NORFOLK TOURING TEAM
Oakham Bowls Club W.E.18th May 2025
Oakham’s week opened on a warm and Sunny Monday at the Vale when they hosted the Norfolk Touring Team. It was played as a rinks match over eighteen ends on six rinks with the tourists winning by 7 shots.
Oakham’s rink one had Ian Wilkinson as lead, Carol Shelvey at two, Simon Kolkowski at three with Denis Smith as the Skip. After four ends Oakham had 4 shots Norfolk 0. Two ends later the scores were level at 5 shots each then on the ninth Norfolk scored 5 shots giving them the lead. Not to be outdone Oakham scored 6 shots on the next, reversing the lead. It was then nip and tuck till, with two ends to play, it was all square at 15 shots each. Oakham won both, adding 3 more shots to win the game. Oakham with 18 shots Norfolk with 15 shots
Paul Murrant skipped on rink two with Bob Spence as lead, Jenny Owen at two and Graham Cole at three. A positive start by Oakham found them, after five ends, in the lead with the scores at 9 shots to 2 shots. On the next end Norfolk hit them with 7 shots to level the match. The next few ends were closely contested by both teams but with three ends to play Oakham were in front with the scores at 18 to 15. Norfolk then scored 8 shots from the next two ends to leave their hosts trailing by 5 shots. The last end went to Oakham but only added 1 shot to their total. Oakham finished with 19 shots, Norfolk with 23 shots.
Lesly Webster led on rink three with Barrie Payne at two, Sean Biollo at three and Stuart Primarolo as Skip. For the first half of the game Oakham had firm control holding a 5 shot lead after nine ends. They continued in this vane and with three ends to play they were still 4 shots in front. Frustratingly for them Norfolk took the last three ends and with 4 more shots levelled the game. Oakham on 14 shots, Norfolk on 14 shots.
Rink four’s skip was Colin Wagstaff with Ros Carter as lead, Mike Shalders at two and Janet Horwood at three. By the fifth end Norfolk had a 5 shot lead but were then checked by Oakham who held a 1 shot lead after the tenth end. Regrettably it was short lived as Norfolk regained the lead and although Oakham got to within one shot on the fifteenth Norfolk won the game. Oakham with 11 shots, Norfolk with 14
Rink five was Oakham’s second winning rink. Skipped by Ray Gregory with Jackie Cole as lead, Keith Hart at two and Eddie Owen at three. It was a very closely contested game. Oakham took an early lead but Norfolk, not far behind, drew level on the eighth end. Oakham then regained a lead only to see Norfolk tie with them on the thirteenth and again on the sixteenth. Oakham won the last two ends with a single shot on each and the game. Oakham holding 14 shots, Norfolk holding 12 shots.
The lead on rink six was Sylvia Shalders with Martin Watts at two, Paul Jenkinson at three and Mat Murrant was the skip. It was the fourth end before Oakham opened their account with a single shot and at the halfway point in the game they were trailing by 5 shots. They scored the only 3 of the game on the thirteenth end and worked hard to win the last two ends but it was not enough. The final tally was Oakham with11 shots, Norfolk with 16 shots.
