Bowls tour drama (From Penarth Times)

Bowls tour drama

LAST Friday, the Windsor Men's 2003 Bowls Tour party reported present and correct and boarded the coach for Worcester, along with sufficient liquid refreshment to sustain them for the arduous journey ahead.

With Penarth left behind, the holiday spirit prevailed until Don Stafford realised that something else had also been left behind - all his bowls kit. After frantic phone calls, there was good news.

Britain's finest courier services could deliver the missing kit to Worcester.

The bad news was that they couldn't do so until Monday, just in time for the return journey.

Cue club secretary, Alun Daniels.

Unwilling to see a fellow bowler enjoying himself in a cosy bar while his team mates braved wet and windy conditions on the green, Alun immediately set off on a mercy mission to reunite the missing kit with its chastened owner.

As tradition dictates that all aspects of the tour go unreported, we are unable to confirm that Don actually slept in his bowls kit.

We can, however, reveal the bowls results, albeit with some reluctance: v Gilt Edge BC- lost; v St Dunstans BC- lost; v Droitwich Spa BC- lost; v Littleton BC- won.

With so many stalwarts on tour, the team that travelled to Porthcawl to take on Griffin Park in the WBA competition had a somewhat unfamiliar look.

The very heavy rinks and strong cross wind made bowling conditions difficult.

Ken McLeod's rink coped best winning 22-16 but, overall, Windsor lost by 18 shots.

The Munro Cup team enjoyed better success in their home match against Sully on Wednesday.

In a hard-fought encounter Windsor eventually prevailed by a narrow two-shot margin: J Hardess 21-7; A Dudley 13-27; D Williams 14-2; M Fullbrook 16-16. In such a close match, Windsor were more than happy to grab 11 of the 14 points on offer.

Windsor also won Tuesday's Alliance match at Rhiwbina by 9 shots, thanks to Ken Trenchard's rink's 26-9 victory, which more than compensated for defeats elsewhere.

Thursday's friendly against the Probus club also resulted in a win, this time by 19 shots. With the game evenly poised after eight ends, rain stopped play in Windsor ladies' Cadoxton Shield match against Barry Central.

Nothing, however could halt the ladies when they visited Penhill in the Wednesday Evening League.

Mavis Pugh's rink drew 14-14 and Joan Bryn Jones' recorded a 21-9 win. Mavis' rink went one better in the Thursday Afternoon League game at Murch, winning 34-15 but, with the other two rinks suffering defeat, Windsor lost by five shots.

Breaking news: Don Stafford, and his bowling kit, are now safely back in Penarth.