Bowlers get the season off to a stunning start
BILLINGSHURST Downsman 62 Billingshurst 62
Billingshurst BC, founded in 1932, is celebrating its 90th anniversary and the players wanted to get off to a good start to mark the milestone.
They travelled to Crawley for their opening game of the season.
Traditionally this fixture has always been close-run with only a few shots the difference, and this would prove to be very similar.
After five ends Billingshurst had a four-shot advantage, but at the break the match was all square.
With 15 ends played Billingshurst were ahead by three. With ends running out and with only the Captain’s rink to finish, two shots gained on the final end by Downsman resulted in a 62-62 draw.
Scores: Hazel Sandford, David Delves, Alan Readshaw 11-15, Roger Moore, Betty Weller, Alan Knight 1123, Paul Clegg, Carole Neal, Barry Gilbert 16-14, Top Rink, John Lucas, Marion Clark, Ray Neal 24-10.
PULBOROUGH
Pulborough have had the best possible start to their season, with three home wins against tough sides.
Rrivals Storrington came to Pulborough with high hopes of a win, but found the green a little too quick.
Four triples played 18
ends of competitive bowls, with three of the Pulborough triples coming out on top.
Skip Malcolm Gray and team started strongly, dipped in the middle but pulled it back to level on the penultimate end and snatch the win on the 18th.
Mick Ralph, with George Lewis as lead and Melvin Green as two, took the lead on the 12th end, finally winning 14-9, but top rink, by some margin, went to skip Trevor Bushell, with John Walsh as lead and Jane Gray as two, who won 29-5.
The final score was 70-41 to Pulborough.
In a three-triple match
against Southbourne, a closer match left Mick Ralph, Jenny Patterson and Jane Gray with a narrow two- shot win and top rink again went to Trevor Bushell, with Linda Meadowcroft as lead and Paul Smith as two, after some heavy, consistent scoring resulted in a win by 20-7. Final score 47/46 to Pulborough.
Worthing Beech House came to Pulborough with six triples, but left with just one win after a competitive afternoon.
Top rink for Pulborough went to Steve Adsett, with Linda Meadowcroft as lead and John Walsh as two, who kept the Worthing triple to
just one shot an end and just five ends to their names.
The final score was 18-5 and an overall win of 125-70 for Pulborough.
STEYNING BC
Steyning Bowls Club got their season off to a superb start with three wins in a row.
The first match of the season was away to Marine Gardens BC in Worthing.
The final score was 82-71 with Paul Hampson’s team taking top rink.
On Saturday there was another triples match at St Francis BC in Haywards Heath which resulted in a 97-66 win for Steyning.
Paul Wiskin skipped the top rink on this occasion and he was successful again on Sunday against Saltdean BC when the score was 79-77.
This was the first home match of the season and despite showers, everyone enjoyed the close game.
Steyning BC are offering free Taster sessions every Thursday evening during May.
The sessions start at 6pm and you only need flat shoes or trainers to give this fun game a try.
For more information see www.steyningbowlsclub.com or telephone Mary on 01273 887953.