Worcestershire Short Mat Bowls Association

Herefordshire have once again staged a “Macmillan” charity short mat bowls event. This took place at Leominster on Sunday 6th November.. The sum raised for the Macmillan |Charity was £1400.

Teams from across the region entered, including three teams from Worcestershire  – two from Churchill and Blakedown short mat club and separately one entered by Richard Payne. In total 32 teams competed, playing in the “Fours” discipline. Teams were divided into groups with each team playing four games  –  the overall result depending on games won, shot difference, and if necessary ends won.

Terry Clifford’s team from Churchill and Blakedown, ( including Jim Tingle / Alan Walters /  June Green) won all four of their games played ( 6-3— 7-5—6-4—8-3 ), with Richard Rose’s team also from Churchill and Blakedown ( including Belinda Gibbs / Jenny Gibbs / Malcolm Saunders ) winning three and losing one ( 13-4—8-5—11-6—4-6 ) , and Richard Payne’s team ( including Ann Hough / Derek Beddow / Avis Beddow ), winning two out of the four games played and losing two ( 10-5—6-3—1-13—4-10 ).

The above performances resulted in Terry’s team ( Blakedown 2 ), being placed 6th out of the 32 team entry with Richard Rose’s team ( Blakedown 1 ), 8th and Richard Payne’s team (Dick’s Devils) 17th.

The squad for the home fixture against Cheshire on 30th October is shown below :

Worcestershire lost their second ICC match of the season, against Gloucestershire, by 11 points to 29  –  shots scored  Worcestershire 173  –  Goucestershire 251.

Against a strong Gloucestershire squad, and playing on mats much quicker than those usually used by Worcestershire, the county often struggled to find their form. There were, however, some successes  –  Johnathon Smith won both his singles games and Belinda Gibbs and Richard Rose drew their morning pairs game and then went on to win their afternoon game. Pete Forster and Jim Tingle won their morning pairs game. The triples and fours teams lost their games :

This fixture was the county’s first Inter County Competition match of the ESMBA 2022-2023 season, played at Bromsgrove.  The county narrowly lost, scoring 17 points to Gloucestershire’s 23, with the county scoring 173 shots to Gloucestershire’s 178.  From the sixteen individual games played, Worcestershire won six, lost seven and drew three, in what was a very closely fought contest.

Morning Session.

Johnathon Smith was in complete control of his singles game, and by the 13th end was leading by 17 shots to 5. A late surge by his opponent, who scored 6 shots off the last two ends was insufficient to prevent Johnathon winning by 17 shots to 11. Richard Payne in his singles game won nine of the fifteen ends but could not prevent his opposite number narrowly winning the game  –  nine shots for Richard, twelve for his opponent.

In the pairs, Jenny Gibbs and Jim Tingle led throughout their game and following a fairly close fought contest won by 14 shots to 11.  Chris Allen and Richard Rose lost their pairs match by 8 shots to 15.

Terry Clifford’s triples team had a narrow defeat  –  11 shots to 13, but Alan Walters’ team had a comfortable 12-6 win, having won eight of the thirteen ends played.

Malcolm Saunders fours team were only two shots adrift after eight ends, but a late surge by their opponents resulted in the team losing by 7 shots to 14.  In her fours game, June Green’s team drew with their opponents 9-9

Afternoon Session.

Johnathon  lost his singles game 7-19 and Richard  lost 9-12.

In the pairs, Jenny and Jim lost, but Chris and Richard Rose won their hard fought contest, overcoming the opposition with a 13-11 win.

In one of the most convincing wins of the day Terry’s triples team led throughout the game winning nine of the thirteen ends played, and romped home winning 20 shots to 4.  Alan’s triples team also led throughout their game and had a very comfortable  win by 12 shots to 5  –  their second win of the day.

In the fours, Malcolm’s team led in nine of the eleven ends played, but could not prevent their opposition levelling the game at 11-11 in the final end.  June’s fours team also drew their game  –  their second draw of the day, this time with a score of 7-7.

Summary of the day’s play below  :

The Bowls Development Alliance ,which includes the English Short Mat Bowls Association, has been active in safeguarding matters for some time. The county has been asked to publicise their latest newsletter which is set out in the “Safeguarding” page of this web site.