The first midweek games

Thought for this midweek is paraphrased from seminal a Edwin Starr hit “Midweeks what is it good for? Absolutely nothing”

Midweeks at the Olton are a tad odd this year - 4 teams, none of them have a full schedule, they all start at different times and we at this moment have way too many bowlers wanting to play to be able give everyone as many games as they would like. Come a few weeks time we could be scrabbling around for bodies but you never know. Certainly we have to look next year at changing one league and perhaps if we continue to attract players explore the feasibility of adding a 5th midweek side.

It was cup week in the East Birmingham and Captain Pete had been bold, leaving himself out and sending a rag tag bunch of ragamuffins to the Bradford and leaving and even stranger side at home. The home side comprised of 3 Taylors and a Messiah, while away Karen enjoyed herself entertaining Tony and the Bobs.

At home we got off to a good start with CJ winning 7 (seven) yes you have read that correctly take some deep breathes, and yours truly winning to 5. Scotty split the difference with a win to six and even had time to show his immeasurable patience and tact by calmly deciding an end should be called dead after a duff measure rather than throwing the cantankerous spectator over a hedge. Steve completed the clean sweep winning 11 to give us a 55 win at home.

Meanwhile away at The Bradford Karen and Bob had put the game beyond doubt with wins to 4 and to 10 while Tony and Bob 2 lost to 10 and 11. A seven shot away win allied to the huge home win equals through to the next round of the cup.

Thursday A

Our only midweek side to start league bowls in April made its bow last night at home and a packed house of supporters were there to roar them home or, more accurately, stand around chatting and distracting everyone within 100 yards from what was happening on the green. Maybe it’s the friendly nature of the league and maybe it was the noxious cloud of weed that blew over from the neighbours and filled every pore but whatever it was a very chilled evening.

Wiggy begged and pleaded to be involved on a Thursday and made a very average start winning to 14. CJ went behind early moaning and groaning before being all smiles when he ran out winning to 12. Karen won 13 and jack finished of a big first four winning to 5. Something had to go right for the poor lamb who had lost his wallet, left his fags behind at the Olton and was locked out of the house naked so had to steal some clothes of a washing line on the way to the game.

The second four found life a little more taxing Dave Evans, Chris James and Steve Myatt all losing in tight games to 16 17 and 20 respectively. John Lloyd though bucked the trend and put a disappointing last season behind him with a good win to 14. So a win by 37 with 5 winners equalling 15 points a good solid start.