard Harper, Steve Arnold and Skip Peter Hills had built up a healthy 20 shots to 7 lead after fourteen ends, then disaster struck for them as they dropped 9 shots over the next three ends and their lead was cut 20 shots to 16. They recovered to win all but one of the closing four ends to win by 28 shots to 20. It was a much tighter game for Dickie Jackson, Steve Chamberlain, Steven Hunter and Skip Les Parsley as they came from behind to draw level for the fourth time, at 15 apiece after sixteen ends. They then lost alternate ends to end up drawing their game at 21 shots apiece. Mike Mahoney, Ian Williams, Derek Henley and Skip Ken Hammond trailed from the off and with two ends to go they were 13-23 down, at which point it looked like Datchworth were down and out. But they won both of the remaining ends to lose by 15-23. Which meant the overall score was tied and the three Rinks each had to play an extra end to decide the result of the tie. Northaw and Cuffley won each of the extra ends to win through to the next Round.
B.Drummond, R.Harper, S.Arnold & P.Hills beat D.Hurford, D.Pett, R.Blunden & R.Barwick 28-20; D.Jackson, S.Chamberlain, S.Hunter & L.Parsley drew with T.Pugh, J.Clarke, D.Fryett & J.Dowler 21 all; M.Mahoney, I.Williams, D.Henley & K.Hammond lost to L.Curtis, B.Holding, D.King & M.Ryan 15-23.

Datchworth 74 Welwyn and District 62
On Saturday afternoon we travelled the short distance to Welwyn and District’s Ottway Walk green for a Mixed Friendly and came away after an entertaining match with a 74 shots to 62 win. Richard and Annette Hutchinson and Skip Richard Harper picked up 6 shots on the second end and never looked back as they ran out winners by 25 shots to 11. It was a game of two halves for Dickie Jackson, Sylvia Barsby and Skip Steve Arnold. Up to the break for tea one shot was picked up by either Triple on all but one of the nine ends played and they led 6-4. After the break one shot was picked up by either Triple on only two of the nine ends played, multiple shots were picked up on the rest of the nine ends as they too won, 20 shots to 17. The break for tea did not work for Dawn Kingsland, Chas Townley and Skip Ken Ryder. They were 8-4 up before it but lost the first four ends played after it, to go 8-19 down. They recovered somewhat after that to reduce their losing deficit to 15-20. Bill Thorne, John Oliver and Skip Steve Chamberlain had a “true” Friendly game, as despite winning the end-count 11-7 they drew 14 shots apiece.
R & A.Hutchinson & R.Harper beat P.Thompson, R.Currell & D.Charlwood 25-11; D.Jackson, S.Barsby & S.Arnold beat M.McKeown, J.Jennings & T.Webb 20-17; D.Kingsland, C.Townley & K.Ryder lost to B.Singleton, M.Marvell & J.Webb 15-20; B.Thorne, J.Oliver & S.Chamberlain drew with B.Marvell, R.Venting & M.Baldwin 14 all.

Datchworth 55 Three Horseshoes 74
On Sunday afternoon we made another short trip, this time down Broadhall Way to play Three Horseshoes in a Stevenage and District Mixed Bowls League match and lost by 55 shots to 74. Rachel Jones, George Campbell and Skip Rob Hazeu went 2-7 down after just three ends and fought back to square their game at 13 apiece after thirteen ends. But they dropped a five on the very next end and eventually lost by 15 shots to 20. Linda Tyler, June Russell and Skip Steve Chamberlain took the lead from the off and never lost; winning by 18 shots to 13. Dickie Jackson, Chris Hills and Skip Neil Mean did not have the rub of the green during their 6 shots to 26 loss. Sandy Campbell, Ian Tyler and Skip Steve Arnold also took the lead from the off and never lost, winning by 16 shots to 13.
R.Jones, G.Campbell & R.Hazeu lost to S.Cole, P.Stacey & C.Cole 15-20; L.Tyler, J.Russell & S.Chamberlain beat J.Grogan, G.Streeter & K.Wilkinson 18-15; D.Jackson, C.Hills & N.Mean lost to M.Cooper, T.Fisher & C.Beaver 6-26; S.Campbell, I.Tyler & S.Arnold beat J.Nash, E.Iontton & D.Wilkinson 16-13

Website Report for 24 June 2018

There was a busy day of bowling for our bowlers on Tuesday with three matches played. Our Ladies were in Ladies County League action at Much Hadham in the afternoon, in the evening our Gold team were in East Herts Bowls League Div. 2 action at Stevenage Town and our Green team were in action in the Welwyn Hatfield Bowls League’s Jubilee Cup against Welwyn Wanderers.

Datchworth Ladies 25 Much Hadham Ladies 15
At Much Hadham Rachel Jones, Linda Tyler, June Russell and Skip Chris Hills picked up their second 5 of the game on the fourteenth end to increase their lead to 19-10. They then won four of the remaining seven ends to win by 25 shots to 15 for their second win of the season.
R.Jones, L.Tyler, J.Russell & C.Hills beat P.Jinkenson, S.Morris, J.Todd & M.Walters 25-15.

Datchworth Gold 30 Stevenage Red 27
At Stevenage our Gold team won a tight match against their Red team 30-27. George Campbell, Ian Williams and Skip Steven Hunter lost the first four ends to trail 0-7, and then won the next four ends to lead by 8 shots to 7. They picked up 6 shots on the fourteenth end to stretch their lead to 17-10. They then only won one more end but held on to win by 18 shots to 13. Rob Hazeu, Richard Harper and Skip Steve Arnold won the first three ends, to lead 7-0, and held onto the lead until they dropped 3 shots on the sixteenth end, to trail 11-13. At which point the other Triple had already won, so it was a case now of ensuring they did not lose by more than 5 shots. Which they successfully did as they shared the final two ends to lose by 12 shots to 14.
G.Campbell, I.Williams & S.Hunter beat E.Marr, S.Howson & T.Stout 18-13; R.Hazeu, R.Harper & S.Arnold lost to P.Smith, J.Gardner & P.Marsh 12-14.

Datchworth Green 51 Welwyn Wanderers 27
In the Welwyn Hatfield Bowls League’s Jubilee Cup our Green team had one Rink at home and one away against Welwyn and District’s Wanderers team as they won by 51 shots to 27. At our Turkey Farm green Robin Gray, Jean Cooper, Neil Mean and Derek Henley won the first four ends to lead 10-0. It was a lead they never lost and by picking up a 6 on the nineteenth end they only added to their shot advantage as they ran out comfortable winners by 27 shots to 13. At Welwyn and District’s Ottway Walk green Jan Mahoney, Bernie Drummond, Mike Mahoney and Skip Les Parsley were level at 7 shots apiece after nine ends before they won seven of the remaining twelve ends to win by 24 shots to 14.
R.Gray, J.Cooper, N.Mean & D.Henley beat G.Turner, D.Charlwood, R.Venting & P.Bowyer 27-13; J.Mahoney, B.Drummond, M.Mahoney & L.Parsley beat C.Russell, E.Goodmail, R.Russell & N.Muller 24-14.

Datchworth 29 Standon and Puckeridge 63
On Wednesday evening we travelled to play Standon and Puckeridge in a Mixed Friendly and we all struggled with the slow pace of their green and as a result we lost heavily by 29 shots to 63. Linda Tyler, Phil Berry and Skip Steve Arnold only won six ends as they lost by 9 shots to 27. Brian Cooper, Annette Hutchinson and Skip Ian Tyler also won only six ends as they lost by 8 shots to 27. Our only Triple to win more than six ends and get into double figures was that of Nicki Berry, Maurice Gordon and Skip Jean Cooper. They won seven ends and lost by 12 shots to 29.
L.Tyler, P.Berry & S.Arnold lost to B.Barnard, P.Mumford & R.Granville 9-27; B.Cooper, A.Hutchinson & I.Tyler lost to J.Bingham, F.Barnard & F.Beard 8-27; N.Berry, M.Gordon & J.Cooper lost to J.Woor, J.Martindale & B.Swann 12-29.

Datchworth 40 Parkside 33
On Thursday night our Men played Parkside in the 1st Round of the East Herts Bowls League Ranson Cup, with one Rink at home and one away we went through by 40 shots to 33. At our own Turkey Farm green Bernie Drummond, Rob Hazeu, Derek Henley and Skip Steve Arnold won nine of the first thirteen ends to lead by 16 shots to 7. They shared the remaining eight ends equally and went on to win by 25 shots to 12. At Parkside’s home green at Welwyn Garden City’s KGV greens things were looking good for Mike Mahoney, John Oliver, Steve Chamberlain and Skip Peter Hills as they had built up a healthy 14-5 lead with six ends to go. But the wheels fell off of their waggon with dramatic effect after that as the home Rink got their act together to win the next five ends, including picking up a 5 and a 6, to lead 21-14 going into the final end. They dropped a single shot on it to win by 21 shots to 15. But it was not enough to stop Datchworth going through to the next Round.
B.Drummond, R.Hazeu, D.Henley & S.Arnold beat M.Cragg, A.Croshaw, M.Looney & C.Jones 25-12; M.Mahoney, J.Oliver, S.Chamberlain & P.Hills lost to D.Walker, S.Calladine, D.Robertson & B.Draycott 15-21.

Datchworth Yellow 43 Harlequins 23
On Friday night our Yellow team took on Hertford Castle’s Harlequins’ team in Welwyn Hatfield Bowls League’s Jubilee Cup and with one Rink at home and one away they won by 43 shots to 23. At our Turkey Farm green Bill Thorne, Janet Akers, Graham Akers and Skip Steve Chamberlain got off to a bad start by winning just two of the first eight ends to trail by 3 shots to 12. Five winning ends later they had cut that deficit down to 10-12. They went 10-16 down three ends later before winning the closing five ends, including picking up three shots on the final end to win by 19 shots to 16. At Harlequins Peg’s Lane green Dickie Jackson, Phil Holzbauer, Richard Harper and Skip Steven Hunter won the first two ends and were never caught; running out convincing winners by 24 shots to 7.
B.Thorne, J.Akers, G.Akers & S.Chamberlain beat P.Beeson, J.Arber, S.Crowther & A.Beeson 19-16; D.Jackson, P.Holzbauer, R.Harper & S.Hunter beat D.Cheshire, A.Crowther, G.Butt & W.Butt 24-7.

On Saturday we held the Club’s 4s competition and because there were only three 4s entered it was played as a Round-Robin competition with one match in the morning, one in the afternoon and one in the evening. In the morning Graham Akers, Steven Hunter, Derek Henley and Skip Peter Hills beat Chris Hills, Maurice Gordon, John Oliver and Skip Steve Arnold 21-14. In the afternoon, with Sue Kiernan substituting for Graham Akers, they lost a tight match to Bernie Drummond, Stuart Hay, Steve Chamberlain and Skip Les Parsley 16-17, by dropping two shots on the final end. Then in the evening Bernie Drummond, Stuart Hay, Steve Chamberlain and Skip Les Parsley beat Chris Hills, Maurice Gordon, John Oliver and Skip Steve Arnold 25-14 to progress through to the Club’s Finals Weekend in late August along with Graham Akers (Sub Sue Kiernan), Steven Hunter, Derek Henley and Skip Peter Hills.

Datchworth 65 Letchworth Garden City 93
On Sunday afternoon Datchworth Travelled to Norton Common to play Letchworth Garden City in a Stevenage and District Mixed Bowls League match and lost by 65 shots to 93. Sylvia Barsby, Jim Russell, Richard Harper and Skip Peter Hills trailed for all but two of the first eleven ends then they picked up five shots on the twelfth end to lead 12-10. They won three of the next five ends to lead by 16 shots to 13, only to lose the closing four ends to lose by 16-shots to 18. Edie Alden, John Oliver, George Campbell and Skip Steve Chamberlain lost the first four ends, to trail 0-10, and never got back in the game and lost by 14 shots to 26. Sandy Campbell, June Russell, Rob Hazeu and Skip Ian Williams led 7-1 after five ends, but were caught and overtaken by the eleventh end. After that they only picked up for single shots in their 12 shots to 25 loss. Dickie Jackson, Annette Hutchinson, John Alden and Skip Steve Arnold led from the off and were 23 shots to 18 up going into the final end where disaster struck big time as they dropped six shots to lose by one shot, 23-24.
S.Barsby, J.Russell, R.Harper & P.Hills lost to B.Rogan, S.Sinclair, D.Haggar & I.Snowdon 16-18; E.Alden, J.Oliver, G.Campbell & S.Chamberlain lost to M.Garlick, R.Williams, T.Sinclair & P.Billson 14-26; S.Campbell, J.Russell, R.Hazeu & I.Williams lost to J.Rogan, J.Ferguson, C.Ottoway & B.Bargery 12-25; D.Jackson, A.Hutchinson, J.Alden & S.Arnold lost to J.Burdick, M.Garlick, H.Castle & G.Cataldo 23-24.

Website Report for 1 July 2018

Yet another busy week for our bowlers, with a total of 12 matches played. It started on Monday night with the first of 5 double-headers as both of our Welwyn Hatfield Bowls League teams were in action at our Turkey Farm green; our Green team were up against W.G.C. Crusaders in a Div. 1 match and our Yellow team were up against Parkside Woods in a Div. 2 match.

