Papworth B v St Ives B

At long last I've achieved one aim, to play for the men's league team. Away at Papworth Everard, for the hour or so before the match it was pouring down. Not sure I signed up for getting soaked. Must get a pair of waterproof trousers.

After a slight panic getting stuck in traffic coming out of St Ives and having to take a detour, arrived at the Papworth green. Began to appreciate just how good the facilities are at St Ives. Our opponents club house was a large shed with a verandah on the front. In affect just a changing room, a small corner of which sold cans of drink. No food and warm drinks.

Checked with our Captain how the winner is decided. Each team is three groups of four, each player using two bowls. Normally played highest score after twentyone ends, this early in the season we played eighteen. Each winning group scores two points, one point for a draw. The team with the highest total ends won scores a bonus point. So a total seven points is on offer.

Our group started well and held the lead throughout, winning 18-9. Played a few bowls too narrow, but at least I contributed to the result without doing anything spectacular.

Papworth were always going to win the match on rink one. They went way ahead from the start. Although our side did rally half way through, the end result was never in doubt.

Our final group was also behind for much of their game, pulling level with just two ends to go. In the penultimate end their skip change a winning position with his last bowl by pushing the jack through to make it three to St Ives! Winning the last end as well, it was victory to us!

Was a busy green, with the other three ends being used for an over sixties match. With tennis being played next door, plenty of activity. In fact the tennis floodlights came in handy as our group finished last, after 8.30pm.

Our B team is newly promoted from Division 4. The gap between divisions is so big it's typical a new team gets demoted the very next season. So this is a fantastic result in our first match away from home, scoring five points, two against.

Here's an aerial image of Papworth bowls green...