Outdoor - 2007

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 League table  Updated 14/8/2007 ( Final Result)

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Connaught "B'

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 League table  Updated 14/8/2007 ( Final Result)

External Competitions and Cups

.Links > > >.Fermoy Cup Reports.>>.Bales Cup Reports.>>.National-Competitions.>>.....

National Top Club Competition

Connaught were drawn at home against neighbours Hingham in the first county round, the match being played on Friday 4 May. In what was a bad week overall for the Club, Connaught lost 4 out of the 5 disciplines.

A bright spot came in the Two-Wood Singles, where relative newcomer Peter Hambling paid back the faith placed in him by winning comfortably 19-6 against K Jenkins. The match was conceded after 16 of the 18 ends as Peter maintained concentration to the end. He had drawn in splendidly throughout the match and had spotted that his opponent was uncomfortable with the long jack.

In the Four-Wood Singles Derek Liles lost 12-21 against M Shingfield. 1-5 down after four ends Derek fought back to level the match 7-7 after 10 ends but then lost his way a bit against a more experienced opponent to win only two more ends.

In the Pairs Bob Oatway (skip) and Mike Parsons lost 14-24 against D Sherman and G Higgs. Connaught had a reasonable start but fell behind steadily in the middle and closing stages. Mike was steady enough at lead but Bob had trouble with pace, being generally too long.

The triples was a disappointment for Connaught (Jim Ross at skip, Darren Thurston (lead) and John Winup (2)), who lost 17-20 in snatching defeat from the jaws of victory against D Dodman, G Hobart and T Cocks. 3-1 up after four ends Connaught dropped 5 and then 3 to be 3 -9 down. A good recovery saw them lead 10-9 after nine ends and the match then poised at 11-12 after thirteen ends. A 5 on end 14 and a 16-12 lead should have been enough for Connaught to clinch it. However, a decision to cast the jack longer cost them 4 shots on end 15 after which 2 successive 2s were dropped. As skip Jim Ross was pleased with the overall play of his triple. Darren generally drew well, although prone to the occasional short end, and John obeyed instructions to be positive with pace; Jim had a very useful game  but sometimes was too narrow on the forehand side in an effort to find pace. The Hingham 2 and especially the skip did have excellent games to take their side through.

The fours saw Bill Adcock (skip), Keith Banks (lead), Lee Fallows (2) and  Ray Wells (3) pitted against B Moody, P Hunter, N Rollo and D Precious. Connaught's start was dreadful, 1-7 down after 5 ends and 2-10 down after 9 ends. The game then changed as Connaught took 5 on end 10, followed by a 1 and a 2, and levelled the match 10-10 after 12 ends. The momentum was lost, however, as Hingham won four successive ends to put Connaught 10-16 down after 16 ends. The home side fought back well, but the capable Hingham block contained them to four successive single shot ends. Connaught lost 14-16. Generally Connaught played OK, but Lee took some time to find rhythm in his first game of the season (not even a practice session due to work pressures) and Ray is struggling a little at 3 so far. Keith was steady and Bill was again in good form.

This was a good win for Hingham on Connaught territory. Not much in it but they did have the edge in general nous and experience. Also they had two or three very good players at this level. Different permutations were possible with the 11 Connaught players available but in all honesty these would not have changed the result overall. 

Fermoy Cup Match Reports

Connaught 'B' found themselves drawn against Downham Market  'B' in the first round of the Fermoy Cup and played their matches on Thursday 3 May. Downham Market are one of Norfolk's strongest clubs, with the 'A' side in the Premier Zone and the 'B' side in West 1 (there is also a 'C' side in West 3). A difficult night was in prospect for Connaught's two rinks and thus it proved.

