July 2026
| Column 1 | Column 2 |
|---|---|
Wednesday 1st |
Our first match this month was away to Hurst in the OTL. We had won the Home fixture 4-1, scoring 88 shots to 70. This win had gained us 12 OTL points and we were keen to "do the double." We managed to get the desired win, but won only 3 of the 5 rinks. The score was 82-70 in our favour and we added 10 OTL points to our total. At the end of last season we had 81 points in the OTL. So far this season, we already have 58, so well done us. Our highest winning rink was Rink 1. Margaret Bullock, Alan Gough and Jim Bland had a great start, winning the first 3 ends and leading 7-0. Hurst scored a single, then Shiplake scored 4 and 2, for a 13-1 lead. Another single for Hurst on end 7 was answered by 4 shots on end 8. Hurst scored another single on end 9, but Shiplake scored a pair on ends 10 and 11. Seven ends to play and Shiplake held a 21-3 lead. Hurst got slightly the better of the final ends, winning 4 (1,2,1,2) to Shiplake's 3 (1,1,2), but it was a resounding win for Shiplake 25-9. There was another good win on Rink 5, Jane Ward, Mike Lovejoy and Wendy Cross had a shaky start and trailed 2-6 after 5 ends, but two shots on end 6 reduced the gap a little, Shiplake then put their stamp on the game with a 4 and a 2 in reply to Hurst's single and Shiplake now led 8-7 after end 8. It was all Shiplake from that point. Hurst managed three singles, but Shiplake scored 2,3,3,2,1,2,1 to run out easy winners by 22-10. Also winners were Rink 2. David Lloyd, Lorraine Walters and Pete Leverett won 3 of the first 4 ends to lead 4-1. The next 4 ends went to Hurst, all with singles and they led 5-4. A 3 and a 5 pushed Shiplake into a 12-5 lead and the remainder of the game was evenly matched. Both sides won 4 ends, both scores 4 singles and the game ended with Shiplake having 16 shots and Hurst 9. Commiserations go to the other two Shiplake triples, who had a rough time but contributed valuable shots toward the winning total. |