County v Northamptonshire – Sunday 3rd October 2021

Worcestershire played host to Northamptonshire at Bromsgrove in a friendly match marking the opening of the 2021/22 county short mat bowling season. This was the first competitive match for both counties since the beginning of the covid 19 pandemic  early in 2020. It had previously been agreed that the match would consist of triples only, with 6 sessions during the day, thus enabling maximum participation of both counties’ squads, having due regard to covid 19 guidance notes.  -There were 10 points to play for in each session.

The first two sessions were evenly balanced with both counties winning two of the four matches played in each session. The third session saw Worcestershire winning three of the four matches , a position which was reversed in session four. At this stage the score was level at 20 points for both counties. Worcestershire faded during the final two sessions eventually losing by 23 points to 37.

The county now looks forward to the opening ESMBA inter county competition when the county play West Midlands on Sunday 10th October.

ESMBA – Inter County Competition 2021/22

Because of the continuing covid 19 pandemic, the ESMBA has considered measures to reduce the number of bowlers participating in a match in the inter county competition. The ESMBA have decided that for the 2021/22 season all inter county matches will be home ( half the squad ), with the other half squad playing away  on the same day. Each half squad will consist of eight bowlers with two substitutes allowed.

The format as decided by the ESMBA is summarised below :

County Competitions – 2021 / 2022

It is now unlikely that county or national short mat bowling will commence before September 2021 and the county is now looking forward to the next series of county competitions. It is the intention to hold the  –  Pairs, Triples, Fours, Mixed Fours, and the over 55’s competitions at Blakedown Parish Rooms in December 2021 and January 2022  –  also the Singles if entries do not exceed 12, otherwise that competition will be held at the Bromsgrove IBC.

Coronavirus Update – 1st January 2021

Because of the worsening of the covid 19 pandemic, there is currently no possibility of a resumption in the near future of short mat bowling in the county or at national level.

The next news report will appear when there is something positive to announce.