Datchworth Green 37 W.G.C. Crusaders 26
For our Green team Maurice Gordon, Bernie Drummond and Skip Les Parsley won twice as many ends as they lost as they picked up almost twice as many shots as they lost in the 19 shots to 10 win. On the other hand our other Triple of Sue Kiernan, Jim Smith and Skip Derek Henley lost the end-count by 8 – 10 but they picked up two 5s which helped them to win by 18 shots to 16 and an overall team win by 37 shots to 26.
M.Gordon, B.Drummond & L.Parsley beat P.Marlon, J.Chennells & T.Martin 19-10; S.Kiernan, J.Smith & D.Henley beat T.Martin, G.Gladwell & S.West 18-16.

Datchworth Yellow 24 Parkside Woods 49
It was a different story for our Yellow team as they lost 24-49 to Parkside Woods. Jenny and Phil Holzbauer and Skip George Campbell did not get on the scoreboard until the eleventh end, by which time they were 0-27 down and panicking somewhat. But they pulled themselves together and won five of the remaining eight ends to lose by 8 shots to 36. Our other Triple of Dickie Jackson, John Oliver and Skip Ian Williams led for all but two ends as they won by 16 shots to 13.
J.Holzbauer, P.Holzbauer & G.Campbell lost to R.Gibbins, N.Dickinson & B.Clarke 8-36; D.Jackson, J.Oliver & I.Williams beat C.England, J.Croshaw & L.Clarke 16-13.

The second double-header of the week was on Tuesday night when it was the turn of our East Herts Bowls League teams to play at the Turkey Farm. Our Div.1 Blue team were up against W.G.C. Lions and our Div. 2 Gold team were up against Bishop’s Stortford Swifts.

Datchworth Blue 33 W.G.C. Lions 42
It was not a good night for our Blue team as they lost by 33 shots to 42. Robin Gray, Les Parsley and Skip Ken Hammond, up against the Avery boys, lost the first two ends and dropping a 6 on the seventh end did not help their situation either; as that meant they trailed by 3 shots to 13. But they fought back to win the next four ends and square the score at 13 apiece. They then fell 13-19 behind after losing the next two ends and winning four of the closing six ends cut their losing deficit down to 18-22. Our other Triple of Mike Mahoney, Derek Henley and Skip Peter Hills also struggled as they came back for the third time to draw level at 11 apiece on the twelfth end, only to fall behind again on the next end. This time they did not come back to draw as they ended up losing by 15 shots to 20.
R.Gray, L.Parsley & K.Hammond lost to C.Avery, D.Avery & J.Avery 18-22; M.Mahoney, D.Henley & P.Hills lost to T.Seeby, S.Roach & G.Avery 15-20.

Datchworth Gold 47 Bishop’s Stortford Swifts 26
Our Gold team continued their good run of form, now six wins from seven matches, as they beat Bishop’s Stortford Swifts by 47 shots to 26. Dickie Jackson, George Campbell and Skip Steve Arnold won alternate ends up to the seventh end, at which point they led by one shot, 11-10. After that they won all but three of the remaining eleven ends to run out winners by 23 shots to 13. Richard Harper, Steve Chamberlain and Skip Steven Hunter won twice as many ends as they lost and picked up nearly twice as many shots as they dropped in their 24 shots to 13 win.
D.Jackson, G.Campbell & S.Arnold beat R.Piggott, P.Sykes & B.Houghton 23-13; R.Harper, S.Chamberlain & S.Hunter beat A.Sanson, G.Horwell & P.Devall 24-13.

The third double-header of the week was on Wednesday night when again both of our Welwyn Hatfield Bowls League teams were in action; at our Turkey Farm green our Green team were up against Hertford in a Div. 1 match and our Yellow team were away against Hertford Castle’s Harlequins in a Div. 2 match.

Datchworth Yellow 27 Harlequins 35
At Harlequins’ Peg’s Lane green the Yellow team lost by 27 shots to 35. Bill Thorne, Chris Hills and Skip Steve Chamberlain built up a lead of 10 shots to 5 after eleven ends. After that they only won two more ends but held on to win by 16 shots to 15. After eleven ends Dawn Kingsland, Richard Harper and Skip Steven Hunter led by 9 shots to 7, they then only won one more end to end up losing by 11 shots to 20.
B.Thorne, C.Hills & S.Chamberlain beat P.Beeson, L.Atherton & M.Edgar 16-15; D.Kingsland, R.Harper & S.Hunter lost to S.Jelly, I.Legillis & A.Beeson 11-20.

The fourth double-header of the week was on Thursday night when again both of our East Herts Bowls League teams were in action; at our Turkey Farm our Div.1 Blue team were up against Rosedale and our Div. 2 Gold team were away to Buntingford Bears.

Datchworth Blue 30 Rosedale 28
At the Turkey Farm our Blue team edged a close match by 30 shots to 28. Bernie Drummond, Peter Hills and Skip Les Parsley led 7-2 after five ends; they then went behind 7-11 five losing ends later. By the fifteenth end they trailed 14-15 and after losing the last three ends they lost by 14 shots to 18. Mike Mahoney, Derek Henley and Skip Ken Hammond picked up five shots on the tenth end to stretch their lead to 11-4. They shared the closing eight ends equally and finally won by 16 shots to 10.
B.Drummond, P.Hills & L.Parsley lost to I.Bishop, M.Thomas & C.Dyer 14-18; M.Mahoney, D.Henley & K.Hammond beat G.Smedley, B.Hayden & R.Powell 16-10.

Datchworth Gold 16 Buntingford Bears 52
At Buntingford our Gold team’s good run of form hit the buffers following a 16 shot to 52 defeat against the Bears. George Campbell, Jim Russell and Skip Richard Harper had one of those games you do not want to remember for too long. They struggled with their line and length and any luck that was going went against them. That combined with some good bowling by their opposition meant that they only won five ends, picking up one shot each time, and dropping two 8s along the way led them to comprehensively losing by 5 shots to 38. After nine ends it looked like Phil Holzbauer, Ian Williams and Skip Steve Arnold were going to suffer the same fate as they were 2 shots to 11 down. But they managed to stop the rot and won six of the next eight ends to go into the final end 11-13 down. At one point they were holding two shots to draw then the Bear’s Skip, Dave Murphy, hit the Jack and moved it back to two of their woods. The Gold’s Skip, Steve Arnold, only managed to cut the shot count down to one, so they lost by 11 shots to 14.
G.Campbell, J.Russell & R.Harper lost to B.Bushell, M.Hatley & T.Keeling 5-38; P.Holzbauer, I.Williams & S.Arnold lost to J.Andrews, G.Swaby & D.Murphy 11-14.

Datchworth 33 Norton & Letchworth Conservatives 21
On Friday night our Men were in action with two Triples at home and two away in Letchworth and District Bowling Association’s Cairns Cup against a combined team Norton and Letchworth Conservative’s Bowls Club’s Men and won through to the next Round following a 71 shot to 53 win. At Datchworth’s Turkey Farm green Bernie Drummond, Ian Williams and Skip Steve Arnold led for all but two of the eighteen ends as they won by 15 shots to 10. Jim Russell, Neil Mean and Skip Derek Henley led from the start in their 18 shots to 11 win. At Norton’s green Phil Berry, Richard Harper and Skip Les Parsley were level for the fourth time at 9 shots apiece after thirteen ends. They then took the lead at 14-12 with two ends to go but they lost those ends, dropping one shot each time so their game ended in a draw at 14 shots apiece. John Oliver, Rob Hazeu and Skip Peter Hills won the first six ends to lead 12-0. It was a lead they never lost and despite dropping two 5s they still ran out winners by 24 shots to 18. B.Drummond, I.Williams & S.Arnold beat J.Johnston, R.Lake & B.Hart 15-10; J.Russell, N.Mean & D.Henley beat A.Drossler, R.MacRibbon & R.Billington 18-10; P.Berry, R.Harper & L.Parsley drew with M.Barker, C.Parker & V.Meeks 14 all; J.Oliver, R.Hazeu & P.Hills beat J.Hayzelden, M.Treadaway & T.Price 24-18.

Datchworth 76 Kimpton 54
On Saturday a hot afternoon we travelled to Kimpton for a Mixed Friendly and after an enjoyable afternoon’s bowling on a much improved green we came away after a 76 shot to 54 win. Chas Townley and Skip Steve Arnold had a close game up to the tea-break and led by just one shot 7-6. But after the tea-break they only lost three ends and ran out winners by 18 shots to 9. Charles Eggington, Annette Hutchinson and Skip Neil Mean built up an 8 shots to 2 lead after six ends; but their lead was cut to 12-11 with three ends to play. They won all of those, picking up seven shots along the way, to win by 19 shots to 11. Richard Hutchinson, June Russell and Skip John Alden lost the first two ends, to trail 0-6, and eventually drew level at 13 apiece after fifteen ends. They lost the next three ends, but won the last end as they went down by 14 shots to 18. Rachel Jones, Edie Alden and Skip Richard Harper lost just four of the first fourteen ends to lead by 25 shots to 10. They then lost the closing four ends to win by 25 shots to 16.
C.Townley & S.Arnold beat S.Croft, A.Strange & H.Boshier 18-9; C.Eggington, A.Hutchinson & N.Mean beat J.Truscott, B.Pate & A.Lennox 19-11; R.Hutchinson, J.Russell & J.Alden lost to D.Matthews, M.Porter & M.Picken 14-18; R.Jones, E.Alden & R.Harper beat S.Truscott, J.Croft & B.Porter 25-16.

Datchworth 73 Knebworth 67
On Sunday morning we played our near neighbours Knebworth in Stevenage and Districts Mixed Bowls League’s Knock Out competition and with 2 Mixed Triples at home and two away we edged a close match by 73 shots to 67. At the Turkey Farm Bill Thorne, Annette Hutchinson and Skip Peter Hills dropped a 5 on the third end, to go 3-6 down, then they picked up a 6 on the ninth end, to go 12-9 ahead. But after that they only won one more end and lost by 13 shots to 20. Dawn Kingsland, Jim Russell and Skip Les Parsley picked up a 5 on the sixth end, to go 9-2 up, and a 7 on the ninth end, to go 18-4 ahead. After that they only won another four ends, but did enough to win by 24 shots to 15. At Knebworth June Russell, Mike Mahoney and Skip Derek Henley won just 4 more ends than they lost but picked up more than twice as many shots than they dropped in their 25-10 win. Janet Mahoney, Richard Brewster and Skip Steve Arnold dropped a 7 on the third end and a 4 on the final end which did not help their cause as they lost by 11 shots to 22.
B.Thorne, A. Hutchinson & P.Hills lost to S.Hughes, C.McLeod & G.Stevens 13-20; D.Kingsland, J.Russell & L.Parsley beat G.Welham, B.Butler & R.Hughes 24-15; J.Russell, M.Mahoney & D.Henley beat S.Varney, P.Beadle & J.Matthews 25-10; J.Mahoney, R.Brewster & S.Arnold lost to G.Reed, R.Mahoney & D.Percival 11-22.

Datchworth 53 Harpenden 73
On Sunday afternoon Harpenden were the visitors to the Turkey Farm for a Mixed Friendly and went home following a 73 shot to 53 win. John Oliver, Bernie Drummond and Skip Ian Williams had a close game with never more than two ends being won in a row by either side and the end-count being shared equally all led to them drawing 19 shots apiece. The game involving Sheila Rider, Chris Hills and Skip Richard Harper followed an almost identical patter but it finished up with them picking up one shot on the final end to win by 15 shots to 13. It was a different story for the other two Triples as Edie Alden, Ken Ryder and Neil Mean only managed to win five ends as they lost by 7 shots to 19. Although Rachel Jones, Sylvia Barsby and kip John Alden only lost the end-count 8-10 dropping 16 shots between the sixth and tenth end did not help their cause as they lost by 12 shots to 22.
J.Oliver, B.Drummond & I.Williams drew with T.Smith, J.Clark & T.Tharby 19 apiece; S.Rider, C.Hills & R.Harper beat M.Arnold, V.Rodger & J.Dill 15-13; E.Alden, K.Ryder & N.Mean lost to H.Westcolt, A.Stephenson & D.Rodger 7-19; R.Jones, S.Barsby & J.Alden lost to B.Gilbert, T.Clark & I.Thomas 12-22.

Website Report for 8 July 2018

Datchworth Blue 39 Welwyn Bucks 31
A somewhat quieter week of bowling this week, compared with last week, for us started on Monday night when Welwyn Bucks were the visitors to the Turkey Farm for an East Herts Bowls League Div. 1 match against our Blue team and they were beaten by 39 shots to 31. Maurice Gordon, Bernie Drummond and Skip Derek Henley were involved in a close game on a fast running green and were level for the fifth time at 13 apiece on the sixteenth end. But they lost the closing two ends to lose by 13 shots to 20. It was a completely different story for Mike Mahoney, Richard Brewster and Skip Peter Hills as despite winning just two more ends than they lost they picked up their first 5 of the game on the first end; they picked up two more on their way to winning by 26 shots to 11.
M.Gordon, B.Drummond & D.Henley lost to M.Baldwin, K.O’Hanlon & S.Kenworthy 13-20; M.Mahoney, R.Brewster & P.Hills beat A.Benton, N.Muller & I.Snook 26-11.

