Bowls round-up: Underdogs Desborough claim fantastic win in National Double Fours

Desborough’s Joan Kingston

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Desborough Bowls Club

Desborough were massive underdogs in their National Double Fours match against Suttons at Green Lane, but with the help of the club's fantastic support they overcame their county rivals winning 37-29.

They now progress to the regional final where they'll play either Tilehurst or Hagbourne on a neutral green before July 24.

With confidence gained from the Suttons' performance they should fear no one.

Desborough played neighbours Maidenhead Town in the club championships and the Green Lane outfit claimed the local bragging rights after earning a six-shot victory (74-68).

The rink skipped by Mark Essex was victorious at home while Mark Peachey's rink won away from home.

On their annual away day, Desborough journeyed to Poole Park where they played a fantastic game but fell to a 20-shot defeat (128-108).

Some found their rinks challenging but those skipped by Michael Hobson and Paul Patel both won while Roger Wyatt marshalled his troops to a draw.

However, there was no doubting who got top rink honours as Joan Kingston, Jim May, Val White, and Michael White were always in control as they won by 21 shots, 25 – 4.

It was also a good week for the club in the Kennet League as both teams won, with the A team triumphing 12-2 against Maidenhead Town A and the B team maintaining their unbeaten run with a 10-4 victory over Maidenhead Town B.

The KLV teams almost produced a full house as the B team won 10 – 0 against Maidenhead Thicket B and the C team beat their counterparts from Maidenhead Town 7 – 3.

Unfortunately, the A team could get nothing out of their game against Maidenhead Town A.

It was a busy week for the Bluebells in the TVL as they had two games, firstly getting nothing from their game against Tilehurst but making up for it against Great Holland Linnets by getting 9 of the 10 points available. The Buttercups also managed a victory as they won 8 – 2 against Maiden Erlegh Bees.

In the County Competitions, Jacinta Monteiro in the Ladies Unbadged Singles and the rink skipped by Gill O’Neill in the Ladies Fours both bowed at the Quarter Final stage. In the Men’s Two Wood Singles, Mark Essex won the battle of Desborough as he defeated Bruce Adams, 14 – 10.

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Maidenhead Town Bowls Club

Maidenhead Town's Kennet League A team slumped to another defeat this week, this time at the hands of local rivals Desborough at home.

Despite making a promising start, most of the teams fell away in their rinks, with only that of skip Tim Eales, Andy Mayne, Roy Palmer, and Steve Tegg claiming a victory, 16-12 in a competitive clash.

Meanwhile, Town's B team travelled to Desborough expecting a tough match against the current leaders in Kennet League E3.

At the half-way point, Town held the lead thanks to three winning rinks, however, Jim Turner's team dropped seven shots in the final four ends to lose by eight.

Having started slowly, Grant Oxtoby's team scored steadily thereafter to win by four shots, while Peter Herke's team finished two shots clear of their rivals in another close encounter.

Tony Ruffell's squad built a healthy 11-6 lead over a team they'd defeated earlier in the season, however, the opposition skip excelled in the second half of the game, snatching the jack with his last bowl on three occasions as they came from behind to win by six shots. It meant Desborough claimed 10 of the 14 points on offer with Town taking four.

In the KLV league Town's A team won on all three rinks for a 54-37 victory over visitors Desborough.

Tim Eales’ team of Andy Mayne and Tony Roberts were well ahead in the early stages but had to withstand a fightback from Desborough, a magnificent seven shot rink on the 15th end proving the difference as they won 22-15.

Stewart Wright’s team of John Butchart and Roy West also had a very tight game that could have gone either way, but six shots on the final end saw them to a 19-11 victory.

Town’s KLV B team endured a disappointing game at Maidenhead Thicket, losing on all the rinks.

Elsewhere, Town's ladies are progressing well in the Thames Valley League, taking full points with wins on all rinks in their 70-36 victory over Tilehurst.

Top rink was skipped by Kim Eales with Trish Wheeler and Julie Beal who came home 31-12 winners.

Carol van Noorden’s team of Jackie Sandal and Jan Mayne struggled initially but recovered well to win 23-11, while Mary Mackay’s team of Yoneko Stuart and Kathy Leonard had a much tighter game which they edged 16-13.

Town tightened their grip on the Royal Shield with an 83-26 win over Thicket. The current leaders in the competition won convincingly on all three rinks.

Both of the club’s weekend friendlies were cancelled, but new bowlers were introduced to the game in a fun friendly game against the Woodchuckers, which Town won.

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Royal Household Bowls Club

Royal Household have moved to second in their league with a game in hand after an 8-2 victory over Desborough in the Royal Shield this week.

The club's impressive week continued on Wednesday when Suzanne Duguid and Michael Thornton progressed to the semi-finals of the Berkshire National Mixed Pairs following their 17-10 victory over Tim and Kim Eales from Maidenhead Town.

On Sunday. Sarah Woolley contested the Berkshire County unbadged singles but lost 21-14 to Vivienne Morris of Abingdon BC at the quarter-final stage.

Woolley raced into an early five-shot lead but Morris' experience on her home green eventually told as she fought back for a comfortable win.

Household celebrated a double victory in this weekend's friendlies, however, claiming four rink wins from six in a 136-84 win over Wallington BC on Saturday before following that up with a 118-98 success in Sunday's six-rink friendly with Hearn Bay BC.