In our League

In our league, in our league,
In this league onward,
All in the valley of Death
Bowled the 8 Taverners.
“Forward, the Wednesday A"
Charge for the lights they said.
Into the valley of Death
Bowled the 8 Taverners.

Okay so i am not Tennyson. I am probably not even a twoyson, but honestly recent travels to The Valley have felt like the charge of the light brigade. Men sent in to battle in hapless fashion, a beautiful but futile struggle against overwhelming odds. While this outing only yielded one winning card there was a litany of losing cards from 15 up that could have all gone either way. Once again its a massive hats off to the Boys and Girls of The Valley who play at what should be the best bowling complex in the country, but instead have to play at a shell of a venue.


Thursday round up

So close and yet so far was the story to Scottys debut as captain of the Thursday night delights. Four winners apiece and falling short by the fingers on one hand, probably my bowling hand :( in my defense my opponent was great and i was walking like walter brennen in rio bravo.

(If you think I'm using another picture of Walter Brennan when Angie Dickinson was in this film you are mistaken!! Ed)


Good wins From Scott, Wiggy, Karen and Cat couldn't overcome my handicap but it was a good start to the season in a new division.



Saturday

Well what can be said except it was a very strange day indeed. The Olton tavern had a mild on for the first time since Cj got his last one pound note out of the wallet. The juniors bounced back from an epic defeat to register their biggest win since the Falklands War and a horse a horse my kingdom for a horse! Or alternatively for 1 or 2 of the four seniors we have lost from last year.


For the seniors it was a day that had so many positives but a couple of glaring negatives. The effort and team ethic was the probably the best since I returned. Unfortunately we are lacking in experience and depth. Much like last week we got close but never quite got enough of a lead to defend and didn't make the most of a few opportunities. Highlights included Kiff pulling out a lazarus like comeback and Jaymo's fightback should have been by portrayed by Robert Powell on Easter Sunday. Wiggy's brooding intensity was overflowing as he continues his volcanic form with another single figure win. This year Wiggly has been more Charizard when last year he could barely manage a Jigglypuff. The Steve Myatt renaissance continues with Donatello like masterpieces being bowled regularly and Cat has seamlessly segued into life in the seniors.

We arrived back to surprisingly find the mild was still on and the juniors had won with 10 winners. In an even bigger surprise Cat and Killer, the two players with a social life were at a loose end and stayed for the evening. After a good few drinks Cat turned to Chris with love in her eyes and uttered the immortal words "I am sorry I have eaten Raspberries". I love drunk people

Like all clubs we are short on players, we have taken steps to rectify this and have had some success in attracting new bowlers to the game, this however is a shout out to all those lapsed bowlers out there shopping on a weekend, get back out contact your local club or better still contact me and join the tavern your game needs you.

(If lapsed bowlers need any more incentive to play, here's another picture of Angie Dickinson. Ed)