On Tuesday night two of Datchworth’s teams were at home; their Gold team were up against Hertford in an East Herts Bowls League Div. 2 match and their Green team were up against Parkside Greens in a Welwyn Hatfield Bowls League Div. 1 match.

Datchworth Gold 35 Hertford 35
Our Gold team’s match ended all square at 35 shots apiece as both Triples were drawn. Dickie Jackson, Graham Akers and Skip Steve Chamberlain were 7-17 down after eight ends and looking doomed, but they fought back to win eight of the next nine ends to into the final end 21-20 up. They dropped a single shot on that end to draw 21 shots apiece. Phil Holzbauer, Julian Hales and Skip Richard Harper took the lead on the second end and held it till they dropped three shots on the penultimate end, to go 11 -14 down. They then picked up three shots on the final ends to draw level at 14 shots apiece.
D.Jackson, G.Akers & S.Chamberlain drew with M.Rowe, C.Crowhurst & M.Toynton 21 apiece; P.Holzbauer, J.Hales & R.Harper drew with C.Sage, A.Costin & R.Barrett 14 apiece.

Datchworth Green 35 Parkside Greens 34
Our Green team had a close shave but came through their match by 35 shots to 34 against Parkside Greens. Robin Gray, Stuart Hay and Skip Bernie Drummond took the lead on the fifth end and had built up a comfortable 20 shots to 5 lead after thirteen ends. They then lost the next three ends and their lead was cut to 20-13, but they won the close two ends to win by 23 shots to 13. Sue Kiernan, Andrew Phillips and Skip Derek Henley lost the first three ends then won the next three to lead 6-3. They then won three of the next five ends and increased their lead to 11-6. They lost all but one of the remaining seven ends, including dropping a 6 on the final ends to lose by 12 shots to 21. But it was enough to ensure the team came home in front by one shot, 35 -34.
R.Gray, S.Hay & B.Drummond beat P.Jones, M.Cragg & C.Jones 23-13; S.Kiernan, A.Phillips & D.Henley lost to S.Calladine, D.Robertson & A.Croshaw 12-21.

Also on Tuesday night Mike Mahoney, Steve Arnold, Les Parsley and Skip Peter Hills beat a four from Bushey, Skipped by Barry Birch, 26-8 in the Quarter Finals of the County’s Men’s Senior Fours held at Whit Hern. They next take on a Four from Sawbridgeworth in the Semi Finals to be held at Hatfield on Monday 9th July.

On Thursday night both of our Welwyn Hatfield Bowls League teams were in action; our Div. 1 Green team were away to Welwyn and District’s Woods team and our Div. 2 Yellow team were also away, to De Havilland.

Datchworth Green 51 Welwyn Woods 15
At Welwyn and District’s Ottway Walk green our Green team won convincingly by 51 shots to 15. Aaron Prowle, Andrew Phillips and Skip Derek Henley won the first four ends, to lead 10-0 and by the thirteenth end they had stretched their lead to 20-6. But they then only won one more end as they ran out winners by 21 shots to 12. For Bernie Drummond, Jim Smith and Skip Les Parsley it was something of an easier ride as they restricted their opposition to just three winning ends as they triumphed by 30 shots to 3.
A.Prowle, A.Phillips & D.Henley beat J.McKeown, T.Webb & J.Webb 21-12; B.Drummond, J.Smith & L.Parsley beat C.Blakes, D.Blakes & C.Read 30-3.

Datchworth Gold 34 Cheshunt 38
On Friday night our Gold team travelled to Cheshunt for an East Herts Bowls League Div. 2 match and lost by 34 shots to 38. Dickie Jackson, Rob Hazeu and Skip Steve Arnold led 5-1 after three ends then went 5-8 down two ends later. They then won four ends in a row to lead 12-8, but again they lost the next two ends and were caught at 12 apiece. They then went on to win all but one of the remaining seven ends to win by 23 shots to 13. It would have been more if the Cheshunt Skip, Rod Goodley, had not hit the head with his last wood of the penultimate end and turned a seven shot count for the Gold team into a one shot advantage for his team. Meanwhile things were not going well for John Oliver, Richard Harper and Skip Steve Chamberlain. It seemed whenever they were close to picking up shots the Cheshunt Skip, Steve Richardson, would spoil the show. As a result they went into the last end 8-25 down. But with his penultimate wood the Cheshunt Skip did it again as he cut down a six shot advantage to the Gold team down to two and when the Gold team’s Skip put his final would in the head they ended up with three shots and lost by 11 shots to 25.
D.Jackson, R.Hazeu & S.Arnold beat L.Buck, T.Whitebread & R.Goodley 23-13; J.Oliver, R.Harper & S.Chamberlain lost to A.Caylor, M.Smith & S.Richardson 11-25.

On Saturday our Turkey Farm green was one of four greens used by the County to host their Men’s 2 Wood Singles competition and after a closely fought Final, that had to go to an extra end, the winner was Steve Budge from Baldock, who beat John Godman from Garston 16-15. He now joins the Winners from the other three venues in the County Semi Finals at Hatfield on Thursday 19th July. We had two of our own members playing at home; Aaron Prowle and Derek Henley. Both got knocked out at the Quarter Final stage; Aaron lost to John Godman 16-18 after they too had to play an extra end and Derek lost to Mike Parsons, also from Baldock 9-16, who then got knocked out by Steve Budge at the Semi Final stage. We also had Mike Mahoney playing in this competition at Riverain. He got knocked out in the 1st Round by Chris Sherriff from Royston.

Datchworth 54 St Ippolytts 91
On another hot and sticky Sunday afternoon we travelled to St Ippolytts for a Stevenage and District Mixed Bowls League match and were beaten by 91 shots to 54. Most of our team struggled to find the right line and length and suffered in the process. June Russell, Richard and Annette Hutchinson and Skip Neil Mean only lost three more ends than they won but dropped too many multiple shots as they lost by 11 shots to 26. A similar fate befell Sylvia Barsby, Jim Russell, George Campbell and Skip Les Parsley in their 12 shots to 26 loss. It was a similar story for Edie Alden, Ian Tyler, Julian Hales and Skip Steve Chamberlain in their 11 shots to 27 loss. The only Rink to cope with the conditions and find their right line and length was that of Rachel Jones, John Oliver, John Alden and Skip Steve Arnold as they managed to lead for all but two of the ends played in their 20 shots to 12 win.
J.Russell, R.Hutchinson, A.Hutchinson & N.Mean lost to K.Stollery, T.Pateman, J.Godfrey & C.Davidson 11-26; S.Barsby, J.Russell, G.Campbell & L.Parsley lost to P.Owen, C.Farley, C.Richardson & C.Childs 12-26; E.Alden, I.Tyler, J.Hales & S.Chamberlain lost to J.Davies, T.Pay, P.Belton & J.Clark 11-27; R.Jones, J.Oliver, J.Alden & S.Arnold beat M.Saunders, J.Farley, K.Bounsall & T.Godden 20-12.

Website Report for 15 July 2018

The week started well on Monday night for four of our bowlers as Mike Mahoney, Steve Arnold, Les Parsley and Skip Peter Hills beat Phil Clewes-Garner, Robin Williams, Mark Hollis and Skip Don Fox, from Sawbridgeworth, 25-14 in the Semi Final of the County’s Men’s Senior Fours at Hatfield. They won four of the first six ends, to lead by 12 shots to 3 and never lost it and after picking up a shot on the penultimate end, to lead by 25 shots to 14, the Sawbridgeworth Four conceded. They now play a four from Oak Hill in the County Final to be held back at Hatfield on Monday 16th July.

There were two other matches played by us on Monday night; our Gold team were at home to Bengeo in an East Herts Bowls League Div.2 match and our Green team were away to Knebworth’s Yellow team in a Welwyn Hatfield Bowls League Div. 1 match.

Datchworth Gold 32 Bengeo 34
At our Turkey Farm green our Gold team lost a tight match by 32 shots to 34. George Campbell, Rob Hazeu and Skip Steve Chamberlain were behind for thirteen of the eighteen ends played and went into the penultimate end 12-14 down. They won both of them and by picking up two shots on the final end they edged it by 15 shots to 14. Graham Akers, Julian Hales and Skip Ian Williams trailed from the off and went into the penultimate end 11-20 down. They too won them both, but fell three shots short of drawing their game; after picking up a five on the penultimate end they picked a single shot on the final end and lost by 17 shots to 20.
G.Campbell, R.Hazeu & S.Chamberlain beat B.Cable, D.Kemp & W.Karn 15-14; G.Akers, J.Hales & I.Williams lost to D.Betty, B.Mansfield & P.Dougherty 17-20.

Datchworth Green 20 Knebworth Yellow 34
At Knebworth it did not go well for our Green team as they lost by 20 shots to 34. Sue Kiernan, Stuart Hay and Skip Derek Henley were 5-14 down with seven ends to play. They won five of those ends but still went down by 12 shots to 16. It was worse for Maurice Gordon, Bernie Drummond and Skip Jim Smith as they lost twice as many ends than they won and conceded more than twice as many shots than they won, as they lost by 8 shots to 18.
S.Kiernan, S.Hay & D.Henley lost to D.Woolf, C.Macleod & G.Stevens 12-16; M.Gordon, B.Drummond & J.Smith lost to R.Mahoney, B.Butler & R.Hughes 8-18.

We played two matches on Tuesday; in the afternoon we travelled to W.G.C’s Digswell Park green for a Mixed Friendly and in the evening our Blue team travelled to Hertford’s Hartham to play Hertingfordbury in an East Herts Bowls League Div. 1 match.

Datchworth 44 W.G.C. 47
At W.G.C’s Digswell Park green after some adjustments to the team, due to shortage of players we were beaten by 47 shots to 44. Dawn Kingsland, Graham Akers and Skip Ken Ryder lost twice as many ends than they won and conceded nearly twice as many shots than they won, as they lost by 11 shots to 20. Bill Thorne, Edie Alden and Skip Richard Harper led 7-1 after seven ends then proceeded to lose the next eight ends to trail 7-14. Despite winning the remaining three ends they still lost by 11 shots to 14. Dickie Jackson, Janet Akers, Steve Chamberlain and Skip John Alden lost the first three ends then won the next four to lead 11-5. They then lost just four more ends as they ran out winners by 22 shots to 13.
D.Kingsland, G.Akers & K.Ryder lost to S.Knight, D.Bedford & T.Hughes 11-20; B.Thorne, E.Alden & R.Harper lost to R.Wilsmore, T.Royall & S.West 11-14; D.Jackson, J.Akers, S.Chamberlain & J.Alden beat C.Royall, K.Chamberlain, P.Martin & L.Kilmister 22-13.

Datchworth Blue 34 Hertingfordbury 32
At Hartham, for the always tricky fixture against Hertingfordbury, our Blue team edged a tight match by 34 shots to 32. Bernie Drummond, Derek Henley and Skip Peter Hills struggled the whole game with their line and length, while the home team did not. But they did pick up four shots on the final to reduce their losing margin to 13-20. Mike Mahoney, Les Parsley and Skip Ken Hammond took the lead after four ends and held onto it till the end. Picking up seven shots over the closing two ends helped them to a 21 shots to 12 win.
B.Drummond, D.Henley & P.Hills lost to R.Hankin, K.Edmonds & J.Dunne 13-20; M.Mahoney, L.Parsley & K.Hammond beat C.Streaker, T.Hartfield & J.Smith 21-12.

Datchworth Green 40 Parkside Greens 35
On Thursday night our Green team played Parkside Greens in the Quarter Final of Welwyn Hatfield Bowls League’s John Brown Trophy and with one Triple at home and one away they won through to the Semi Final by 40 shots to 35. At our Turkey Farm green Janet Mahoney, Bernie Drummond and Skip Les Parsley won the first two ends, picking up a six and a five, to lead 11-0. They then shared the rest of the eighteen ends equally as they ran out winners by 28 shots to 9. At W.G.C’s KGV greens Maurice Gordon, Andrew Phillips and Skip Jim Smith led 6-1 after four ends but they went 8-9 down after eleven ends. From there things went from bad to worse as they dropped fifteen shots, including a seven on the fourteenth end, to end up losing by 12 shots to 26.
J.Mahoney, B.Drummond & L.Parsley beat B.Fuller, S.Calladine & B.Draycutt 28-9; M.Gordon, A.Phillips & J.Smith lost to P.Jones, M.Lewis & C.Jones 12-26.

Datchworth 100 Bengeo 33
On another baking hot Saturday afternoon Bengeo, for the second time this week, were the visitors to the Turkey Farm, this time it was for a Mixed Friendly and after some team adjustments which involved us loaning them two players, Peter Hills and John Oliver, the match was played with three Triples and one Pair, we came out on top by 100 shots to 33. Chris Hills, Neil Mean and Skip Steve Chamberlain only lost three ends as they cruised to a 34 shot to 3 win. Richard and Annette Hutchinson and Skip Steve Arnold won twice as many ends than they lost and won by nearly twice as many shots than they dropped 23 shots to 13. Another Triple to win twice as many ends than they lost was that of Rachel Jones, Chas Townley and Ian Williams; who won by 25 shots to 9. In the Pairs Graham Akers and Skip Richard Harper won the first three ends and were never caught as they ran out winners by 18 shots to 8.
C.Hills, N.Mean & S.Chamberlain beat B.Tait, J.Arch & B.Grimmett 34-3; R.Hutchinson, A.Hutchinson & S.Arnold beat R.Grimmett, J.Oliver & P.Dougherty 23-13; R.Jones, C.Townley & I.Williams beat D.Robbins, D.Betty & P.Hills 25-9; G.Akers & R.Harper beat A.Moyle & B.Cable 18-8.

