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Great Melton Home 29 Jul

Priory v Great Melton -  29th July 2024

On a hot summer night.  No that won’t work as an opening.

Following a string of defeats, the Priory side was looking to reverse their fortunes. Their visiting opponents were a team who had already beaten them once this season, and had completed the double over them in 2023.

As the teams arrived ready for the evening’s contest the sun had already begun its’ evening journey, in a part of Wymondham where local residents are led to believe that it sets towards the north. The local weather vane has long been at odds with the nearby abbey’s west tower.

Priory won the toss and decided to have the jack for the first end. One of the two Priory reserves had been drafted in earlier in the day as a replacement for one of their leading, or should that be lead, players, and everything was set for what would be a closely contested match. Except, one of the Priory team was missing. A hasty phone call was made and while players on two rinks started their games, a dash to the absent player’s house resolved the issue. The match was fully underway on all four rinks by the time the early starters had completed their first of sixteen ends.

As the match progressed the shadows lengthened, reflecting the developing score line for the Priory team. For those unfamiliar with the green, or who had simply forgotten their hats or sunglasses, there was the added challenge of playing into the sun, until it finally slipped behind the distant trees.

The Priory team tried hard to gain a long awaited win against their visitors. Bob Smith playing in an unfamiliar lead role, and Mike Betts led by their skip, Di Gibbins, won their rink. The reserve brought in, Pat Goody, put in a strong performance beside Karen Smith to help the Club Captain to also win on their rink.  However, losses on the other two rinks saw the Priory team go down by a small margin of three shots. The overall match score was, Priory 61 shots, Great Melton 64 shots with both teams winning on two rinks. This was a much improved result for the Priory team compared to 2023, when Great Melton had visited and won by a margin of 43 shots.

With the contest on the green completed, it was treated to a long drink to cool it’s surface and stimulate it for further action in the coming days and, the teams gathered in the clubhouse to receive their own refreshments. There was no meatloaf but ample servings of tea, sandwiches and cake. The latter being freshly baked that day, and this time securely guarded following the recent mystery of the missing chocolate cake.

Both Captains thanked their opponents for an enjoyable evening of bowls, banter and hospitality before looking forward to meeting again next season.

There is probably more to say but …. You took the words right out of my mouth.