Courtfield Weekly Report: Late, Great, and Just About Worth the Wait

Apologies for the lateness of this week’s report — the bowls may be improving, but the reporting department clearly needs a bit more practice on the draw. We’ll aim to be more efficient going forward, but here’s a full round-up from another action-packed week for Courtfield.

Carliol League

After last week’s Facebook poll asking “who made the worst defence of their title?”, Courtfield A captain Paul Campbell can at least take comfort from one thing — he beat Arne Slot’s Liverpool comfortably in that department. With the A Team having a vacant date in the Carliol League, Captain Campbell was spared another opportunity to strengthen his case.

That left the spotlight on the Courtfield B Team, who hosted a strong Kirkbride side currently sitting third in the league.

Rink 1, Jean, Evelyn and Dawesy were up against R. Peart’s triple and, after five ends, were probably wishing they had taken the vacant date as well. Trailing 14-0, things looked bleak, but the Courtfield trio showed great spirit and battled back to 15-9 just four ends later. Hopes of a full comeback faded though, as Kirkbride steadied themselves and went on to win 21-12.

Rink 2, Julie, Tony J and Gill faced D. Neaves’ trio, who also started strongly. Courtfield trailed 8-3 after six ends, but this rink was having absolutely none of it. They won the next four ends, including a magnificent seven on the 9th end, turning the match on its head. They held on superbly to claim a great 16-12 win and earn Courtfield’s two points.

Rink 5, Joanne, Tony A and Dave G came up against T. Pape’s triple and found themselves outbowled throughout. It was one of those games where the opposition had all the answers, with Kirkbride running out convincing 31-5 winners.

Rink 6, Anne, George P and John M had a similar story against C. McDonagh’s triple. At 6-5 down after five ends, Courtfield were well in the game, but sadly that was as good as it got. Kirkbride pulled away strongly to win 18-8.

Overall, it was a tough evening against a good Kirkbride team, with Courtfield picking up 2 points. Dalston are the early pace setters at the top of the league.

Over 55s Carliol League

There was more confusion in the Over 55s Carliol League, with the original fixture list showing Courtfield at home. Stanwix duly travelled to Courtfield, only for the game to be played at Stanwix due to Courtfield hosting the HVP. Not ideal, but at least everyone got a tour of Carlisle before a bowl was sent.

Once play finally got underway, Alan Dobson, Alan Dawes and Ian Blenkinsop continued their excellent start to the season, maintaining their 100% record with a solid 16-12 win.

John McLaren, Tony Raffles and George Pape looked to be heading for a heavy defeat when they trailed 15-4 after ten ends, but they produced a brilliant fightback and only just missed out, losing 16-14.

Mike Dewhurst, David Myers and Chris Slack were involved in another tight contest, but they were edged out 14-13.

The final triple of Colin Jefferson, Tony Ashbridge and David Davidson were last on the green, and at one stage were lying four shots, which would have given Courtfield another 6-4 victory. Unfortunately, Stanwix had the last wood and drew shot, turning the match around and leaving Courtfield with an 8-2 defeat, losing by just 59-56 shots overall.

A frustrating result, but a valiant effort from the lads.

County Competitions

On Sunday, Tayler travelled to Aspatria for his restricted singles tie against Paul Pattinson and came away with an excellent 21-15 victory. He now moves on to face T. Jennings of Seascale in the next round.

On Wednesday evening, there was County Triples action. Away from home, Mr Chris, Tayler and Kev travelled to Cleator Moor and were narrowly beaten 17-14.

There was better news back at Courtfield, where John B, Captain Campbell and Carsy faced I. Laverick’s triple from Whitehaven. The Courtfield trio put in a strong performance and came away with a cracking 21-13 win. They now go on to face Dave Hodgson’s triple from Wigton.

Elsewhere, last year’s winners from Wigton Park narrowly defeated Vic Emmerson’s triple in a close game, winning 17-16.

Stann Bragg League

Courtfield made the long trip to Kirkbride on Monday afternoon, with a late change seeing Steve Boyd come in for Ian Blenkinsop, meaning a few positions had to be shuffled around.

As the game got underway, so did the rain — and for one rink, it looked like being a very long afternoon.

Tony J, Steve B and Ian P found themselves in early trouble against G. Fox, D. Frizell and R. Peart, trailing by nine shots after only five ends. A decent rally in the middle of the game gave Courtfield a bit of hope, closing the gap to 12-8 after ten ends, but Kirkbride finished the stronger and Courtfield went down 17-9.

There were no such problems for Steve G, Dai and George G, who were in superb form against C. McDonagh’s triple. A six on the fourth end did most of the damage, and from there they never looked in danger. Kirkbride were restricted to just five singles all game as Courtfield cruised to a crushing 19-5 win.

On the other rink, Mr Chris, Mike D and Dawesy faced T. Pape’s triple and made a strong start, scoring heavily early on to lead 9-3. They kept the home side mainly to singles and controlled the game well, eventually winning 15-8.