The Friendly matches against Norton, on Wednesday afternoon, and North Herts, on Friday afternoon, were both cancelled. The Stevenage and District Mixed Bowls League match against Knebworth on Sunday was postponed due t the World Cup Final.

Website Report for 22 July 2018

Things did not go well for the two “Firsts” on Monday night for our bowlers.
First, Mike Mahoney, Steve Arnold, Les Parsley and Skip Peter Hills were our first representatives in the Senior Fours County Finals held at Hatfield Bowls Club. They did not play as well as when they won their Semi Final at the same green a week before and despite winning the first four ends and picking up a 6 halfway through the game they were eventually out-bowled by their opponents, John Abson, David Bowler, Terry Doe and Skip Chris Gray from Oak Hill, and lost by 16 shots to 21. As Winners they now go on to represent the County in the National Finals at Royal Leamington Spa early in August.

Datchworth Men 13 Buntingford Men 56
The second “First” was the first match back in the Men’s County League for over a decade and that ended in defeat as well. With the team strength not helped by the absence of the four in the Senior Fours Final they lost 13-56 to the Men from Buntingford. Dickie Jackson, Rob Hazeu, Derek Henley and Skip Ken Hammond could only manage four winning ends as they were comprehensively beaten by 4 shots to 37. Robin Gray, Bernie Drummond, Steve Chamberlain and Skip Jim Smith fared somewhat better as they won seven ends and tied two as they lost by 9 shots to 19.
D.Jackson, R.Hazeu, D.Henley & K.Hammond lost to P.Warren, V.Greenberg, S.Wake & M.Plume 4-37; R.Gray, B.Drummond, S.Chamberlain & J.Smith lost to R.Evans, T.Keeling, D.Murphy & G.Warrender 9-19.

Datchworth 64 Harperbury 60
On Wednesday afternoon Harperbury were the visitors to the Turkey Farm for a Mixed Friendly and after some team adjustments and the match shortened because of a late start, they were narrowly beaten by 64 shots to 60. Howard Carrick, Bill Thorne, Chris Hills and Skip Chas Townley lost three more ends than they won and lost by three shots, 13-16. Dickie Jackson, Maureen Ward, Rob Hazeu and Skip Steve Chamberlain won the first four ends, to lead 6-0, but were caught three ends later. They then won all but the final two ends to win by 19 shots to 12. Dawn Kingsland, Julian Hales and Skip John Alden lost the first four ends, to trail 0-7, but they fought back, picking up several multiple shots in the process, to win by 27 shots to 13. Edie Alden, Robin Dickinson (borrowed from Harperbury for the afternoon, as we were short of players.), Neil Mean & Skip Richard Harper lost the first six ends, to trail 0-6, and never got back in the hunt, eventually losing by 5 shots to 19.
H.Carrick, B.Thorne, C.Hills & C.Townley lost to S.Swain, E.Williams, J.Terry & M.Langley 13-16; D.Jackson, M.Ward, R.Hazeu & S.Chamberlain beat T.Plummer, M.Wicker, K.Williams & J.Terry 19-16; D.Jackson, J.Hales & J.Alden beat S.Ibson, G.Carr & S.Allen 27-13; E.Alden, R.Dickinson, N.Mean & R.Harper lost to A.Parkin, N.Carr, D.Leggatt & K.Kalder 5-19.

We played two matches on Thursday night, both away; our Gold team travelled to Much Hadham for an East Herts Bowls League Div. 2 match, while our Green team travelled to W.G.C’s KGV green to play B.S.P. in a Welwyn Hatfield Bowls League Div. 1 match.

Datchworth Gold 17 Much Hadham Eagles 36
At Much Hadham things did not go well for our Gold team as they lost by 17 shots to 38. Dickie Jackson, Ian Williams and Skip Steve Chamberlain lost twice as many ends than they won and dropped more than twice as many shots than they won in their 7-16 loss. Things did not go much better for George Campbell, Julian Hales and Skip Richard Harper as despite only losing two more ends than they won they too dropped more than twice as many shots than they won in their 10 shots to 22 loss.
D.Jackson, I.Williams & S.Chamberlain lost to H.Platt, F.Pavey & R.Grethe 7-16; G.Campbell, J.Hales & R.Harper lost to J.Stott, K.Howlett & G.Penny 10-22.

Datchworth Green 32 B.S.P. 33
Against B.S.P. our Green team were involved in a tight match that resulted in a one shot loss, 32-33. It was a game of two halves for Robin Gray, Gill Parsley and Skip Jim Smith. They lost all but one of the first nine ends, including dropping a six on the seventh end and trailed 1-19 as a result. In the second half they won seven of the nine ends but only managed to reduce their losing deficit down to 10 shots to 24. Things went a lot better for Janet and Mike Mahoney and Skip Les Parsley as they restricted their opponents to just two winning ends over the first fifteen ends and led 22-5 as a result. But they lost the closing three ends and had their winning margin cut to 22-9.
R.Gray, G.Parsley & J.Smith lost to M.Nottage, B.Clark & G.Smith 10-24; J.Mahoney, M.Mahoney & L.Parsley beat G.Medcalf, B.Reeves & D.Miller 22-9.

We also played two matches on Friday night, this time both at our Turkey Farm green and both against Sawbridgeworth; one against their Men in the Men’s County League and the other against their Ladies in the Ladies’ County League. Also on Friday night Aaron Prowle played in a Men’s Under 30 Singles Semi Final at Hatfield against Aaron Langley from Harperbury and beat by 21 shots to 6. He now plays Bryn Evans from W.G.C. in the County Final at Bishop’s Stortford on Saturday 29th July.

Datchworth Men 48 Sawbridgeworth Men 26
Our Men, playing their second MCL of the week, won by 48 shots to 26. Mike Mahoney, Steve Arnold, Les Parsley and Skip Peter Hills won twice as many ends than they lost and won by more than twice as many shots in their 27 shots to 12 win. It was a tighter game for Bernie Drummond, Steve Chamberlain, Derek Henley and Skip Ken Hammond. They won six of the first eight ends to lead by 11 shots to 5, they then lost six of the next seven ends to trail by 12 shots to 13, they then won all but one of the closing six ends to win by 21 shots to 14.
M.Mahoney, S.Arnold, L.Parsley & P.Hills beat R.Marshall, I.Casey, K.Thompson & M.Clark 27-12; B.Drummond, S.Chamberlain, D.Henley & K.Hammond beat T.Wright, J.Birch, D.Grimlett & M.Harris 21-14.

Datchworth Ladies 12 Sawbridgeworth Ladies 26
Our Ladies, Rachel Jones, Sue Kiernan, June Russell and Skip Chris Hills lost the end-count 9-12; after winning their ninth end they were 12-16 down, but they still had five ends to play. They lost all of those, including dropping a five on the final end, to lose by 12 shots to 26.
R.Jones, S.Kiernan, J.Russell & C.Hills lost to S.Edwards, A.Nicholls, B.Levey & H.Carson 12-26.

Datchworth 58 Hitchin Town 75
On Saturday afternoon we travelled to Bancroft Gardens to play Hitchin Town in a Mixed Friendly and returned home after losing by 58 shots to 75. John Oliver, Julian Hales and Skip Ken Ryder picked up a five on the second end, to lead 5-2, but by the tenth end they were 8-12 down. They then only lost a further two ends as they won by 20 shots to 16. Dave Munro (borrowed from Hitchin for the afternoon to help balance the numbers), Chris Hills and Skip Steve Arnold lost the first two ends then won the following four to lead by 9 shots to 4. Despite losing eight of the remaining twelve ends they held onto their lead to win by 16 shots to 14. Bill Thorne, Sylvia Barsby and Skip Peter Hills lost twice as many ends than they won and dropped more than twice as many shots than they won in their 10-27 loss. Dawn Kingsland, Rob Hazeu and Skip Chas Townley led 5-3 after five ends but they only managed to win another three ends as they lost by 12 shots to 18.
J.Oliver, J.Hales & K.Ryder beat J.Morris, R.Andrews, R.Thorpe & K.Spendelow 20-16; D.Munro, C.Hills & S.Arnold beat L.Stokes, G.Munge & R.Hayes 16-14; B.Thorne, S.Barsby & P.Hills lost to A.Newbury, K.Gray & B.Joshua 10-27; D.Kingsland, R.Hazeu & C.Townley lost to K.Loosemore, I.Page & A.Hill 12-18.

Datchworth 108 Sele Farm 113
Sele Farm were the visitors to the Turkey Farm on Sunday afternoon for a Mixed Friendly and beat us by 113 shots to 108. Maureen Ward, Jim Russell and Skip George Campbell won the first two ends and held the lead until they dropped two shots on the sixteenth end, to trail by 15 shots to 16. But they picked two twos of their own on the closing two ends to win by 19 shots to 16. Susan Wray, Rachel Jones and Skip Derek Henley led 6-3 after five ends and then 11-10 after eleven ends, nut losing the next three ends, dropping two shots each time, meant they were 11-16 down with four ends to play. They shared those ends equally and lost by 16 shots to 18. Edie Alden, Neil Mean and Skip Bernie Drummond had a disastrous start and found themselves 0-12 down after just four ends. They won the next four ends to trail by 10 shots to 12, lost the next five ends to trail 10-24. They then won all but one of the closing five ends to lose by 19 shots to 25. Bill Thorne, Annette Hutchinson and Skip John Alden took the lead briefly 8-6 on the eighth ends after picking up four shots. But they only won three more ends after that and lost by 15 shots 20.Richard Hutchinson, June Russell and Skip Ken Hammond were level for the third time at 12 shots apiece on the eleventh end, but they dropped a five on the next end and never caught up, eventually losing by 18 shots to 21. Dawn Kingsland, John Oliver and Skip Les Parsley took the lead on the fourth end and never lost it as they ran out winners by 21 shots to 13.
M.Ward, J.Russell & G.Campbell beat D.Bunkell, J.Sell & D.Lee 19-16; S.Wray, R.Jones & D.Henley lost to M.Lake, P.Ottley & J.Lake 16-18; E.Alden, N.Mean & B.Drummond lost to P.Daniels, J.Parsley & H.Wright 19-25; B.Thorne, A.Hutchinson & J.Alden lost to S.Lacey, J.Daniels & M.Sell 15-20; R.Hutchinson, J.Russell & K.Hammond lost to L.Bunkell, D.Lacey & S.Kelly 18-21; D.Kingsland, J.Oliver & L.Parsley beat P.Wright, J.Martin & E.Lundy 21-13.

Website Report for 29 July 2018

Yet another busy week on bowling for our members, with 10 matches to be played, started on Monday night with both of our Welwyn Hatfield Bowls League teams in action in the Quarter Finals of the League’s Jubilee Cup; our Green team were home and away to Sele Farm and our Yellow team were home and away to Welwyn Garden City’s Crusaders team.

Datchworth Green 39 Sele Farm 34
At our Turkey Farm green Janet Mahoney, Bernie Drummond, Mike Mahoney and Skip Les Parsley only won one of the first six ends and trailed 1-12 as a result. Six ends later they got within one shot 13-14, but never managed to overtake their opposition, eventually losing by 16 shots to 22. At Sele Farm’s home green on Hertford’s Hartham Sue Kiernan, Neil Mean, Jim Smith and Skip Derek Henley only lost three of the first fourteen ends and led 16-3 as a result. They then dropped a seven on the next end before winning four of the remaining six ends as they ran out winners by 23 shots to 12. Which combined with their home rink’s score was enough to put them into the Semi Finals with an overall win by 39 shots to 34.
J.Mahoney, B.Drummond, M.Mahoney & L.Parsley lost to M.Sell, H.Ottley, P.Ottley & M.Jones 16-22;
S.Kiernan, N.Mean, J.Smith & D.Henley beat K.Hegley, E.Dunne, D.Lee & J.Dunne 23-12.

Datchworth Yellow 27 W.G.C. Crusaders 45
It was not such a good night for our Yellow team as their home Rink of Dawn Kingsland, Bill Thorne, Julian Hales and Skip Ian Williams took nine ends to get off the mark and by that time they were 0-12 down. They won another four ends before losing by 6 shots to 27. At W.G.C’s Digswell Park green Graham Akers, Jim Russell, Chris Hills and Skip Richard Harper won all but two of the first thirteen ends and led comfortably by 20 shots to 3. The home Rink then got their act together after that, winning all but one of the remaining seven ends and dramatically reduced their shot deficit down to 21-18. This was enough to see the Crusaders’ team through to the Semi Final by 45 shots to 27.
D.Kingsland, B.Thorne, J.Hales & I.Williams lost to J.Chennells, G.Gladwell, G.Walton & A.Budge 6-27; G.Akers, J.Russell, C.Hills & R.Harper beat C.Parkhouse, B.Jones, R.West & S.West 21-18.

