Following our triples league win on Tuesday at Godalming (as reported previously), a win which puts us top of this league, our game at Mayford Hall on Wednesday was abandoned halfway through because of heavy rain. The Friday night team of 1 rink then had another creditable win at home to a good Camberley “B” side. Saturday again saw us having to play in wet conditions in the home friendly against Pippbrook, but we persevered to just pip them (sorry) on all rinks.

Sunday saw better conditions and three triples went to Wonersh for a friendly game, played in a very enjoyable atmosphere on a lush if slowish green.  About 10 shots down at the tea interval the team rallied to their Captain’s plea for a better second half and the resulting improvement saw them record their first win on a Sunday this season by 49 shots to 41.  All credit to Bob Carey who is having a good season and led his rink to an excellent 12 shot win to help carry the team through.

This week sees the start of the Surrey County Competitions, and the club wish good luck to all of their members involved.

Our third match in the Tuesday Triples League saw us away to Godalming on a bit of a tricky and heavyish green, and we were soon up against it with one of the two triples dropping ten shots on the first two ends, and finding themselves 12 down a little later. However recording a 6 on this rink just before the tea interval gave an indication that we were not going down without a fight, and with our second rink pulling themselves into a small lead the team dug deep and rallied round to record a narrow but creditable win by just 4 shots.  All credit to David Matthews and David Foster who both saw the match through whilst not feeling entirely well.

Our busy season continues today with a friendly away at Mayford Hall (weather permitting)  followed by a home game against Camberley Friday night (1 rink) and weekend friendlies with Dorking and Wonersh.

Our team in the Tuesday Triples league (AKA Old Codgers League –2 triples -men only–over 55 years old)  having started with a narrow defeat at Astolat on 3rd May, played their first home game on 10th and recorded an excellent win over Castle Green 58 -16.  A single rink then went to Knaphill on Friday 13th (lucky for us as it turned out)  to play their B side in the Friday night league, and achieved a win by 7 shots, an excellent away result against a good home side. At the weekend a team of 12 continued the success with a 20 shot win in our Saturday friendly game at Shere, but we came down to earth with a bump the following day, getting thoroughly thumped 39-88 by an excellent home team at Milford.

The emphasis of the club is on these weekend friendly games where enjoyment of the game takes priority over the result, and we look forward to bringing more new members into the team in the next few weeks, to give them useful match experience and allow them to mix with existing members and opponents in the jovial and enjoyable atmosphere that prevails.

After a successful open day, with 13 people from the Merrow area coming along to try the game, our coach is busy following these up with additional lessons on a one to one basis. This has resulted in two of them joining the club already, one of whom having made such good progress will go straight into the team this weekend.  Lessons continue with the others and we are hopeful that at least some of these will join us.

For our away match at Liphook on 24th April we were invited by the home side to join them in their celebrations for the Queen’s 90th birthday, and the whole afternoon took on a street party atmosphere. Players were regally turned out in varieties of red, white and blue attire, and one of our rinks even had red and blue bowls for the day. An enjoyable game was had, with the home side just pipping us by 6 shots, and we finished with a very enjoyable tea in the welcome warmth of the clubhouse on what was a really chilly afternoon.  Well done to Liphook for putting on such a splendid and enjoyable afternoon.

The club’s first home match on Saturday 23rd April against Ottershaw saw both teams with slightly depleted sides due to early season absences, resulting in a game of 2 triples and 1 rink versus a triple  ( 9 players against 10) .  The match was closely fought throughout in chilly but bright conditions on a green which was noticeably getting faster as it was being played on and by the end just starting to take more turn.  Merrow welcomed 2 new members playing their first games for the club, Debbie and David Ewins, who appeared to enjoy themselves despite the cold.   At the finish it was the home side who got in front just at the right time, but the score–48 shots to 47, reflected just how close the match was.