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They Did it for The King, Now They’ve Done it for Parwich!

What more suitable way to mark our 139 to 92 home win over Matlock Bath on Thursday than with a flypast by the Red Arrows? As the last of the doubles pairings left the green with the advantage turning our way the boys in those wonderful scarlet Hawks swooped over our tidy stadium in “Box” formation. (Maybe they flew on elsewhere just as an excuse to be able to celebrate with us, but) how many Crown Green Bowling clubs can boast that?

It was an emphatic victory, though an afternoon well-enjoyed by both sides in the warm June sunshine. Congratulations to Lynn who picked up a fine victory on her debut with the Club. In fact we went on to win all six of the singles games to put us within touching distance of the impressive Belper Meadows at the business end of the League Table.

Two days before we were narrowly beaten in a most entertaining and exciting tussle at Whitworth Park; a match that went on far beyond the expected duration. On a green running so fat it was a feat in itself to control each shot, especially against a team who must have had a good deal of home advantage as it behaved far differently to our own, and also with the conditions darkening somewhat as nine o’clock loomed. Credit therefore to all for running them so close – there was a mere 5 points in it at the end. Warm handshakes and congratulations followed, until we all realised that car park time was running out and the exit from such resembled the old-fashioned Le Mans start!

This week sees the return of Matlock Bath for a Tuesday fixture, though in the different format of that competition it is likely that a different team will be playing and we’ll need to be on our mettle in order to take the spoils again. However it’s Thursday that carries the hunger and the lust for anticipation through the Bowls World as we travel to lock horns for the first time with Belper Meadows. Their record and indeed their reputation precedes them already this year and this undoubtedly promises to be our toughest test to date in the present campaign.  

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Mark J.

Back Down to Earth….

Were this piece to have been written a mere five days ago it would have appeared an altogether more upbeat epistle, for at that time your Bowls Club were still unbeaten across both the Tuesday and the Thursday competitions. However a week can be a long time in sport and during that time we came up against two very finely-honed troupes of bowlers and ended up humbled by each of them.  

Prior to this our relentless march looked impressive as we took on Chatsworth at their tricky venue for a Tuesday evening match; a green tight in either direction and with run-offs as remorseless as can be seen anywhere, and yet came away with a fine 75 to 69 victory. The journey home was a cheerful one that evening. A mere two days later we were on the road again, this time to Baslow. What an encounter that proved to be…. A ten point deficit after the opening doubles games began to suggest that our days of domination may be showing signs of faltering; but no – not with the spirit that was evident in the ensuing singles pairings as we battled for every point to redeem our position. It was as exciting a finish as this sport can throw up; absolutely level at the end. 123 points apiece, a draw being a fair result all round, methinks, and as warm handshakes all around undoubtedly suggested. A great game indeed for a debut to be made and it was great to welcome Gavin into the team to be a part of this.

But this week was to be different. Going into Tuesdays match brimmed with confidence, only to find a particularly strong Wirksworth outfit arriving at Parson’s Croft. Always a pleasure to play against our friends and neighbours from this fine town, we’ve had some great tussles over the years. This time they were to get the better of us and we finished to evening on the wrong end of a 79 to 64 scoreline that has seen us drop two places in the League. Thursday went pretty much the same way when Hope Works were our visitors. Once again ever gratifying to host such a band of amiable souls, nonetheless on this occasion it was they who laughed last and took the spoils 130 to 118. Such things though need to be taken on the chin and I’m sure we’ll regroup, lick our wounds and return stronger for it; well played to those who deservedly beat us.

What fortune awaits Parwich this week? Only time will tell, but I’m sure that no corner will be given in our sortie to Whitworth Park on Tuesday, nor for the visit of Matlock Bath on Thursday where we will aim once again to tuck in tight behind the League leaders. Come on Parwich!

Mark J.