On Tuesday night both of our Welwyn Hatfield Bowls League teams were in action again, this time in League action and both at home on their Turkey Farm green; their Green team against W.G.C. Knights in a Div.1 match and their Yellow team against Hertford Castle’s Harlequins team.

Datchworth Green 43 W.G.C. Knights 24
Our Green team won by 43 shots to 24. Robin Gray, Andrew Phillips and Skip Derek Henley lost three of the first nine ends, to lead 16-5, and then they lost three more of the remaining nine ends as they won by 25 shots to 10. Bernie Drummond, Neil Mean and Skip Les Parsley lost the end-count 8-10 but managed to win by 18 shots to 14 thanks to picking up 6 shots on the fifteenth end and 3 on the final end.
R.Gray, A.Phillips & D.Henley beat P.Roach, R.Collins & D.Hegarty 25-10; B.Drummond, N.Mean & L.Parsley beat J.Gibbs, T.Strickland & R.Edwards 18-14.

Datchworth Yellow 33 Harlequins 39
Our Yellow team lost by 33 shots to 39. Dawn Kingsland, Julian Hales and Skip Ken Ryder won eight of the first ten ends to lead by 17 shots to 5. It was a lead they never lost as they won by 20 shots to 13. Bill Thorne, George Campbell and Skip Ian Williams took the lead 4-3 on the fourth end and held it until dropping a five on the fourteen end, to trail 13-17. They also dropped a six on the sixteenth end on their way to losing by 13 shots to 26.
B.Thorne, G.Campbell & I.Williams lost to Y.Arber, S.Crowther & M.Rhodes 13-26; D.Kingsland, J.Hales & K.Ryder beat .Cheshire, J.Arber & T.Deane 20-13.

Datchworth 29 Allenburys 49
On Wednesday night we had to postpone the Stevenage and District Mixed Bowls League match against Riverain as it clashed with a “Play on date” for the East Herts Bowls League Ranson Cup match we had to play against Allenburys; with one Rink at home and one away. At our Turkey Farm green Mike Mahoney, Steve Chamberlain, Steve Arnold and Skip Les Parsley won the first three ends, to lead 5-0, then they only won five of the following sixteen ends to go 16-19 down. They got their act together in time to win the closing two ends, including picking up three on the final end, to edge their leg of the tie by 20 shots to 19. It was a different story for Dickie Jackson, Rob Hazeu, Derek Henley and Skip Ken Hammond at Allenburys’ green. They only managed to win six ends in total and dropped numerous multi shots as they were crushed 9-30.
M.Mahoney, S.Chamberlain, S.Arnold & L.Parsley beat F.McGinlay, D.Evans, D.Smith & D.Pyne 20-19; D.Jackson, R.Hazeu, D.Henley & K.Hammond lost to D.Bowie, A.Rowley, J.Brinklow & C.Bowie 9-30.

There were two matches played by our teams on Thursday night; our Blue team played Allenburys for the second night in a row, this time it was in an East Herts Bowls League Div.1 match at the Turkey Farm and our Yellow team travelled to Kimpton for a Welwyn Hatfield Bowls League Div.2 match.

Datchworth Yellow 32 Kimpton 33
At Kimpton it could be a case of dropping two 5s that cost the Yellow team their match. Dickie Jackson, Ian Williams and Skip Ken Ryder dropped a 5 on the fifteenth end, to go 13-17, but they won the remaining three ends, to come from behind and win by 21 shots to 17. For Chris Hills, Richard Harper and Skip Steve Chamberlain they dropped their 5 on the very last end to lose by 11 shots to 16. As a result the Yellow team lost by the odd shot 32-33.
D.Jackson, I.Williams & K.Ryder beat J.Robinson, W.Phillips & A.Lennox 21-17; C.Hills, R.Harper & S.Chamberlain lost to D.Matthews, R.Matthews & P.Matthews 11-16.

Datchworth 27 Allenburys 41
The match against Allenburys did not go well, again, for the Blue team as it ended in a 27 shot to 41 defeat. Mike Mahoney, Les Parsley and Skip Peter Hills won the first four ends, to lead by 6 shots to 0, and they kept their noses n front until they dropped a three on the penultimate end and were caught at 13 shots apiece. They then dropped two more shots on the final end to lose by 13 shots to 15. Bernie Drummond, Derek Henley and Skip Ken Hammond did not get off the mark till the seventh end, by that time they were 0-19 down. Once they got off the mark they did win eight of the remaining twelve ends but they still lost by 14 shots to 26.
M.Mahoney, S.Chamberlain, S.Arnold & L.Parsley beat F.McGinlay, D.Evans, D.Smith & D.Pyne 20-19; D.Jackson, R.Hazeu, D.Henley & K.Hammond lost to D.Bowie, A.Rowley, J.Brinklow & C.Bowie 9-30.

Datchworth’s Men 67 Riverain’s Men 62
On Friday night, with rain, thunder and lightning replacing the oppressive heat of the past weeks, our Men were in action again, this time in Letchworth and District Bowling Association’s Cairns Cup; with two Triples at home and two away they did enough to win through to play Royston’s Men in the Semi Finals with a 67 shots to 62 win against their counterparts from Riverain. At our Turkey Farm green Bernie Drummond, Neil Mean and Skip Steve Arnold trailed from the second end until they drew level, at 11 apiece, on the fifteenth. They then won the closing three ends to win by 17 shots to 11. Things started badly for Graham Akers, Derek Henley and Ken Hammond as they lost the first five ends to go 0-6 down. They picked up 7 shots on the eighth end to take the lead 9-8. From then on things went their way as they gradually built up a decent lead and eventually ran out winners by 23 shots to 13. At Riverain’s green Rob Hazeu, Richard Harper and Skip Les Parsley won five of the first seven ends to lead by 6 shots to 3, but were caught at 12 apiece on the fourteenth end, then went 12-13 down on the next end. They then won the closing three ends to win by 17 shots to 13. John Oliver, Steve Chamberlain and Skip Peter Hills did not do as well as despite losing the end-count 7-11 they dropped too many multiple shots and as a result they lost heavily by 10 to 25.
B.Drummond, N.Mean & S.Arnold beat C.Smith, C.Thurstance & R.Else 17-11; G.Akers, D.Henley & K.Hammond beat M.Gray, S.Walton & G.Chaplin 23-13; R.Hazeu, R.Harper & L.Parsley beat T.Boon, B.Armstrong & B.Mills 17-13; J.Oliver, S.Chamberlain & P.Hills lost to S.Phillips, G.Brown & D.Jefferies 10-25.

Datchworth 63 Willian 60
On Saturday afternoon we travelled to Letchworth’s Norton Common to play Willian in a Stevenage and District Mixed Bowls League match and came away with a narrow 63 shots to 60 win. Chris Hills, John Oliver and Steve Arnold were just 6-3 ahead after eight ends then they picked up a 6 and a 5 on the next two ends, to lead 17-3, and by the thirteenth end they were 21-5 ahead. They never won and end after that and had their winning margin reduced to 21-13. Edie Alden, John Alden and Skip Les Parsley won twice as many ends as they lost as they won by 18 shots to 6. Rob Hazeu, Steve Chamberlain and Skip Derek Henley led 6-0 after three ends before they lost eight ends in a row to go 6-16 down. They cut that deficit down to 15-16 with three ends to play. But they lost those three ends to lose by 15 shots to 23. But because they were an all-male Triple they had to suffer the League’s shot deduction rule for playing an all-male Triple and their final adjusted score was 11-23. Rachel Jones, Neil Mean and Skip Peter Hills only lost the end-count 8-10 and if they had not dropped a 6 on the fourth end they might not have lost by 13 shots to 18.
C.Hills, J.Oliver & S.Arnold beat G.Dann, J.Avis & K.Savill 21-13; E.Alden, J.Alden & L.Parsley beat J.Packham, P.Clayton & D.Gough 18-6; R.Hazeu, S.Chamberlain & D.Henley lost to P.Hemmings, B.Johnson & S.Salmon 11-23; R.Jones, N.Mean & P.Hills lost to D.Mann, A.Kitchener & M.Thrush 13-18.

Datchworth versus Kimpton
Our final match of the week on Sunday afternoon at home to Kimpton was called off because of the predicted bad weather.

Website Report for 5 August 2018

Datchworth Blue 36 Whit Hern Blues 39
On Monday night Whit Hern Blues were the visitors to our Turkey Farm green for an East Herts Bowls League Div. 1 match against our Blue team and beat them by 39 shots to 36. Mike Mahoney, Les Parsley and Skip Peter Hills dropped a six on the second end and remained behind until they picked up five shots on the sixteenth end, to lead by 19 shots to 17. They then won the penultimate end as well, but lost the final end as they won by the odd shot 20-19. Maurice Gordon, Derek Henley and Skip Ken Hammond won just two of the first eight ends and trailed 3-13 as a result. They got their act together and won all but three of the remaining ten ends to reduce their losing deficit down to 16-20.
M.Mahoney, L.Parsley & P.Hills beat A.Bruton, G.Noto & S.Kenway 20-19; M.Gordon, D.Henley & K.Hammond lost to A.Georgiou, A.Napier & R.Jones 16-20.

Datchworth 66 Hitchin Town 59
Tuesday afternoon saw Hitchin Town visit our Turkey Farm green for a Mixed Friendly and they returned home after being beaten by 66 shots to 59. Edie Alden, Ian Tyler and Skip Neil Mean edged a close game by 15 shots to 14 after winning the end-count 10-8. Charles Eggington, Sylvia Barsby and Skip Ken Ryder lost the first three ends before restricting their opponents to three more winning ends to come home by 19 shots to 13. Linda Tyler, John Alden and Skip Steve Arnold picked up four 3s in the first eight ends, to lead 13-4. This was good for them as they only won another four ends but still held on to win by 19 shots to 12. Our only losing Triple was that of Howard Carrick, Graham Akers and Skip Richard Harper. They lost to a Triple aided and abetted by our own Peter Hill, who stepped in to make up the visitors numbers, and he helped them to a 20 shot to 13 win.
E.Alden, I.Tyler & N.Mean beat G.Stanton, P.Loosemore, B.Richards 15-14; C.Eggington, S.Barsby & K.Ryder beat L.Morris, K.Loosemore & G.Munge 19-13; L.Tyler, J.Alden & S.Arnold beat G.Evans, R.Cole & K.Milan 19-12; H.Carrick, G.Akers & R.Harper lost to J.Morris, P.Hills & A.Jennison 13-20.

Datchworth 73 Stevenage Town 65
On Wednesday night we postponed a Stevenage and District Mixed Bowls League match against Stevenage Town to play them in the Semi Final of the League’s Knock Out competition and with two Mixed Triples at home and two away we won through to the Final with a 73 shots to 65 win. At our Turkey Farm green Chris Hills, Neil Mean and Skip Steve Arnold could do no wrong in the first five end as they picked up three 3s and a 6, while dropping just one shot, to lead by 15 shots to 1. They, however, did not do nearly so well over the remaining thirteen ends as they won only three of them. But they did enough to ensure they held on to their lead and won by 20 shots to 17. The other home Triple of June Russell, Richard Harper and Skip Peter Hills had a much easier time of it as they lost only four ends as they ran out winners by 22 shots to 7. At Stevenage’ green Rachel Jones, Bernie Drummond and Skip Les Parsley led for all but four ends of their game as they won by 19 shots to 15. Sue Kiernan, Steve Chamberlain and Skip Derek Henley won the first end then lost the following six, to trail 3-16. They never recovered and eventually lost by 12 shots to 26.
C.Hills, N.Mean & S.Arnold beat D.Emery, J.Holmes & M.Emery 20-17; J.Russell, R.Harper & P.Hills beat J.Orme, S.Howson & T.Stout 22-7; R.Jones, B.Drummond & L.Parsley beat R.Woolstenholm, W.Taylor & S.Moodey 19-15; S.Kiernan, S.Chamberlain & D.Henley lost to S.Winters, P.Marsh & J.Winters 12-26.
Both of our Welwyn Hatfield Bowls League teams were in action on Thursday night, our Div. 1 Green team were at home to Knebworth Yellow in a re-arranged match while our Div. 2 Yellow team travelled the short distance to Tewin to play Shire Park.

Datchworth Green 49 Knebworth Yellow 24
At our Turkey Farm green our Green team beat their near neighbours by 49 shots to 24. Sue Kiernan, Neil Mean and Skip Jim Smith dropped a 6 on the seventh end, to go 3-11down. Despite picking up a 5 on the ninth end they could not quite get the better of their opposition and lost by 18 shots to 19. It was basically one way traffic for Jane Mahoney, Bernie Drummond and Skip Mike Mahoney as they only lost four ends as they won handsomely by 31 shots to 5.
S.Kiernan, N.Mean & J.Smith lost to R.Mahoney, B.Butler & G.Stevens 18-19; J.Mahoney, B.Drummond & M.Mahoney beat J.Jeronson, R.Hughes & J.Matthews 31-5.