At home Alan Marshall skipped Ralf Ramm (lead), Gary Goode (2) and Kevin Noble (3) against a four skipped by D Coates. The Downham players read Rink 6 very quickly and easily and had the ability to bowl to it; they soon established a healthy lead of 10-0 after three ends. Connaught came back a little on occasion but could do nothing to contain a remorseless slaughter ending after 22 ends (the extra end had to be played!) in almost total darkness and miserably cold weather. The score was 8-39 after 21 ends  and Downham won the extra end to make the score 8-40. The Connaught spectators, and indeed their players, settled for admiring the skill of four players who on that form surely would have beaten any Connaught 'A' four (but all the same that has to be conjecture). They drew precisely and built up impenetrable heads; any hint of trouble and a holding Connaught wood was usually despatched to the nether regions of the green. The skip, in particular, was a class player. For Connaught the problems started at lead, where Ralf had a respectable game by his own standards but usually bowled too long; his opponent had no trouble outdrawing anything two feet or more from the jack. Gary and Kevin always bowled under pressure and likewise had opposition too skilful for them.  Both Connaught players tried pace to break up the head and occasionally produced a spectacular shot, but the odds were against them. Alan had a slightly bemused air as he took his turn often several down; occasionally he saved well but was outgunned. Connaught might have done better with Alan drawing in lower down the order and either Gary or Kevin using pace at skip; but that is academic. The Downham players knew they were having an easy ride, but were modest and good-natured about it and good company on and off the green. They were also complimentary about the club's facilities.

Stan Groom and Co (names and playing order will be completed later) had a very similar experience in the away leg, where the margin of defeat was something in the order of 12-38. Stan reports that Connaught did hold their own for ten ends before subsiding and losing all the remaining ends. Even Stan was philosophical and not suicidal about the margin of defeat; they were beaten by a better four. Apparently Downham 'B' are human, however, having lost all three matches in their EBA fixture the previous evening; the West Zone seems quite strong. Stan also reports a good-humoured match and pleasant company.

Connaught 'A' played in the Fermoy Cup against Long Stratton and lost by 40 shots to 43 to a side one division below them in the EBA county league. The home four (Bill Adcock (skip),Terry Makings, Mike Parsons and Derek Liles ) had a sound enough win by 28-17 although Bill reports a shaky personal game. The away four (Jim Ross (skip), Darren Thurston, John Winup and Ivor Moore) lost badly by 12-26 to an aggressive four skipped by Tony Cleverly. The green was heavy and Long Stratton played it better throughout. Darren and John had poor matches, with Darren too often too short and John's game deconstructing in the heavy conditions. An away national singles in the afternoon on the very fast Thetford green, admittedly arranged a long time back, left him ill-equipped for the evening match. Ivor had some good shots but visibly tired. Jim was patchy but had little support. Connaught had one good spell, pulling up from 4-15 after 10 ends to 11-15 after 13, but two dreadfully short woods from Darren on end 14 showed lack of concentration and the four wilted. The disintegration from then on is best not described!

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Bales Cup

After their league drubbing the previous evening at Swardeston, Connaught played County Arts at home in a first round Bales Cup match on Thursday 10 May. The Premier Zone side took no chances against a Division 1 side and brought a very strong team to Attleborough. Connaught's miserable week continued as they went down 39-82 to opposition which simply out-gunned them.

On Rink 1 Bob Oatway, Peter Hambling, Derek Liles and Ken Ramsbottom played respectably in losing 13-24 to Brian Taylor's four. At 9-11 after eleven ends they were well in the match, but as so often happens against good-quality opposition they could not withstand the constant pressure. County Arts doubled their score over five ends and at 16 ends Connaught were 9-22 down. Ken Ramsbottom, playing against his old club, was the experienced player in the Connaught side and reports that tactically the block has much to learn. For example, sides like County Arts always give the jack away but Connaught did not take advantage. Long jacks were set for too much of the time, although Connaught had played well to a shorter length. 

On Rink 2 Jim Ross, Darren Thurston, John Winup and Mike Parsons lost 9-32 to Phillip Barr's block in a comprehensive defeat. At 5-7 down after eight ends, of which they had won five, Connaught were containing well but subsided badly from then on; they were 5-26 down after sixteen ends. Darren had another good game and John held his own for about threre quarters of the match until his opposite number "found it". Mike had good shots but again generally was too short. Jim had another bad match, could not find his draw and was facing a class player in brilliant form. Jim found his touch towards the end but by then the rub of the green was always against him.

On Rink 3 Bill Adcock, Keith Banks, George Sheridan and Ray Wells found themselves 3-17 down after eight ends against R Mitcham and total disaster was facing them. However, with Bill and George playing particularly well, they got the act togther and pulled up to 15-19 after fifteen ends. They could not sustain it but a final score of 17-26 was a good outcome after that start.

Connaught teams in recent years have played well against Premier Zone sides and the club had hoped to be more competitive than they were against County Arts. It was not to be and improvement in the league has to be the target.

