In very hot and humid conditions, the Royal Mail Cart BC open EBF Durham Centenary Trophy side played their first round game in the Southern Section playoffs away against RG Carters BC in Norfolk.
This competition is played over a two-year cycle, with the first year in a county to find that winner and the second with each counties’ winners in both a northern and southern section playing to decide the area’s champion club and play an overall final held at Skegness.
Having won the Lincolnshire county title (The Challenge Bowl) for the past five years, the Mail Cart is able to field a Durham Centenary team, with the team ready to start a third attempt at the title.
In a 25-end match of two bowl triples over four rinks, the side managed both the hot weather and tricky away green well to win by 93 shots to 68 and qualify for the semi final against Blackstones BC.
Rink scores: Ruby Philpott, Chelsea Spencer and Martin Spencer won 22-9, Steve Hill, Phil Cooke and Jordan Philpott won 27-17, John Allen, Chris Mycock and Kevin Ekins won 23-20, Dan Mills, Martin Simpson and Ben Wilson lost 21-22.
- Another week of local league action started with a first match in the section four EBA fours league (three rinks), and saw an opening game between the defending champions both in the section and at the county club championships Royal Mail Cart A playing Royal Mail Cart B.
The A team finished on top with 78 shots to 32 and collect the maximum eight points available.
The A team won on all three rinks with the top winning rink skipped by Martin Spencer, with Steve Hill, Ben Sharp and Graham Smith who won 29-8.
The next match for the A team is away against Castle BC, and for the B team versus Moulton Harrox BC at home.
Rink scores: Steve Hill, Ben Sharp, Graham Smith and Martin Spencer beat Sue Jackson, Mel Mashford, Mick Dolton ND Graham Jackson 29-8, Dan Mills, Phil Cooke, Kevin Ekins and Andy Dunham beat Graham Astley, Colin Wilson, Keira Thurston and Andrew Thurston 26-10, Tracy Philpott, Sally Humphries, Ruby Philpott and Chelsea Spencer beat Aarron Bates, John Breed, Nigel Brown and Rob Lacey 22-14.
- After defeats in their opening two matches, the Royal Mail Cart A team (three rinks of EBA triples) were looking for a first win in Division 2 away against Gosberton BC, but went down 42 shots to 60, gaining one point (with a drawn rink) from the maximum ten available.
That rink was skipped by Rob Lacey, with Malcolm Robinson and Graham Brickles who fought out a 15-15 draw.
Rink scores: Malcolm Robinson, Graham Brickles and Rob Lacey drew 15-15, Alan Shakespeare, Frank Lawson and Ian Brickles lost 18-24, John Breed, Graham Astley and George Richardson (sub Judith Lacey) lost 9-21.
The Royal Mail Cart B team (three rinks of EBA triples) were due to face Carter’s Park BC A away last Tuesday night but the game was postponed due to a waterlogged green.
- In the Thursday night league (four rinks of EBF triples) with both sides in the ‘12 players’ division, the A team looked to continue their strong start at home against Castle BC.
In a close tie, the A team won by 84 shots to 72 and gained four points from the maximum six available.
The team won on two rinks and lost on two rinks with the top winning rink skipped by new member Chris Mycock, with Aidan Brickles and Nigel Brown who won 30-11.
Their next match is against Mail Cart B on June 4.
Rink scores: Aidan Brickles, Nigel Brown and Chris Mycock won 30-11, Mick Dolton, Julie Allen and Ben Wilson won 21-18, Sally Humphries, John Allen and Steve Hill lost 16-20, Mel Mashford, Dan Mills and Phil Cooke lost 17-23.
The B team (four rinks of EBF triples) in the same league were away against Moulton Harrox, and suffered another heavy defeat losing by 38 shots to 105 and did not obtain any rink wins or match points, losing 6-0.
Their next match is away against Whaplode Drove BC on May 28.
Rink scores: Colin Wilson, Aarron Bates and Alan Shakespeare lost 6-36, George Richardson, Judith Lacey and Paul Turner lost 11-31, Elaine Mycock, Graham Brickles and Rob Lacey lost 8-24, Graham Astley, John Breed and Joe Mellon lost 13-14.
- The Friday afternoon league (one rink of EBF triples) saw the Mail Cart as the host club in Division 1, and the highlight being the A team versus B team.
The A team consisted of Sally Humphries, Steve Hill and Paul Turner facing Graham Astley, Alan Shakespeare and Joe Mellon and saw victory for the B rink by 22 shots to 13 and get another valuable two points.
The next set of Division 1 fixtures will be played on May 29 with the Royal Mail Cart being the host club and will see the A team play against Carter’s Park BC A and the B team versus Sutton Bridge.
- After a great start away in their opening fixture, the Friday night league (three rinks of EBF triples) team were back at home against Castle BC and continued their strong performance winning by 62 shots to 42 and managed the maximum five points available.
The team won on all three rinks with the top winning rink skipped by Rob Lacey, with Malcolm Robinson and Graham Brickles, who won 20-11.
Their next match is at home against the Crowland Crows BC on May 29.
Rink scores: Malcolm Robinson, Graham Brickles and Rob Lacey won 20-11, Joy Hardacre, Ian Brickles and Ed Baxter won 21-15, Graham Astley, Judith Lacey and Aidan Brickles won 21-16.
- Congratulations to Dominic McVittie and Ruby Philpott who have been invited to the Bowls England international squad day on June 7.
This will see invitees for Men’s, Ladies’, Under-18s and Para players attend sessions with teams selected for their respective British Bowls events later in the summer.
McVittie’s event is being held at Victoria Park in Royal Leamington Spa whereas Philpott will travel to Whitnash BC (also Leamington).