Datchworth Yellow 36 Shire Park 24
At Shire Park’s green it was a more straight forward affair for our Yellow team as they won by 36 shots to 24. Rachel Jones, Rob Hazeu and Skip Steve Chamberlain won the first three ends, to lead by 6 shots to 0 and despite being caught twice, at 9 apiece after eight ends and 12 apiece after twelve ends they retook the lead both times and held on the second time to win by 19-15. Graham Akers, Julian Hales and Skip Richard Harper won the first two ends and although they only led 2-0 after that they never lost the lead and eventually ran out winners by 17 shots to 9.
R.Jones, R.Hazeu & S.Chamberlain beat E.Williams, T.Crane & B.Sinfield 19-15; G.Akers, J.Hales & R.Harper beat D.Williams, J.Hill & M.Reeve 17-9.

It was County League action for both our Ladies and Men on Friday night as they both travelled to Bishop’s Stortford to take on their counterparts.

Datchworth Ladies 27 Bishop’s Stortford Ladies 13
Our Ladies continued their best run of form in the League as Janet Mahoney, Sue Kiernan, Rachel Jones and Skip Chris Hills won all but two of the first eleven ends to lead by 19 shots to 2. After that the ends were shared equally and they were never in trouble of losing their lead as they ran out impressive winners by 27 shots to 13.
J.Mahoney, S.Kiernan, R.Jones & C.Hills beat R.Felstead, P.Cracknell, J.Helm & A.Ball 27-13.

Datchworth Men 42 Bishop’s Stortford Men 42
For our Men it was a much closer affair as they drew 42 shots apiece. Aaron Prowle, Steven Hunter, Derek Henley and Skip Ken Hammond dropped a 6 on the seventh end to trail 3-13. They won six ends on the trot, from the eighth end through to the fifteenth, including picking up a 5 on the thirteenth end, to lead 17-14. With two ends to play they led 20-18, but by dropping a shot and a 4 on the closing two ends they lost by 20 shots to 23. Mike Mahoney, Steve Arnold, Les Parsley and Skip Peter Hills were still to finish at that point. They had picked up a 6 on the fifth end on their way to a 12 shot to 4 lead after eight ends. It got somewhat tighter after that as the home rink fought back to go into the final end just one shot down. On the final end Steve Arnold put his two woods close to the Jack and try as they may the home side could not move them so they picked up 2 shots to win by 22 shots to 19. That was enough to draw the match 42 shots apiece.
A.Prowle, S.Hunter, D.Henley & K.Hammond lost to A.Yarborough, D.Hunt, A.Hutchinson & S.Lepley 20-23; M.Mahoney, S.Arnold, L.Parsley & P.Hills beat C.Ball, D.Booth, D.Chandler & G.Thompson 22-19.

Datchworth v Three Horseshoes
This match was postponed on Saturday afternoon as Three Horseshoes could not get a full team out. Hopefully a date later in the season will be found to play it on.

Datchworth 108 Hoddesdon and Rye Park 64
On yet another hot and sultry Sunday afternoon Hoddesdon and Rye Park were the visitors to our Turkey Farm green for a Mixed Friendly and after an afternoon of adjusting to a faster green than their own they went home following a 108 shot to 64 defeat. Dickie Jackson, Susan Wray, June Russell and Skip Ian Tyler won the first two ends and were never troubled as they ran out winners by 22 shots to 12. Edie Alden, Derrick Elms (replaced by Phil Berry at half time), Jim Russell and Skip Julian Hales only won seven ends, picking up six 1s and a 6, in their 12 shot to 22 loss. Rachel Jones, Richard Hutchinson, Jean Cooper and Skip Richard Harper lost the first four ends to trail 0-8. But they fought back and restricted their opposition to just another four winning ends as they came from behind to by 16 shots to 12. Dawn Kingsland, John Oliver, Neil Mean and Skip Bernie Drummond picked up a 5 on the fourth end and a 7 on the tenth end on their way to a more than comfortable 32 shots to 9 win. It was a similar story for George Campbell, Bill Thorne, Annette Hutchinson and Skip John Alden as they picked up three 4s on their way to winning by 26 shots to 9.
D.Jackson, S.Wray, J.Russell & I.Tyler beat A.Bull, M.Read, M.Smith & R.Rogers 22-12; E.Alden, D.Elms/P.Berry, J.Russell & J.Hales lost to J.Potter, R.Wells, M.Wilkins & C.Milner 12-22; R.Jones, R.Hutchinson, J.Cooper & R.Harper beat T.Potter, S.Metzner, T.Lacey & B.Hayter 16-12; D.Kingsland, J.Oliver, N.Mean & B.Drummond beat B.Metzner, J.Matthews, M.Mountfield & D.Stevenson 32-9; G.Campbell, B.Thorne, A.Hutchinson & J.Alden beat T.Andrews, T Scales, A.Mountfield & T.Eldridge 26-9.

Website Report for 12 August 2018

We started our week of bowling on Monday night with both of our East Herts teams in action; our Div. 1 Blue team were away to Rosehill Badgers and our Div. 2 Gold team were away to Stevenage Blue.

Datchworth Blue 31 Rosehill Badgers 39
At Rosehill’s green the Blue team went down 31-39. Robin Gray, Ken Hammond and Skip Derek Henley lost the first three ends, to trail 0-7. They fought back to win seven of the remaining ends but remained behind all the way until they lost by 16 shots to 21. It was closer for Mike Mahoney, Richard Brewster and Skip Peter Hills. They picked up a 6 on the fifth end, to lead 9-5 and kept their noses in front until they dropped one shot on each of the last four ends to lose by 15 shots to 17.
R.Gray, K.Hammond & D.Henley lost to C.Walker, C.Bartlett & M.Songer 16-21; M.Mahoney, R.Brewster & P.Hills lost to T.Gudge, R.Pateman & D.Ayres 15-17.

Datchworth Gold 43 Stevenage Blue 18
At Stevenage’s KGV greens our Gold team won by 43-18. Dickie Jackson, Rob Hazeu and Skip Steve Chamberlain led 6-3 after eight ends before losing the following five ends, to trail 6-9. They then picked up a 6 on the fourteenth to lead 12-9. It was a lead they never lost as they won the remaining four ends to win by 19 shots to 9. Graham Akers, Richard Harper and Skip Steve Arnold lost the first end then won the next eight to lead 17-2. They never lost the lead either and ran out winners by 24 shots to 9.
D.Jackson, R.Hazeu & S.Chamberlain beat J.Holmes, A.Shackell & G.Morris 19-9; G.Akers, R.Harper & S.Arnold beat B.Fletcher, T.Hemmings & J.Winters 24-9.

On Tuesday night both of our County League teams were playing their final League match of the season, our Ladies team were at home to the Ladies from Hertford Castle and our Men were away to the Men of Ware.

Datchworth Ladies 12 Hertford Castle Ladies 27
At our Turkey Farm green our Ladies completed their best season so far in the League with a playing record of Played 6, Won 3 and Lost 3 and a total of 6 Points. Having gone through most previous seasons with just one or no wins, this season has been most rewarding for them. Annette Hutchinson, Linda Tyler, June Russell and Skip Chris Hills won just two of the first ten ends, to trail 2-17, but then went on to win seven of the remaining eleven ends to lose by 12 shots to 27.
A.Hutchinson, L.Tyler, J.Russell & C.Hills lost to M.Edgar, M.Mizon, A.Crowther & W.Butt 12-27.

Datchworth Men 44 Ware Men 27
At Ware our Men finished their first season back in the County League with a decent playing record of Played 4, Won 2, Drawn 1 and Lost 1 and a total of 15 Points, following their 44 shots to 27 win. Mike Mahoney, Steve Arnold, Les Parsley and Skip Peter Hills lost the first three ends, to trail 0-4. They then found their line and length and restricted the home rink to five more winning ends as they won by 27 shots to 11. It was a much tighter game for Derek Henley, Steve Chamberlain, Steven Hunter and Skip Jim Smith. They went 2-8 down after six ends before they too found their form and fought back and won nine of the remaining fifteen ends to edge a tight game by the odd shot 17-16.
M.Mahoney, S.Arnold, L.Parsley & P.Hills beat R.Cracknell, E.Wright, G.Indge & V.Goodey 27-11; D.Henley, S.Chamberlain, S.Hunter & J.Smith beat T.Baker, D.Edden, N.Wareham & S.Stow 17-16.

Datchworth Men 58 Royston Men 71
On Friday night our Men played their counterparts from Royston in Letchworth and District Bowling Association’s Cairns Cup, with two Triples at home and two away they went down by 58 shots to 71. At our own green Graham Akers, Rob Hazeu and Skip Derek Henley won the first four ends to lead 5-0. It was a lead they never lost as they won by 18 shots to 9. Bernie Drummond, Neil Mean and Skip Steve Arnold won all but two of the first ten ends to lead 19-5. They lead 24-6 with four ends to play but the wheels fell of their wagon dramatically as they lost those ends and dropped eleven shots in the process to win by 24 shots to 17. It was a different story at Royston’s green. Dickie Jackson, Richard Harper and Skip Les Parsley could only manage six winning ends as they lost by 8 shots to 27. 8 shots and six winning ends was also what Mike Mahoney, Steve Chamberlain and Skip Jim Smith could manage as they lost by 8 shots to 18.
G.Akers, R.Hazeu & D.Henley beat P.King, D.Sheriff & S.Kilford 18-9; B.Drummond, N.Mean & S.Arnold beat B.Pepper, D.Smith & P.Fisk 24-17; D.Jackson, R.Harper & L.Parsley lost to C.Moore, M.Skinner & S.Brown 8-27; M.Mahoney, S.Chamberlain & J.Smith lost to P.Archer, G.Parker–Brown, & A.Charter 8-18.

Datchworth 83 St Ippolytts 76
On Saturday afternoon St Ippolytts were the visitors to our Turkey Farm green for a Stevenage and District Mixed Bowls League match and were beaten by 83 shots to 76. Bernie Drummond, Maureen Ward, Julian Hales and Skip Steve Arnold fell 5-7 behind on the fifth end, after dropping a four. They remained behind by two or three shots for the rest of their game until they dropped a five on the final end to lose by 16 shots to 23. Dawn Kingsland, John Oliver, Ken Ryder and Skip Steve Chamberlain lost eight ends in a row to go from 3-4 down after five ends, to 3-20 down after thirteen ends. They never managed to catch up and finally lost by 11 shots to 27. Sue Kiernan, Jim Russell, Neil Mean and Skip Richard Harper won all but two of the first fourteen ends and built up a decent lead of 22 shots to 4. After that they won three more ends to win by 29 shots to 11. Sylvia Barsby, B.Thorne, Rob Hazeu and Skip Derek Henley picked up two 4s over the first nine ends and trailed 8-9. After that they found some form and won all but three of the remaining twelve ends in their impressive 27 shots to 15 win.
B.Drummond, M.Ward, J.Hales & S.Arnold lost to J.Davies, B.Impey, J.Dudley & J.Clark 16-23; D.Kingsland, J.Oliver, K.Ryder & S.Chamberlain lost to K.Stollery, C.Watson, J.Godfrey & C.Davidson 11-27; S.Kiernan, J.Russell, N.Mean & R.Harper beat C.Farley, C.Gardner, K.Bounsall & C.Childs 29-11; S.Barsby, B.Thorne, R.Hazeu & D.Henley beat M.Saunders, J.Farley, T.Godfrey & B.King 27-15.

Datchworth 52 Holwell 85
On Sunday afternoon we travelled to Holwell for a Stevenage and District Mixed Bowls League match and lost by 52 shots to 85. Maureen Ward, Graham Akers and Skip Steve Chamberlain could only manage six winning ends as they lost by 7 shots to 31. Dickie Jackson, Edie Alden and Skip Steve Arnold lost the end-count 8-10 but edged their game by two shots 14-12. Dawn Kingsland, George Campbell and Skip John Alden shared the ends equally but dropping two 5s and a 7 contributed to them losing by 10 shots to 27. Janet Akers, John Oliver and Skip Richard Harper were 7-10 down after the tenth end. They then won the next five ends to lead 19-10. They lost two of the closing three ends but still held on to win by 21 shots to 15.
M.Ward, G.Akers & S.Chamberlain lost to P.Gainsford, R.Waldock & J.O’Dell 7-31; D.Jackson, E.Alden & S.Arnold beat R.Brannan, S.Bailey & S.Trower 14-12; D.Kingsland, G.Campbell & J.Alden lost to M.Griffiths, P.Brodie & D.Sherriffs 10-27; J.Akers, J.Oliver & R.Harper beat D.Johnson, J.Brodie & D.Hooper 21-15.