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Men's National And County Championships

A men's four kicked off on Tuesday 1 May when Jim Ross (skip), Mike Parsons (lead), John Winup (2) and Terry Makings (3 and substituting for the stricken Ivor Moore) entertained a four from Thetford skipped by Malcolm Struthers. An absorbing contest ensued on Rink 4, going across the clubhouse. Each end saw very good heads but gradually Thetford edged ahead, with good play from John Gardiner at 2 largely being responsible, and Connaught were 4-12 down after thirteen ends and seemingly on the way out. However, they came back well to be only 11-12 down after eighteen ends and 13-14 down after 20. End 21, with a long jack being moved, saw some good play but with Thetford holding 1 shot to win. All eight players performed very well, and despite losing the Connaught block were happy to have held their own in strong company.

On Friday 11 May Jim Ross, Mike Parsons (subbing for the recovering Ivor Moore) and John Winup played at home against a Thetford triple skipped by John Gardner in a first round match. The Connaught players were "up for it"; all three had played together the two previous evenings in losing fours. None of them had distinguished himself and there was a grim determination about them. They played very well to win 22-10 in heavy conditions, Thetford conceding after 16 ends. Mike and John gave Jim a good platform and Jim at last found his form. John Gardner played some superb backhand saving shots but his triple were always up against it.

On the same evening Bill Adcock skipped Keith Banks and Ray Wells against Alan Blakey's block at East Harling and the Connaught triple played very well to win 22-5. Bill has had a good start to the season and on this occasion Keith and Ray joined in!

On Monday 14 May Jim Ross played a first round singles against Alan Byford from Thetford in the National Over-55. Alan had beaten Jim previously in singles matches but could not get into this one. Jim really found form in heavy conditions to win 22-4. A week earlier he had beaten a Hingham opponent at home in the Champion of Champions.

On Thursday 17 May Alan Marshall and John Winup narrowly lost a National Over-55 Pairs, 20-22, at home to a Thetford pair skipped by Peter Scott. 2-13 down after ten ends or so to a pair skilful with a short jack, Connaught came back well (on a long jack!) to 13-14. Dropping 1 and, fatally, 6 then put them 13-21 behind. Another good recovery was not quite enough. In the same competition Jim Ross and Mike Parsons played at home on Friday 18 May  against yet another Thetford pair, led by Len Robinson. Full details are not available, but the Connaught pair played very well to win quite comfortably.

On Friday 25 May Jim Ross lost at home by 2 shots to a Hunstanton opponent in the Champion of Champions. Two triples travelled to Thetford on the same evening for second round county championship matches. Bill Adcock, Russell Hales and Ray Wells lost 10-22 and Terry Makings (deputising for the double-booked Jim Ross), Mike Parsons and John Winup lost 11-22. The green provided a fast and true playing surface and the Connaught triples actually played quite well despite the results. Both home triples played superbly well, however, and deserved their victories.

Only bare details are available of other matches played in May and June. Jim Ross had a good win at home in the National Over-55 when beating a Premier Zone player from Downham Market. On Monday 4 June Jim reverted to his favourite position of lead, with Ivor Moore skipping, when winning 21-13 against a Thetford pair skipped by Peter Scott. (In a pairs and even a triples, Jim's ability at lead will win matches up front. Unfortunately in EBA Fours Connaught do not now have the back-up to move Jim to lead). On the adjoining rink Mike Parsons and John Winup lost by a similar margin to a good Diss pair skipped by Eric Rawsthorne,  but made a fight of it.

In the County Singles on 5 June John Winup conceded home advantage, to allow both home Ashill League matches to go ahead in the evening, and travelled to Wortwell to face Robert Hadingham. He played his best bowls of the season against a good player and was well in touch at 15-16 before succumbing 16-21 after a succession of tight ends in the closing stages. In contrast Jim Ross had a miserable match in the afternoon, losing by some margin at home to Len Robinson of Thetford, an opponent he had beaten before.

Jim Ross and Ivor Moore continued their good form in the National Over-55 Pairs with a fairly comfortable win at home to Wymondham Dell opposition on 14 June. After another victory Jim and Ivor had "won" Norfolk to reach the zonal semi-final at Ipswich on Sunday 15 July. Unfortunately they lost by 7 shots to the home pair 

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 LADIES OUTDOOR BOWLS (EXTERNAL LEAGUES & COMPETITIONS) 2006

Breckland League

Sylvia Parsons captains a side virtually unchanged from last year. At full strength the side will be useful enough. Sylvia and Sheila Bragg are women skips equal to most in the county but have never bothered with the "county badge" scene and remain unrecognised. There is good back-up in Chris Taylor and Carol Tipton. The leads are useful although 2 can be a bit problematical. The dangers are illness, injury and holidays because the reserve strength is not really there.

