Wymondham Dell Home 5 Aug
Priory v Wymondham Dell - 5th August 2024
Some of those with bowls shoes in both clubs expected the visitors to bring their ‘Big Guns’ to ensure winning this meeting between two local clubs. Both have entirely different backgrounds. Wymondham Dell was founded by wealthy businessmen. The Priory Garden Bowls Club owes gratitude to Dr George Gaynor, a local GP and Town Councillor. He went over and beyond his calling to care and provide for the residents he served in the Forehoe and Henstead District. Members of the Priory Garden Bowls Club still play for the Gaynor Shield every year.
As the teams arrived the skies were thick with cloud but the evening was warm. This tempted players from both teams to change into their playing shoes outside on the wooden benches. Painted in Priory club colours of orange and yellow the benches drew words of admiration from the visitors.
Although Wymondham Dell had brought a strong team with them they were one short. The Priory reserve, Arthur Newton, was loaned to the visitors and played in a three for the Dell which also included another Priory member, Bett Davies.
Priory won the toss and decided to cast the first jack in the 16 end match. After the eighth end three of the rinks were evenly matched with one shot between them collectively. By the same point, on the fourth rink John Moore, Ken Vann and Sandy Harding had cruised into a ten shot lead for the Priory side.
The dry and warm weather during the match was welcomed as was the small crowd of Dell members not playing but watching over the fence at the side of the green. At one time the crowd was more than half way into double figures. The flying ants which decided to take part in the evenings’ activities numbered a lot more but were not as welcomed.
As the match progressed towards the last end, the visitors had managed to gain small leads on three rinks, finally winning each of these by three shots. This was in spite of the Club Captain at one point turning five shots against into two shots for with his last bowl on the eleventh end.
Although the Big Guns from the Dell had managed to win three of the four rinks the overall match was won by the Priory Garden side after John and his team managed to stretch their lead to thirteen shots. The overall match result was Priory Garden 61 shots, Wymondham Dell 57 shots.
Following the match the teams retired to the brightly painted benches to relax and enjoy refreshments of tea, cake and sandwiches before both Club Captains gave short speeches. They thanked their opponents for an enjoyable evening of bowls and banter and, looked forward to the return match latter in the month. During his speech, Wymondham Dell’s Captain on the night donated their match fees to their hosts which were gratefully received by their hosts.
Big Guns and big hearts.