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After the first month and a half of the season being played out in rain, hail, sleet, fog and blizzards, I realised yesterday that crown green bowls can be just as enjoyable when played as a summer sport. On a balmy sunny afternoon at Parson’s Croft yesterday the Parwich team; a finely honed and well-oiled machine of a group if there ever was one, extended their hold on the top of the Matlock Thursday League with a thumping 148 to 94 win over Whitworth Park. There were some close encounters though, with spirited fightbacks offered by the visitors in many of the games before our own cavaliers refused to give up the cause and battle to the ultimate victory. Dot and Sue, and Fran and Penny indeed are worthy of mentions here for shining though in their doubles encounters, and I believe we then triumphed in all of the singles games. Fair play indeed to Whitworth for a great and enjoyable match.
This, though, was not the case in the Tuesday League when only two evenings before our travelling band had to admit we were definitively beaten on Wirksworth’s huge and tricky green. Home advantage and a team of very experienced bowlers told as we eventually went down by around 20 points. All of our players certainly gave it all they had and it’s worthy of mention that we won a couple of the games quite convincingly, but I have to say that Wirksworth’s knowledge and class told in the end. 
The overriding factor though is; what smashing people we have met both on our travels and welcomed to our home ground. It’s been a pleasure to have shared some of these people’s time and to have competed in a friendly but determined manner against them. It’s what sport’s about! Mark J…