Connaught Ladies v Mundford Away
Connaught travelled to Mundford for the first match on Monday 14 June and lost 43-58 and 2-6 in a bad start.

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Ladies National Top Club Competition

Connaught travelled to Thorpe Rec on Saturday 2 June to play County Arts (County Arts were hosting the Middleton Cup the same day and the Top club match was moved to neutral territory).

Connaught lost three out of the four disciplines and the overall shots deficit was 49-77

Heather Winup was sounded out for the graveyard Singles spot and to her credit volunteered to have a go. She predictably lost to a former Kent county player and by the huge margin of 2-21. She at least prevented a whitewash by recovering from 0-19. Against somebody who quite simply was better she reports not being too unhappy with her play, often getting second shot and forcing her opponent to play well.

In the Pairs Sylvia Parsons and Diana Adcock had an excellent win 19 shots to 15. The score card shows Connaught gradually pulling ahead in a match where 1 and 2 shot ends were the order of the day. Connaught led 16-10 after 16 ends but then had their one lapse when dropping 4 on end 17 and finding themselves facing possible disappointment. However, Sylvia and Diana are both experienced and competitive under pressure and won 3 out of the last 4 ends to clinch victory.

In  the Triples Sheila Bragg, Margaret Goode and Carol Tipton, along with Sylvia and Diana, looked Connaught's likeliest bet for a winning combination. That view was soon overturned when Connaught steadily dropped shots to be 1-11 down after 7 ends. A storming middle session then saw Connaught crush their opponents to lead 17-14 after 15 ends; a 4 on end 8 and a 5 on end 13 were particular blows. County Arts held their nerve, however, to come back with 1, 1 and 2 over the last three ends. For the neutral this must have been a terrific match, but Connaught naturally would have been disappointed at hot holding on.

In the Fours Chris Taylor, Mary Fallows, Hazel Banks and Vera Moore lost 11-23. If we take away 3 x 4s conceded to County Arts, the match was even and with low-scoring ends. However, those three bad ends of course were crucial. The same four were to lose by a very similar margin a few days later to Swaffham in the Breckland League and they are not clicking at present.

Coronation Triples

Friendly Matches

Ladies National and County Championships 

A Ladies Four comprising Sheila Bragg (skip), Diana Adcock (lead, Vera Moore (2) and Sylvia Parsons (3) has progressed well in the county championships by winning at Great Yarmouth and then at Thetford against strong opposition.  The Four continued to do well and reached the semi-final at R G Carter on Thursday 12 July where they faced a rink from Norfolk BC. In an apparently poor-quality match all round their form deserted them and a tremendous run had ended.

On Saturday evening 2 June Sheila Bragg travelled to Norfolk Bowling Club to play Brenda Whitehead in the champion of champions. Brenda Whitehead, mother of Lynne, is a renowned player in her own right with various county and national titles to her credit. Sheila won by 21-16 in what must be one of the best individual wins by a Connaught player. Sheila, of course, had played in a tough Top Club earlier that day and only she would have contemplated taking on this match in addition. Her own self-belief obviously served her very well! However, Sheila lost her next match by 17-21 at home to a lady from Downham Market who was somewhat disparaging of Heather Winup's marking! 

Sheila Bragg and Margaret Goode had a sizeable win away to Yarmouth opposition in the county pairs on Sunday 10 June and continued their progress a few days later with victory away at Norfolk Bowling Club. Sheila and Margaret won their next match, but details are not available. They eventually reached the finals day at R G Carter on Thursday 12 July and won their morning semi-final. Sadly, they lost the final by 1 shot after a splendid run in the competition.

NOTE FROM WEBSITE REPORTER - the above were all tremendous club performances but I cannot do them full justice if I am not given information

MIXED OUTDOOR BOWLS (EXTERNAL LEAGUES & COMPETITIONS) 2007

Ashill League

Ashill 'A'

Connaught again field four sides in the Ashill Mixed Triples League. Connaught 'A', captain Sheila Bragg, and Connaught 'B, captain Alan Sparrow, again vie with each other in Division 1. Connaught 'D', captain Alan Marshall, move up to Division 3 after last season's promotion and Connaught 'C', captain Alison Rush, remain in Division 4. All four squads are fairly slim in size and other club members undoubtedly will be called upon from time to time. For various reasons, especially given the strength of Division 1 and the horse-trading with Connaught 'A' about squad make-up, Connaught 'B' may struggle the most.

