Challenging return to action for Haywards Heath bowlers

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Haywards Heath and Beech Hurst Bowls Club endured a tough return to team action following a week of internal competitions.

Ladies' champion Marge Breading was one of a handful of experienced female players in Haywards Heath's squad at Hurstpierpoint | Neville Dalton

placeholder image — Ladies' champion Marge Breading was one of a handful of experienced female players in Haywards Heath's squad at Hurstpierpoint | Neville Dalton

After one of their two scheduled friendlies was cancelled because of a shortage of available players, they fell to a convincing defeat in a friendly at Lewes.

Despite a big win in one of the three triples matches, Heath lost 48-62.

It was only Jo Glenn's second competitive match for Haywards Heath | Neville Dalton

Peter Huntley, Annie McGee and Elsie Wilding helped Heath to a 24-9 win, which featured three fours.

But John Box, Jo Barton and Mark Gooch were defeated by a bigger margin, losing the last five ends as they crashed 8-27.

And Graham Barton, Kevin McGee and Linda Huntley also lost heavily – their 16 points scored in only six scoring ends.

The player shortage – caused largely by long-term injuries to some of their experienced female bowlers – also hit their performance in an invitation tournament at Hurstpierpoint.

It was Haywards Heath's last invitational tournament of the season | HHBHBC

While a strong men’s team still struggled against their counterparts from Henfield, Saltdean and the host club, the ladies found points even harder to come by.

The pairing of Anne Bosman and Fiona Burman and the rinks quartet of Jennie Evans, Cheryl Preston, Sue Berry and Judy Aldis each won one of their three games, while their extremely inexperienced triples side lost all three.

Each of the men’s three teams won one of their three games – the biggest victory coming in the triples, where as well as suffering two narrow defeats, Neville Dalton, Clive Thomas and Stephen Banks beat their Saltdean counterparts13-2.

The tournament was won by Hurstpierpoint, with Saltdean pipping Henfield to second place on points scored.

Results:

Friendly:

Lewes 62, Haywards Heath & Beech Hurst 48 (John Box, Jo Barton and Mark Gooch lost 8-27; Peter Huntley, Annie McGee and Elsie Wilding won 24-9; Graham Barton, Kevin McGee and Linda Huntley lost 16-26).

Hurstpierpoint invitation tournament:

1st – Hurstpierpoint - 23 points; 2nd – Saltdean - 21 (+33); 3rd – Henfield - 21 (-2); 4th – Haywards Heath and Beech Hurst - 10