Website Report for 19 August 2018

Datchworth 76 St Ippolytts 83
On Monday night we started our week of bowling by playing St Ippolytts in the Final of the Stevenage and District Mixed Bowls League Knock Out competition, with two Mixed Triples at home and two away, we lost by 76 shots to 83. It did not go well for both Triples at our own Turkey Farm green as both of them lost. Sue Kiernan, Dickie Jackson and Skip Derek Henley only won six ends as they lost by 8 shots to 26. Rachel Jones, Bernie Drummond and Skip Les Parsley did not fare much better as they only won seven ends as they lost by 10 shots to 25. Our only winning Triple was that of Chris Hills, Neil Mean and Skip Steve Arnold at St Ippolytts’ green. They were level for the second time at 9 apiece after eight ends. They then lost just three of the remaining ten ends to run out winners by 27 shots to 13.
S.Kiernan, D.Jackson & D.Henley lost to P.Owen, C.Richardson & C.Childs 8-26; R.Jones, B.Drummond & L.Parsley lost to P.Belton, J.Godfrey & C.Davidson 10-25; C.Hills, N.Mean & S.Arnold beat J.Davies, J.Clark & B.King 27-13; J.Russell, R.Harper & P.Hills lost to

Datchworth 58 Riverain 103
On Tuesday afternoon we travelled to Hitchin to play Riverain in a Stevenage and District Mixed Bowls League match and suffered another defeat as we lost by 58 shots to 103. Edie Alden, George Campbell, Robin Gray and Skip Steve Chamberlain lost seven ends in a row to go from 9-11 down after eight ends to 9-25 down after fifteen ends. They never got back in the hunt after that and lost by 16 shots to 30. Dawn Kingsland, Charles Eggington, John Alden and Skip Steve Arnold were 3-10 down after just four ends but they kept plugging away and after winning four of the closing five ends, including picking up 3 shots on the final end, they drew 20 shots apiece. This meant they had to play an extra end, which they lost. Ian Tyler, Graham Akers, Bernie Drummond and Skip Richard Harper could only manage six winning ends as they lost by 10 shots to 28. But after having four shots deducted, as they were an all-male Rink, their adjusted score was 6-28. Dickie Jackson, Linda Tyler, Neil Mean and Skip Richard Brewster only lost one more end than they won, but dropped too many multiple shots in their 16-25 defeat.
E.Alden, G.Campbell, R.Gray & S.Chamberlain lost to C.Smith. R.Cocks, M.Gray & G.Brown 16-30; D.Kingsland, C.Eggington, J.Alden & S.Arnold drew with A.Tresise, J.Copeland, D.Pearce & R.Clay 20 all; I.Tyler, G.Akers, B.Drummond & R.Harper lost to T.Boon, G.Gray, A.Straw & R.Else 6-28; D.Jackson, L.Tyler, N.Mean & R.Brewster lost to J.Welch, D.Hawkins, S.Little & D.Jefferies 16-25.

On Wednesday night both of our East Herts Bowls League teams were in action; our Div. 1 Blue team were away to Hertford Castle’ Castles team and our Div. 2 Gold team were away to near neighbours Aston.

Datchworth Blue 32 Castles 32
At Castle’s Pegs Lane green it was a tight affair that ended in a 32 shots apiece draw for our Blue team. Mike Mahoney, Richard Brewster and Skip Les Parsley were level for the third time, at 9 shots apiece after eleven ends. They then lost the next three ends, to trail 9-18, before winning three of the closing four ends to reduce their losing deficit to 15-20. After leading 5-0 after two ends Robin Gray, Derek Henley and Skip Ken Hammond were caught for the second time at 9 shots apiece after ten ends. They then won all but three of the closing eight ends to win by 17 shots to 12.
M.Mahoney, R.Brewster & L.Parsley lost to J.Streeton, A.Gibbs & A.Brandford 15-20; R.Gray, D.Henley & K.Hammond beat M.Howett, B.Sullivan & M.Milne 17-12.

Datchworth Gold 32 Aston 35
At Aston it was a tight affair for our Gold team also; but in ended in a 32 shots to 35 defeat. Graham Akers, Julian Hales and Skip Steven Hunter lost the first four ends, to trail 0-9. It was hard going from then on but by picking up five shots on the penultimate end it helped then to reduce their losing deficit to 18-23. Phil Holzbauer, Rob Hazeu and Skip Steve Arnold had a tighter game and were level for the third time at 11 shots apiece after fifteen ends. They then won the next two ends to go into the final end three shots ahead. They lost that end but held on to win by 14 shots to 12.
G.Akers, J.Hales & S.Hunter lost to N.Wray, S.Mahoney & P.Jones 18-23; P.Holzbauer, R.Hazeu & S.Arnold beat G.Gleghorn, D.Noble & T.Phipps 14-12.

Datchworth Gold 51 Castle Knights 24
Our Gold team were in action for the second night in a row on Thursday night when it was their turn to travel to Hertford Castle’s Pegs Lane green to play their final League match of the season against their Knights’ team and won by 51 shots to 24. Julian Hales, Steve Chamberlain and Skip Steve Arnold won seven ends in a row, to go from 3-6 down after seven ends to 21-6 up after fourteen ends. They shared the closing two ends equally but picked up 5 shots on the final end to win by 28 shots to 11. Dickie Jackson, Richard Harper and Skip Steven Hunter won seven of the first ten ends to lead by 14 shots to 6. They shared the closing eight ends equally to win by 23 shots to 13.
J.Hales, S.Chamberlain, S.Arnold beat S.Jellie, D.Cheshire & T.Deane 28-11; D.Jackson, R.Harper & S.Hunter beat G.Gifkins, A.Beeson & D.Saban 23-13.

Datchworth Green 37 W.G.C. Knights 33
Also on Thursday night our Green team were in action away to Welwyn Garden City’s Knights team in a Welwyn Hatfield Bowls League Div. 1 match and they sneaked a win by 37 shots to 33. Maurice Gordon, Neil Mean and Skip Derek Henley held their own for five ends, with the score sitting at 5 apiece. They lost their way after that winning just two more ends and collapsing to a 7 shots to 25 defeat. Robin Gray, Mike Mahoney and Skip Les Parsley restricted their opposition to seven winning ends and went into the final end 22-8 ahead; still 18 shots adrift overall. Somehow or other they managed to pick up 8 shots on that end to win by 30 shots to 8 and an overall win by 37 shots to 33.
M.Gordon, N.Mean & D.Henley lost to R.Edwards. T.Seeby & D.Hegarty 7-25; R.Gray, M.Mahoney & L.Parsley beat B.Walford, J.Worman & J.Kilmister 30-8.

Datchworth 55 Ware 78
On Saturday afternoon we travelled to Ware for a Mixed Friendly and came away after a 55 shot to 78 defeat. It could be said that the tea-break was a deciding factor. Rachel Jones, Richard Hutchinson, John Oliver and Skip Steve Chamberlain were 3-16 down at the tea-break but then won all but four of the remaining ten ends to cut their losing deficit down to 18-24. Dawn Kingsland, Sylvia Barsby, Ian Tyler and Skip John Alden were 11-8 up at the tea-break then they won just three more ends and lost 14-15. Annette Hutchinson, Bill Thorne, Jean Cooper and Skip Steve Arnold were 9-5 up at the tea-break then they won just three more ends to lose 12-17. Edie Alden, Linda Tyler, Maurice Gordon and Skip Chas Townley were 7-9 down at the tea-break then they won just two more ends to lose by 11-22.
R.Jones, R.Hutchinson, J.Oliver & S.Chamberlain lost to S.Best, S.Sullivan, C.Warman & V.Goodey 18-24; D.Kingsland, S.Barsby, I.Tyler & J.Alden lost to J.Best, J.Thomas, S.Thomson & H.Mason 14-15; A.Hutchinson, B.Thorne, J.Cooper & S.Arnold lost to A.Thomas, C.Mason, M.Marriott & T.Baker 12-17; E.Alden, L.Tyler, M.Gordon & C.Townley lost to J.Metcalfe, M.Baker, J.Warman & D.Stockwell 11-22.
On Sunday afternoon we held our Memorial Day where we raise money to donate to the charity of choice of one of our members who is no longer with us; this year it was in memory of Jim James, with the money raised being donated to Barnardo’s. It was run with twelve Triples playing four rounds of matches against each other. After the four rounds it was won by the Triple of Ken Hammond, George Campbell and Janet Akers, closely followed by Derek Henley, Bill Thorne and Tony Morris.

Website Report for 26 August 2018

On Monday night two of our teams were at home; our East Herts Bowls League Div. 1 Blue team and our Welwyn Hatfield Bowls League Div. 2 Yellow team.

Datchworth Blue 33 Ware Wolves 28
Our Blue team were up against Ware Wolves and won by 33 shots to 28. Bernie Drummond, Les Parsley and Skip Peter Hills had a difficult game, after winning the first two ends they lost the next three and trailed by 2 shots to 6. It was a deficit they never they never overcame and they eventually lost by 13 shots to 18. Mike Mahoney, Derek Henley and Skip Ken Hammond won the first three ends then lost the next six and trailed by 4 shots to 6. They recovered to win all but two of the remaining nine ends to win by 20 shots to 10.
B.Drummond, L.Parsley & P.Hills lost to M.Bentley, R.Cracknell & V.Goodey 13-18; M.Mahoney, D.Henley & K.Hammond beat N.Walker, G.Indge & A.Franklin 20-10.

Datchworth Yellow 20 Welwyn Wanderers 41
Meanwhile our Yellow team lost by 20 shots to 41 against Welwyn Wanderers. Bill Thorne, Rachel Jones and Skip Ken Ryder were comprehensively out bowled as they crashed to a 6 shots to 31 defeat. Dawn Kingsland, Graham Akers and Skip Steve Chamberlain won the first two ends and kept their noses in front all the way to the end, winning by 14 shots to 10.
B.Thorne, R.Jones & K.Ryder lost to B.Bennett, R.Russell & P.Russell 631; D.Kingsland, G.Akers & S.Chamberlain beat R.Mercy, J.Mercy & P.Bowyer 14-10.

Datchworth 65 Whitethorn 59
On Tuesday afternoon Whitethorn were the visitors to the Turkey Farm for a Mixed Friendly and were narrowly beaten by 65 shots to 59. Linda Tyler, Phil Berry and Skip Steve Arnold trailed 8-12 after eleven ends then lost just two more ends to run out winners by 16 shots to 14. Dickie Jackson, Graham Akers and Skip Chris Hills led 5-3 after seven ends and gradually increased their led until winning by 18 shots to 10. The first eight ends were tight for Richard and Annette Hutchinson and Skip Ian Tyler as they led by just 9 shots to 7. But they only managed another two winning ends as they lost by 11 shots to 21. Despite winning twice as many ends than they lost, by dropping a five on the last end Edie Alden, George Campbell and Skip John Alden had their winning margin reduce to 20 shots to 10.
L.Tyler, P.Berry & S.Arnold beat D.Haynes, M.Gowlett & A.Fabris 16-14; D.Jackson, G.Akers & C.Hills beat J.Roebuck, A.Cook & K.Rowell 18-10; R.Hutchinson, A.Hutchinson & I.Tyler lost to S.Gowlett, A.McLennan & T.Fuller 11-21; E.Alden, G.Campbell & J.Alden beat A.Searle, N.Clayson & D.Mars 20-14.

Datchworth Green 43 B.S.P. 34
On Tuesday evening our Green team were up against B.S.P. in Welwyn Hatfield Bowls Leagues Jubilee Cup, with one Rink at home and one away they won through to the Final with a 43 shot to 34 win. At our Turkey Farm green Janet Mahoney, Bernie Drummond, Mike Mahoney and Skip Les Parsley picked up four shots on the sixth end, to lead by 8 shots to 4. It was a lead they never lost as they ran out winners by 23 shots to 15. It was a tighter affair at W.G.C’s KGV greens for Maurice Gordon, Neil Mean, Jim Smith and Skip Derek Henley as they lost seven of the first eight ends to trail by 2 shots to 10. They still trailed by 10 shots to 18 with four ends to play but picking up six shots on the eighteenth end reduced their deficit to 16-18. They won the next end, to draw level before losing the penultimate end to trail 18-19 going in to the final end. They picked up two shots on that end to edge their game by 20 shots to19.
J.Mahoney, B.Drummond, M.Mahoney & L.Parsley beat G.O’Leary, G.Medcalf, B.Reeves & G.Smith 23-15; M.Gordon, N.Mean, J.Smith & D.Henley beat P.James, B.Clark, B.Worsley & D.Miller 20-19.

Datchworth Green 36 W.G.C. Crusaders 29
Our Green team were in action again on Wednesday night as they travelled to W.G.C’s Digswell Park green to play their Crusaders team in a Welwyn Hatfield Bowls League Div. 1 match and won by 38 shots to 29. Sue Kiernan, Mike Mahoney and Skip Derek Henley dropped three shots on the eleventh end to have their lead cut to 13-12. They then lost just one more end as they extended their winning margin to 22-14. It was a much tighter game for Maurice Gordon, Bernie Drummond and Skip Les Parsley as they won just two more ends than they lost an by picking up three shots over the final two ends they edged their game by one shot, 16-15.
S.Kiernan, M.Mahoney & D.Henley beat P.Martin, B.Hughes & S.Parkhouse 22-14; M.Gordon, B.Drummond & L.Parsley beat C.Parkhouse, A.Budge & T.Hughes 16-15.

Datchworth Green 31 B.S.P. 27
For the third night in a row our Green team were in action, and for the second time in that time they were up against B.S.P. This time it was in a Welwyn Hatfield Bowls League Div. 1 match at home, and for the second time they beat them, 31 shots 27. Janet Mahoney, Mike Mahoney and Skip Jim Smith found themselves 3 shots to 11 down after eight ends. But they pulled themselves together and found their form to win all but one of the remaining ten ends to come from behind and win by 18 shots to 12. Andrew Phillips, Aaron Prowle and Skip Les Parsley only won one of the first six ends, to trail 2 shots to 7. They eventually pulled level at 12 shots apiece with three ends to play. But they lost two of those ends and lost by 13 shots to 15. This win confirms them as Div. 1 Champions.
J.Mahoney, M.Mahoney & J.Smith beat P.James, B.Clark & D.Miller 18-12; A.Phillips, A.Prowle & L.Parsley lost to G.Medcalf, B.Reeves & G.Smith 13-15.

