Archive | Match Reports

The county was involved in the end of season inetr county knockout series of matches on the 3rd February , with the county being drawn against Suffolk for the first match which was played at Daventry. Suffolk fielded a very strong squad and won 13 of the 16 individual games played. Worcestershire scored 153 shots with Suffolk scoring 233. This defeat means that the county will not, therefore, proceed to the next round of the competition.

The successes for the county were Johnathon Smith in his morning singles game winning it 16-9. Richard Payne’s triples team won their morning game 14-9 with Terry Clifford’s fours team winning the county’s sole success in the afternoon by 12 shots to 7.

This home fixture was the first leg of the “Two Shires” competition held annually with Gloucestershire. This competition was first held in 2015 with Gloucestershire winning the first four matches and ,therefore, holding the trophy which was donated by the Worcestershire County captain.

With four wins behind them Gloucestershire might have been confident of increasing this total. Worcestershire, however, performed magnificently winning this match by 29 shots to 11 . The county won 11 of the 16 matches played, and in two of those lost, the shot difference was only one. The county scored 222 shots compared with 152 by Gloucestershire.

It is likely that the second leg of the competition will be played at Churchdown in March.

Session  1.

This was the least successful session for the county with only one win out of the four matches played. Johnathon Smith, having taken the lead in the 8th end, maintained that lead and went on to win 15-12. Jim Tingle had a narrow defeat 9-13. Both pairs teams lost with Richard Rose /Leah Thompson only losing by one shot.

Session  2.

This session consisted of 4 “fours” teams. The county won three of the four matches played in the session. Richard Payne’s team led throughout their match, losing only three ends, eventually winning 15-5. Keith Mills team led from the third end winning the match 13-6 and Alan Walters’ team won 11-8. Terry Clifford’s team lost by only one shot in the last end of their match.

At the half way stage the two counties were level on points

Session  3.

Another good session for the county winning three of the matches played. Johnathon Smith went on to win his second match of the day, leading from the 6th end, scoring 7 shots off the last two ends, finally winning by 21  shots to 7  –  an impressive shot difference of 14. Both pairs teams won. Pete Forster/Richard Payne won 12-9 and Richard Rose/Leah Thompson took the lead in the 4th end and powered their way to a 20 shots to 8 win, another impressive shot difference win – this time 12 shots.

Session  4.

All the fours teams won with some very impressive performances. Terry Clifford’s team took the lead in the second end and went on to be comfortable winners 15 shots to 7. Keith Mills team had another  13-6 win, having led throughout the match. Richard Payne’s team led after the 5th end to win 17-4, another impressive shot difference win. Alan Walters’ team led throughout their match, winning nine of the eleven ends played, going on to win by 17 shots to 3 – yet again another impressive shot difference win (14), equalling Johnathon’s in session three.

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All the county squad should feel pleased with a successful and inclusive  performance which made the squad worthy winners of this first leg of the “Two Shires ” competition. The county’s thanks also go to Gloucestershire for agreeing to play this match at short notice, and also for the friendly  and good natured atmosphere that prevailed throughout the day.

A summary of all the scores and results is shown below :

This away match saw the county heavily defeated by West Midlands with the county scoring 8 points and West Midlands 32  –  the county scored 149 shots with West Midlands scoring 231  –  this was after a first session win for the county by 6 points to 2.

The match was marred by unacceptable behaviour by the West Midlands players who were involved in loud shouting, sledging and making inappropriate comments. There is little doubt that this affected Worcestershire county players and probably impacted upon overall performance. It was not only Worcestershire’s players who were affected. West Midlands Premier team were playing Northamptonshire at the same venue and the Northamptonshire players were also subjected to unacceptable behaviour. Because of this the Worcestershire and Northamptonshire County Captains will be lodging a formal complaint to the English Short Mat Bowling Association.

Readers of the following report on the county’s performance/results etc.during this match should have due regard to the conditions the county players were subjected to.

The first session was dominated by Worcestershire winning three of the four matches played. Jim Tingle in his singles match led throughout, achieving a narrow 14-11 victory. Johnathon Smith was trailing for much of his singles match, including going into the last end, but achieved a magnificent 3 shots off this last end to win his match 14-13. In the pairs, Pete Forster and Cayman Dredge took 7 shots off the last four ends to win 17-14. At the end of the first session the county were leading 6 points to 2.

The rest of the day’s bowling was disappointing with only one win in the remaining three sessions ( 12 matches ). In the final session of the day Terry Clifford’s fours team were losing 0-7 after four ends but then went on to win six of the remaining seven ends to achieve a well earned victory by 9 shots to 8.

A summary of all the results is shown below  :

The county’s third match of the season was away to Shropshire with the result ending in a draw with both counties gaining 20 points. Worcestershire shots total was 183 with 224 shots by Shropshire.

Session  1

Johnathon Smith had a very emphatic win in his opening Singles match. He was 6-13 down after the 9th end but went on to win each of the next six ends to win his match 14-13.

The only other success for the county was a draw by Leah Thompson and Richard Rose, They scored five shots off the last two ends to level the score at 14-14.

Session  2

Keith Mills’ team won their match by 12-6, with both Fours teams also winning.  Richard Payne’s team, having been 6-10- down at the halfway stage, staged a comeback to win 12-11.   A consistent performance by Terry Clifford’s Fours team resulted in them winning by 13-8.

Session 3.

Leah Thompson and Richard Rose won their afternoon match in fine style by 17-6, having been ahead of their opponents from the 3rd end. Unfortunately the other Pairs team lost and both Singles matches were also lost.

Session 4.

Keith Mills’ Triples team were behind by a narrow margin for 11 ends.  With six shots from the last three ends of the match, they came out winners 16-13. Terry Clifford’s Fours team were 6-7 down with only two ends left in the match. With six shots off the 10th end and four shots the final end, they had an incredible win 16-7. Richard Payne’s Fours team also won comfortably 15-6.

A summary of the results is shown below.

The County’s visit to Stockport on the 8th October resulted in a win for Stockport by 27 points to 13., with Stockport scoring 237 shots to Worcester’s 177.

Session  1.

Both Singles and Pairs lost their opening matches.

Session  2.

This session saw the county win two and draw one matches out of the four played. Maureen Tingle’s triples team  were 4-9 down after only four ends but came back very strongly to win their match 24-14. Terry Clifford’s Fours team had a consistent performance to win by 17-11 and Richard Payne’s Fours team who were 5-10 down with three ends to play earned a very worthy draw  –  10-10.

Session  3.

Jim Tingle in his Singles match was strong and consistent throughout, took the lead in the 8th end, and went on to win 16-12. Richard Rose and leah Thompson were 2-10 after six ends but came storming back to win their Triples match 16-13.

Session  4.

Mark Bourne’s Triples team took the lead in the 8th end  and went on to a convincing win 17-6.. Unfortunately the other Triples team and both Fours teams lost their matches.