Kent Invicta entertained Norfolk Over 60’s for the first leg of their Annual Shield Challenge match at Snodland. The eight session match, played on six mats, gave the twelve triples representing each team four games each. Norfolk established an early lead winning four games and drawing one in the first session and maintained their lead after the second session was drawn with three wins apiece. Two good sessions followed for the away team with Norfolk winning the third session 8-4 on points and the fourth session by a heavy 11-1 margin to move 34-14 ahead at the halfway stage. After a drawn fifth session Kent Invicta started to eat into Norfolk’s lead winning the sixth session 7-5, the seventh session by 8-4 and the final session by 7-5. This left Norfolk Over 60’s as winners by 54-42 on points and 325-298 on shots and more than happy with a 12 point lead to take home and keep in hand for the second leg. Two Norfolk triples scored maximum points with four wins each. Jill Davidson, Andrew Smith & Russell Davidson won their games by 9-5, 6-2, 10-8 and 13-3 and Jenny Walker, Colin Hayman & Selwyn Goldsmith won their games by 7-6, 13-5, 5-4 and 11-1. Teresa Goldsmith, Val Easter & Melvyn Barker gained six points after winning three of their four games with Teresa, the Norfolk Over 60s Organiser, making a rare playing appearence in the team following the late withdrawal of Billie Barker due to illness. The top triple on each side were awarded a special prize by the Kent organiser with Russell Davidson’s triple winning for Norfolk. Both maximum scoring Norfolk triples had finished on eight points and an identical +20 shot difference so the higher number of ‘shots for’ were used to determine who won the prize of Thorntons chocolates for Norfolk. As always it was a super day of bowls enjoyed by all with Kent making every effort to make their visitors welcome on a day of warmth and good humour throughout. Everyone will be looking forward to the second leg of this super friendly challenge at Hingham Sports Centre on Saturday 18th July. People are welcome to drop in on the day to have a cuppa and watch some of the action if they wish. Any Norfolk CSMBA registered bowler is welcome to attend Over 60s days at Hingham Sports Centre which are held every other Thursday. The next one will be on Thursday 4th June, just arrive around 9.30am for a 10am start and you will have time for a coffee or tea before the first session. There is no need to pre-book. The cost is £5 for the day which includes teas, coffees and biscuits and three games of nine ends with a tea break between each session giving bowlers the chance to socialize. Anyone who wants more bowling can also stay for a 15 end game in the afternoon at no extra charge. Speak to a club teammate to see if they wish to come with you and make it a day out. The NCSMBA is one of the few short mat bowls Associations who provide extra bowls for their senior members on a regular basis, why not take advantage of this?
Teresa of the Norfolk Over 60s and Alan of Kent Invicta open the day
The traditional Pre-Match line-up between Norfolk Over 60s and Kent Invicta
Short Mat Bowls action underway at Snodland Community Centre
ESMBA Umpire on duty for the day was Trevor Apps who was kept very busy
Michael had a big smile on his face as he supplied peppermint tea to Teresa
Peter Richards of Kent Invicta
Another action shot from late in the day
Thorntons chocs for Andrew Smith, Jill Davidson & Russell Davidson
Kent Invicta's top triple of the day
Maximum points for Colin Hayman, Jenny Walker & Selwyn Goldsmith