Datchworth versus Stevenage Town
On Friday night we travelled to Stevenage’s KGV greens to play them in a Stevenage and District Mixed Bowls League match and before the sixth end was completed the skies turned a darker shade of grey, the rain turned to hail, the green turned to white and the match was abandoned.

Finals’ Weekend
Saturday was the first day of our Finals’ Weekend and in the morning session four Finals were played. In the Handicap Singles Final Steve Arnold beat Andrew Phillips 24-14. In the 2 Wood Singles Final Mike Mahoney beat Les Parsley 17-8. In the Yardstick Final Ken Hammond with 39 shots beat Steven Hunter with 37 and Peter Hills with 34. In the Ladies Pairs Final Jenny Holzbauer and Rachel Jones beat Chris Hill and June Russell 17-9. In the afternoon session Sue Kiernan, Steven Hunter, Derek Henley and Skip Peter Hills beat Bernie Drummond, Stuart Hay, Steve Chamberlain and Skip Les Parsley 23-12 in the Open Rinks Final. In the Mixed Triples Final Sylvia Barsby, Graham Akers and Skip Steve Arnold beat Dawn Kingsland, Phil Berry and Skip George Campbell 29-8. In the morning session on Sunday Steven Hunter with 91 points beat Peter Hill with 89 points in the 4-3-2-1 Final. In the Arnold Memorial Trophy Final Phil Berry beat Alan Mitchell 23-13. In the Mixed Pairs Final Janet and Mike Mahoney beat Sue Kiernan and Derek Henley 30-11. In the afternoon session Peter Hills beat Ken Hammond 21-13 in the Men’s Singles Final. Janet Akers beat Chris Hills 21-20 in the Ladies’ Singles Final and Stuart Hay and Les Parsley beat Andrew Phillips and Derek Henley in the Men’s Pairs Final. The weather played its unwelcomed part over Finals’ weekend unfortunately. Saturday was fine but Sunday was not. The rain, light and annoying though it was at first, arrived before the end of the morning session. It then got gradually worse and stayed through the afternoon session. The green was still playable; in fact it held up very well indeed, the same could not be said of some of the finalists and the markers, who suffered because of it. Those that were involved in both morning and afternoon Finals suffered the most. After the weather we have had over the last few weeks the weather we had over the weekend could not have been more badly timed; that’s Bank Holiday weekend weather for you. The one good thing to come out of this weekend was to see some of our newer members, who only started bowling a year or two ago, not only reaching the Finals, but playing well and winning them.

Website Report for 2 September 2018

Datchworth 68 W.G.C. 87
On Tuesday afternoon W.G.C. were the visitors to the Turkey Farm for a Mixed Friendly and returned home after beating us 87-65. Bill Thorne (who shared the game with Sylvia Barsby), Graham Akers and Skip George Campbell shared the ends equally but picking up a six and a five along the way helped then to win by 22 shots to 15. Linda Tyler, Dickie Jackson and Skip Rob Hazeu had a close game throughout and by dropping one shot on the final end meant they scraped home by the odd shot 13-12. Richard Hutchinson, Sue Kiernan and Skip John Oliver won the first three ends, to lead 8-0, but lost the following four ends, including dropping two 6s, to trail 8-16. They dropped a third 6 on the fourteenth end on their way to losing by 20 shots to 36. Carol Hammond (who shared the game with Derrick Elms), Annette Hutchinson and Skip Ian Tyler dropped a 4 on the fourth end, to trail 3-6. They remained behind till the final end, when they dropped a 6 to lose by 13 shots to 24.
B.Thorne/S.Barsby, G.Akers & G.Campbell beat G.Tanser, M.Fousler & S.West 22-15; L.Tyler, D.Jackson & R.Hazeu beat J.Chennells, B.Hughes & P.Ball 13-12; R.Hutchinson, S.Kiernan & J.Oliver lost to K.Chamberlain, T.Royall & A.Budge 20-36; C.Hammond/D.Elms, A.Hutchinson & I.Tyler lost to I.Cocksedge, C.Royall & T.Hughes 13-24.

Datchworth Green 29 W.G.C. Knights 34
That night our Green team played W.G.C’s Knights team in Welwyn Hatfield Bowls League’s John Brown Trophy Semi Final, with one Triple at home and one away they lost by 29 shots to 34. At our Turkey Farm green Maurice Gordon, Mike Mahoney and Skip Les Parsley led 9-7 after ten ends then lost the next four, to trail 9-12, before winning the closing four ends to win by 16 shots to 12. It did not go that smoothly for Bernie Drummond, Jim Smith and Skip Derek Henley at the Knight’s Digswell Park green. They trailed 7-10 after eight ends and were still just 12-13 adrift with four ends to play. But they dropped nine shots over the next three ends and despite winning the last end they still lost by 13 shots to 22. So they lost out on the opportunity to defend the trophy they won last year.
M.Gordon, M.Mahoney & L.Parsley beat L.Kilmister, J.Kilmister & K.Avenell 16-12; B.Drummond, J.Smith & D.Henley lost to J.Gibbs, T.Seeby & R.Edwards 13-22.

Two of our teams wrapped up their league programmes on Wednesday night; our Blue team were away to Welwyn and District’s Stags in an East Herts Bowls League Div. 1 match and our Yellow team were at home to Kimpton in a Welwyn Hatfield Bowls League Div. 2 match.

Datchworth Blue 25 Welwyn Stags 48
At Welwyn and District’s Ottway Walk green our Blue team lost their final match 25-48. Mike Mahoney, Derek Henley and Skip Ken Hammond led 5-2 after five ends, but trailed 5-13 four losing ends later. Dropping a 7 on the eleventh end meant they then trailed 6-20. Picking up a 5 on the fifteenth end helped reduce their deficit but they still went on to lose by 15 shots to 25. Bernie Drummond, Les Parsley and Skip Peter Hills did not fare much better as they only won six ends as they lost by 10 shots to 23.
M.Mahoney, D.Henley & K.Hammond lost to J.Brown, K.Rylett & P.Russell 15-25; B.Drummond, L.Parsley & P.Hills lost to A.Challacombe, J.Festa & B.Smith 10-32.

Datchworth Yellow 46 Kimpton 29
Our Yellow team played Kimpton at our Turkey Farm green knowing that only a maximum 6 point win would see them win the Division by one point from Welwyn Wanderers, who had finished their season with 55 points. And get the 6 point win they did, 46-29, to become Div. 2 Champions. Rachel Jones, John Oliver and Skip Ian Williams did not get off to a good start, losing the first five ends to trail 0-6. But they picked up a 5 on the fifth end and 2 on the eighth end, to lead 9-6. From there they lost just four more ends as they won by 26 shots to 17. Dickie Jackson, Chris Hills and Skip Steve Chamberlain won six of the first seven ends to lead 10-2. They then lost six of the following seven ends to trail 11-12. They then pulled themselves together and won the remaining four ends to win by 20 shots to 12.
R.Jones, J.Oliver & I.Williams beat J.Robinson, A.Fitzjohn & A.Lennox 26-17; D.Jackson, C.Hills & S.Chamberlain beat D.Matthews, R.Matthews & P.Matthews 20-12.

Datchworth Green 39 Hertford 24
On Thursday night it was the turn of our Green team to wrap up their league programme with a re-arranged Welwyn Hatfield Bowls League Div. 1 match away to Hertford, which they won by 39 shots to 24. Andrew Phillips, Jim Smith and Skip Derek Henley won the first four ends, to lead 8-0. They then held onto that lead till winning by 19 shots to 9. Robin Gray, Mike Mahoney and Skip Les Parsley won the first two ends, lost the next four before winning the next five to lead 12-4. That lead they too held on to till the end, winning by 20 shots to 15. Thus cementing their place at the top of Division 1; making it a League Double for our teams after our Yellow team won Division 2 the night before.
A.Phillips, J.Smith & D.Henley beat K.Cartwright, A.Costin & R.Barrett 19-9; R.Gray, M.Mahoney & L.Parsley beat M.Rowe, M.Irving & P.Worsley 20-15.

Datchworth v Barnet Blind and Partially Sighted Bowls Club
On Friday afternoon we played our annual match against the Barnet Blind and Partially Sighted Bowls Club and won in a match reduced to just 2 Triples due to some of their players being unable to play. But this is one match during the season where the result really does not matter; it is a match where the B.B & P.S.B.C. members can have an enjoyable game of bowls, played in the right spirit and where all the money raised will be split equally between their club and the Guide Dogs for the Blind.

Datchworth 62 Cheshunt 67
On Saturday afternoon we travelled down the A10 to play Cheshunt in a Mixed Friendly and narrowly lost 62-67. Richard and Annette Hutchinson and Skip Chas Townley won all but two of the first eight ends to lead 14-4. But losing the next four ends cut their lead to 14-13. They dropped four shots on the penultimate end to go into the final end all square at 18 apiece. They picked up one shot on that end to edge home by 19 shots to 18. Dickie Jackson, Bill Thorne and Skip Richard Harper won the en-count 10-8 but they dropped a four on the final end to draw 19 shots apiece. Dawn Kingsland, Julian Hales and Skip Derek Henley lost the end-count 7-11 in a relatively low scoring game and as they only picked up one score of more than one shot they lost by 8 shots to 16. Rachel Jones, John Oliver and Skip Steve Chamberlain shared the ends equally and picking up five shots on the thirteenth end helped them to a 16 shots to 14 win.
R.Hutchinson, A.Hutchinson & C.Townley beat B.Munro, J.Jackson & M.Smith 19-18; D.Jackson, B.Thorne & R.Harper drew with B.Castle, G.Boad & T.Whitbread 19 all; D.Kingsland, J.Hales & D.Henley lost to P.Theobalds, J.Smith & E.Theobalds 8-16; R.Jones, J.Oliver & S.Chamberlain beat C.Gee, N.Boad & B.Whitebread 16-14.

Website Report for 9 September 2018

A very quiet week this week as we only played two matches and both were Stevenage and District Mixed Bowls League matches.

Datchworth 100 Riverain 81
On Monday afternoon Riverain were the visitors to the Turkey Farm and were beaten by 100 shots to 81. Sylvia Barsby, Graham Akers, Bernie Drummond and Les Parsley were involved in a high scoring game. After they lost the first end they won the following six to lead 18-3. They then won just two of the next ten but still kept their noses in front, 23-20. They then won three of the closing four ends to win by 27 shots to 22. Dickie Jackson, Susan Wray, Derek Henley and Skip Steve Arnold picked up a 6 on the eighth end to increase their lead to 13-2. They then gradually increased their led until they ran out winners by 28 shots to 11. Chris Hills, John Oliver, Rob Hazeu and Skip Steve Chamberlain led 18-13 after thirteen ends but they lost the remaining six ends to lose by 18 shots to 22. Another high scoring game involved Dawn Kingsland, Phil Holzbauer, Neil Mean and Skip Peter Hills who won just three of the first ten ends and trailed 5-18 as a result. They then turned the tables on their opponents as they won all but three of the remaining eleven ends to edge the game by one shot 27-26.
S.Barsby, G.Akers, B.Drummond & L.Parsley beat S.Booth, J.Copeland, J.Mills & R.Else 27-22; D.Jackson, S.Wray, D.Henley & S.Arnold beat M.Gray, J.Chaplin, G.Brown & B.Mills 28-11; C.Hills, J.Oliver, R.Hazeu & S.Chamberlain lost to T.Boon, G.Gray, T.Booth & G.Chaplin 18-22; D.Kingsland, P.Holzbauer, N.Mean & P.Hills beat R.Cocks, S.Walton, S.Little & D.Jeffries 27-26.

Datchworth 69 Holwell 58
On Saturday afternoon Holwell were the visitors to the Turkey Farm and in a match were both clubs won two Triples each we came out on top by 69 shots to 58. In a tight game where the ends were shared equally Chris Hills, Neil Mean and Skip Les Parsley came out on top, 19-14, after the Holwell were deducted 4 shots as they fielded an all men Triple. Another game where the ends were shared equally involved Edie Alden, Richard Harper and Skip Steve Chamberlain and they lost by the odd shot, 15-16, after dropping four shots over the final two ends. Rachel Jones, John Alden and Skip Steve Arnold lost the closing four ends to lose their game by 8 shots to 18. Dickie Jackson, Jean Cooper and Skip Peter Hills led 14-4 after eleven ends but that lead was cut to 14-10 four losing ends later. But they stopped that rot by winning the remaining three ends, picking up thirteen shots in the process, to win by 27 shots to 10.
C.Hills, N.Mean & L.Parsley beat R.Brannan, D.Sherriffs & J.O’Dell 19-14; E.Alden, R.Harper & S.Chamberlain lost to M.Mannion, M.Wilson & P.Turner 15-16; R.Jones, J.Alden & S.Arnold lost to M.Griffiths, S.Bailey & M.Reidy 8-18; D.Jackson, J.Cooper & P.Hills beat A.Mannion, A.Wilson & E.Pearson 27-10.

 

 

 

 

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