Connaught "A" V Ashill Away
Connaught 'A' travelled to Ashill to play the title holders in their first match on Tuesday 15 May. In a good start they won by 48 shots to 44 and by 6 points to 2. Bill Adcock, Diana Adcock and Sylvia Parsons had an excellent win by 20-9, aided by a 7 on end 3 and a 5 on end 10; the Ashill League often throws up these large-scoring ends. Sheila Bragg, Mike Parsons and Russell Hales formed a new combination and went down 10-20, not surprisingly given that Sheila and Russell had just returned from two weeks holiday and had not previously played outside. In what proved a key match, Ray Wells, Hazel Banks and Keith Banks won by 18-15, a 5 on end 13 giving them a 14-12 lead and determined play maintaining it.

Connaught 'A' did not play the scheduled match at home to Thetford 'B' on Tuesday 22 May as the opposition could not raise a side. The match has been rearranged for August (do the rules of this league need stiffening?)

Connaught "A" V Thetford 'A' Home
Connaught 'A' Beat Thetford 'A' at home on Tuesday 5 June by 55-54 and 6-2.

Ray Wells, Keith Banks and Carol Tipton won 18-15, but after leading 15-7 on end 11 were reduced to 16-15 after sixteen ends; they held their nerve for single shot wins on ends 17 and 18.

Lee Fallows, Hazel Banks and Derek Liles were in a  close match throughout with the score 15-15 after sixteen ends. Thetford played well to get 2 x 2s and Connaught lost 15-19.

Bill Adcock, Diana Adcock and Sylvia Parsons won 22-20 in a match of twists and turns. Connaught scored 1 x 4 and 1 x 7, while Thetford had 1 x 5 and 1 x 6!

Over the last two ends Thetford scored 15 shots to 2 and made a comfortable Connaught position a rather fraught one.

Connaught "A" V Swaffham 'A' Away
Connaught 'A' travelled to Swaffham 'A' on Tuesday 12 June and had a good win by 70-42 and 6-2

Bill Adcock, Derek Liles and Sylvia Parsons had a rather torrid time in losing 12-24. Dropping 5s on ends 4 and 6 and a 4 on end 15 did not help their cause.

Sheila Bragg, Mike Parsons and Russell Hales won well by 24-11. 1-5 down after four ends, they had an inspired spell to lead 17-6 after twelve ends and had plenty in hand at the finish.

Ray Wells, Hazel Banks and Keith Banks had a walking on water evening as they demolished their opponents 34-7. 7 shots on end 4, 6 on end 12, 5 on end 15 and 4 on end 16, as well as 2 x 3s early on, tell their own story

Connaught "A" V Aldiss Park Away
Connaught travelled to Alldiss Park, Dereham, on Thursday 21 June for a rearranged match and lost  45-53 and 2-6.

Sheila Bragg, Keith Banks and Russell Hales went down 10-17 in a low-scoring match. Leading 4-3 after four ends they then lost their way to be 4-12 down after ten ends. They achieved parity after that but could not break through.

Ray Wells, Hazel Banks and Carol Tipton  started well and led 7-3 after five ends. After twelve ends they were 7-24 down; in this dreadful spell they dropped 5 on end 7 and 6 on end 12. The final deficit was 11-27.

Bill Adcock, Diana Adcock and Sylvia Parsons provided the one bright spot in winning 24-9. They conceded very little to their opponents, who were contained to 7 x1 and 1 x 2, and amassed 1 x5 and 2 x 4 on their way to victory.

All in all this was an uninspired performance against opponents to be met in the Jermy Cup on 24 June.

Connaught "A" V Connaught 'B'  Home
Connaught 'A' then were "at home" to Connaught 'B' in a derby match on Tuesday 26 June. Connaught 'A' lost 39-42 and 2-6 in an extremely close contest in which all three matches went to the wire.

On Rink 4 Bill Adcock, Diana Adcock and Keith Banks won 13-12 against Ivor Moore, Heather Winup and Vera Moore, just edging out the opposition with a single shot on the last end. There was a good contest at lead with Heather holding her own against Diana. Keith and Vera both had wayward shots on occasion but generally played well in cancelling