Tuesday the 22nd to Thursday the 24th of July

Tuesday saw the visit of Solihull Marsh lane. We are always happy to see the local boys and girls from the common end of Solihull - just as Yardley was the common end of East Birmingham when they all played for the Yew Tree. Please forgive the lack of details as this was a while ago and I have not only slept but have partaken in the odd glass of alcohol since.

I believe we won quite comfortably in the end after enduring quite a shaky start with Chris Greenhill pulling out a good win Over Melvyn Davey. Yours truly had a lovely game with a lady just starting out in the bowls world - It was a pleasure to bowl someone who was just happy to be learning and improving and she should be very proud of herself. Scott Saunders from the Moseley came watched some of the games before leaving in disgust at either his Dad's performance or the general standard but I guess that is a question best left to the philosophers.

Wednesday

Colebrook away

The Wednesday A side fell agonisingly short away at the Colebrook. I wont elaborate further on the game as Junior has already posted a report on talking bowls. The one thing I will comment on is I don’t think the Colebrook experiment of only cutting one side of the green is necessarily a winner.


Thursday

Now Thursday I remember or, more accurately, I took a photo of the card so I can make everything else up from there.

The game started slowly for the Olton. Ken and Karen came played okay but losing 13 and 18 respectively. Thankfully Jack and Steve were bowling beautifully to win 8 and 9. Jack can’t take all the credit for his man of the match performance though as moments before the game the young stroker was deliberating which woods he would bowl with. Neither option was filling him with excitement and poor Jack had the look of a bewildered and glum puppy. With me in a non playing Captain capacity I seized the day and thrust my bowls into his hands. Jack weighed them carefully and said “are you sure I am allowed to play with them?” his baby blues looking up at me all gratefully, beads of seat beginning to pearl on his brow as his breath grew shallow with the excitement. I best stop here we are in danger of tripping into 50 shades of grey territory (on that note do not watch the trailer you girls will only be disappointed). After a few ropey ends Jack, playing with a proper set of bowls, proved he can actually bowl a reasonable game. At least one member of the Savage family should get themselves a proper pair of woods.

The next four games could easily have gone either way but I am pleased to say Dave ,Andy, Alan and John all gutted out great victories. John particularly had endured a rough trot results wise so it was great to see him not only bowl so well but get the victory.

The B team were meanwhile winning at the most boring green on earth Wootton Hall. With CJ losing to a lady who was inebriated celebrating her birthday, Savo and Peter getting 20 and 18 others would have to step up as tonight’s heroes. Scotty and Graham picked up victories to 6 but it was Maggie whose card gave us a chance, winning 14. Karen and Lesley both dug deep in their games to score the points that secured the away win. In other news, a dog chased the sheep only for the sheep to realise they outnumbered him 40 – 1 and chased him back. No doubt when they caught him they gave him a good shoeing.