With only one more match in each league left it looks like our Bowls Club has just about managed to survive another year. And although there has been a distinct lack of any kind of enthusiasm from the village the few souls who turn out every week have carried on regardless. Apart from Ron Twigg, Jack Cundy, the Sheffield Caravanners, the occasional tourist and the regular visitors from outer space, nobody knows where the bowling green is. Anyway having done really well the past couple of weeks all the wheels came off this week, apart from our Edith.
Matlock Tuesday League – Away, 28 August – Bradwell.
Do you know Bradwell had the audacity to let a teenager play for their team! Where will crown green bowls end up? They are third in the division and showed it. We were well and truly defeated. We did not win one game. However, Edith Rider, playing again with Rick Manning, nearly did a Houdini act. They were losing 15/5 and at one stage it was game point to Bradwell 20/10, but Edith and Rick came back and only just lost 21/20. Edith is close to being able to walk on water in a bowling sense that is. The final match score was a loss of 84 to 52.
Last match of the season – Home – Matlock Bath. – 4 September 5.30pm.
Matlock Thursday Friendly League – Away, Bakewell – 30 August.
Second in the division to Matlock are Bakewell and apart from being better than us their green is unbelievably tricky to play on. It’s not a conventional square green, but a long thin oblong. Enough of the excuses we lost really well! In the doubles games we scored fewer points than we did last week and trailed in 63/26, despite a gallant effort from Audrey Bunting partnered by Clare Evans. Again however the singles came a bit to our rescue, with the star Edith Rider showing us the way. We won by 83 to 78. As you mathematical geniuses will have calculated we lost overall by 141 to 109. This I am sure will keep Bakewell second in the division, but may drop us a place or two into the bottom half.
Last match – Home – Baslow – 6 September – 1.45pm.
Ashourne Bowls Club have again invited us to play indoor short mat bowls through the winter on Monday afternoons. Why not come along and have a go. It is expensive though, a £1 per week. Let us know if you want a lift. Starts 8 October, 1.30pm.
John B.


Small consolation I know, but I do enjoy reading your reports!