That gave Courtfield an excellent 6-2 win away from home against a strong Kirkbride side.

Tuesday Night — Men’s National Club Two Fours

Tuesday Night — Men’s National Club Two Fours

On Tuesday night, the Courtfield B Team once again travelled to Subscription in the Men’s National Club Two Fours — and once again it was decided by the finest of margins.

Courtfield came away with a superb 35-34 victory, beating the Subs “Internationals” on their own green in a match that had just about everything: drama, darkness, disbelief, and a home crowd that went from whoop-whooping to funeral silence in the space of one bowl.

The win was built mainly around an outstanding performance from George Gray’s rink, with Steve Boyd, Dai and Steve Griffiths, who produced a brilliant display to beat Gally’s rink by 12 shots and give Courtfield the platform for victory.

On the other rink, Hong Kong’s rink, featuring the President duo Dawes and Jake Jackson, along with Ian P, looked to be in real trouble. They were eight down with two ends to play, then dropped a four, leaving the whole match hanging on the very last end.

In the gathering gloom, it came down to the final two bowls. Courtfield were holding, only for John Baird to play a worldly — as he had done for most of the game — flicking the jack on the way through to sit what looked like the match lie. The Subscription crowd erupted, convinced the job was done, the great escape complete, and Courtfield’s hopes finally sunk.

Then came the silence.

Up stepped Hong Kong, with the sort of bowl that ruins evenings, quietens greens, and sends opposition players home staring out of car windows. He delivered the shot of this, and possibly any, season to snatch victory for the underdogs.

The reaction from the Subscription side said everything. From celebration to devastation in seconds, they looked like a team who had already written the victory speech, only to have the paper ripped up at the very last moment. Courtfield, meanwhile, did what any respectful away side would do after a brutal last-bowl robbery — celebrated warmly, smiled politely, and enjoyed every single second of it.

A magnificent game to play in, even if the heart rates of everyone involved may still not have fully recovered.

Ladies League

The ladies travelled to Brampton on Wednesday afternoon, and with a few players unavailable, the teams had to be shuffled around. Thankfully, unlike most last-minute reshuffles, this one actually worked.

On the first rink, Evelyn, Aileen W and Julie took on S. Wood. After dropping three on the opening end, they responded immediately by picking up three of their own on the next. From there, they never looked back, leading for the rest of the game and finishing with an excellent 17-9 win. A very good result for a new combination.

On the second rink, Jean, Margaret K and Aileen M faced L. Lewis and made the perfect start, picking up four on the first end. Like the first rink, they stayed in front throughout and held on well to win 11-8.

On the third rink, Gill, Corrine and Anne took on P. Wood, with Anne moving to lead after a change around. The Courtfield trio made a great start and led 11-5 after 12 ends, but Brampton fought back, picking up a two and a three over the next two ends. Going into the final end Courtfield were still one up, but a winning bowl from the opposition meant the game finished 11-11.

Overall, it was a solid 7-1 win for the ladies — and proof that sometimes a forced shuffle is exactly what is needed.

The next game is at home on Wednesday 27th against Solway.

Stann Bragg League - Wednesday

Courtfield had little time to enjoy the Kirkbride result, with a quick turnaround for a rearranged Wednesday afternoon fixture against Wetheral — and the chance to turn one good win into a very good week.

Steve G, Dai and George G continued their fine form against Mike Scott’s triple. Despite trailing 6-1 after four ends, they soon took control and allowed Wetheral only two more singles for the rest of the game, running out convincing 17-8 winners.

Dave G, Steve B and Jaffa were involved in a proper battle against J. Proctor’s triple. At 10-10 after eleven ends, the game could have gone either way. Two singles then put Wetheral in charge with two ends to play, but Courtfield showed great grit and determination, picking up a three and then a two to snatch a brilliant 15-12 win.

On the final rink, Tony J, Ian P and Ian B started well and built a six-shot lead, sitting 12-6 up after nine ends. However, the Wetheral trio fought back strongly and then took control with a six on the penultimate end. Courtfield picked up a two on the last, but it was not quite enough, with D. Stobo’s visiting triple taking the rink 18-16.

Still, it was another very good 6-2 win for Courtfield, which should push them right up towards the top end of the table.

Two games, two 6-2 wins, and suddenly the Stann Bragg campaign is looking very healthy indeed.

A packed week for Courtfield brought a bit of everything: good wins, narrow defeats, last-end drama, and one or two moments that probably shortened a few careers.

Across the club there were plenty of positives, with strong league results, continued progress in the county competitions, and some excellent performances in difficult conditions. Not every result went our way, but the effort, fight and team spirit were there throughout.

Attention now turns to another busy week of bowls, with more league fixtures, county ties and chances to keep the momentum going. Good luck to everyone playing this week — let’s hope for plenty more Courtfield wins, slightly calmer finishes, and maybe even a report that lands on time.