Year: 2025

Bustards v Dragons

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The second & final clash of the season between the Bustards & the Dragons, was played today on the hottest day of the year so far. It was already 26°C when we started, so Steve & I agreed to reduce the match to 12 ends, with 1 shot on the first two ends. (It was 30°C when we finished). The first match several weeks ago resulted in a draw.
Rink 1 – Dibbie, Paul & Geoff – Lost 5-12. We lost the first 5 ends to trail 0-7 before we got on the board. We won 4 of the 12 ends, scoring a 2 & 3 singles. The Dragons score included 2×3.
Rink 2 – Tony, Steve & Ivan – Won 12-6. A good consistent team performance, winning 7 of the 12 ends, which included a 4 & a 3. Well done boys.
Overall match score – Bustards 17-18 Dragons. Bustards 2 points, Dragons 4 points & the bragging rights for the rest of the season. Well played & congratulations.
With a couple of results still to come in, it is likely that the Bustards will finish the day in 4th, with the Dragons moving up to 5th, just 4 points behind. Fortunately, the Bustards currently hold a 33 shot advantage over the Dragons.
Next week we are at away to 3rd place Ringwood. We beat them comfortably in the reverse fixture, but their results have really picked up of late, so a tough contest is expected. Hopefully, we can put in a good performance & put today’s disappointing result behind us.
Ivan Buss
12 July 2025.

NF Pairs Plate Competition

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Paul & Ivan today played John Merritt & Trevor Brown, who both play for West Moors in division 1 of the New Forest, in the NF Pairs Plate Competition.
Neither John or Trevor had played at Downton before, so we definitely had the home advantage.
We started off really well & were 8-2 up after 5 ends, which included a 2 on the first end & a 3 on the second. We managed to keep the momentum going despite a bit of rain & won 7 of the remaining ends, which included 4×2 & 4 singles, to win the match 18-11.
We are now at home in the last 8, against Bentham/McKenzie from Waterside, with the match to be played on/by 27th July.
Ivan Buss
6 July 2025.

Bustards v West Moors Bees

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Today’s match marked the half way point of the season & the Bustards were at home to the Bees, having lost to them in the first game of the season 25(0) v 42(2).

For the first time in weeks we had some rain, which made the green really heavy & slow and my hands really cold! However, having a full size green with the conditions as they were which the Bees aren’t used too, really worked to our advantage.

Rink 1 – Dibbie, Paul & Geoff – Won 16-11. We only won 8 ends, but this included 2×3 & 3×2. The Bees had a 3 & the rest were all singles. A much improved performance on last week. Well done boys.

Rink 2 – Tony, Steve & Ivan – Won 16-9. We all played consistently well in this match, taking the lead on the 6th end, which we never relinquished. We won 14 ends, which inc 2×2 & 12 singles. The Bees had 3×2 & a 3. Again, very well done.

Overall match score – Bustards 32 v 20 Bees. Bustards 6 points, Bees 0 points. With results elsewhere going in our favour, we are now up to third place, albeit only on shot difference. Fordingbridge & Swanage are both well ahead of us at the top, but we still have to play them both, so all isn’t yet lost!

Next week we are at home to the Dragons & our team remains unchanged. The last meeting was a draw, so it’s all to play for.

All spectators are very welcome & don’t forget, the bar will be open from midday.
Ivan Buss
5 July 2025.

Argyll v Bustards

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The Bustards traveled to Bournemouth of a beautiful hot, dry, sunny day, to face bottom of the table Argyll. A really pretty ground, with a nice view out to sea & a lovely, small, fast green. What could possibly go wrong?
Rink 1 – Martin, Steve & Geoff – Lost 26-13. 7-6 up after 8 ends, then the wheels came off! After losing a 2, 4 & a 6 we were 7-18 behind after 11 ends. A 3 & a 2 cut the deficit to 12-18, then we lost 4 of the last 5 ends, inc 2×3, to be comprehensively beaten 13-26. We only won 6 ends which inc a 5 & a 3. Better luck next time boys.
Rink 2 – Tony, Ann & Ivan – Won 22-17. We were 1-7 down after 4 ends, then we absolutely dominated this match. We won 11 of the last 14 ends, inc 2×3 & 6×2 to lead 22-11. With the other rinks score at the time, we were winning the match after 17 ends, then disaster. A rogue maximum length jack, a loss of 6 shots & although we still won the match 22-17, the last end rather soured the victory.
Overall match score – Bustards 35 v 43 Argyll. Bustards 2 points, Argyll 4 points. A very disappointing result. The 2 points will keep us in the top half of the table, but this was an opportunity missed to solidify 3rd/4th place.
Next week marks the midpoint of the season & we are at home to West Moors Bees. We were well beaten by them on the first day of the season, so will be looking for a much better performance & a win!
All spectators are very welcome & don’t forget, the bar will be open from midday.
Ivan Buss.
28 June 2025.

The 2025 Club Competitions have started!

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On Friday our 2025 Competition Season started with a first round Two Woods competition between Ivan and Paul Tanner. This was a close match, with each player taking the lead in turns as the ends were played, however, in the end, Ivan won the round 14 points to 12.

Martin Davies
20/6/2025

Bustards v Swanage Dolphins

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A tough match on paper against second placed Dolphins, which it proved to be. On another hot, sunny day, it was nice to see the green playing so well & today, it was pretty quick.
Rink 1 – Dibbie, Paul & Geoff – Lost 17-19. A game of two halves. 5-15 after 9, level 17-17 after 16, we just couldn’t quite get it over the line. We only won 7 ends, which included a 5, 2×3 & 2×2. Good effort boys.
Rink 2 – Tony, Ann & Ivan – Won 18-16. After 4 ends we were 1-5 down, then we won 6 out of the next 7 ends to lead 14-8. We won 11 ends in total & in the end just managed to hold on & scrape a win.
Overall match score – Bustards 35 v 35 Dolphins. Bustards 3 points, Dolphins 3 points. Overall a good result, which keeps us in 4th place.
Next week we are away at Argyle D, who are bottom of the league. At the moment I only have 5 players, so I need someone to step up. Please give me a ring on 07910 290735 asap if you are able to play, as I really don’t want to just chuck points away.
Ivan Buss
21 June 2025.

Downton v Salisbury

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MTL match at home to Salisbury. It was so hot, we agreed to play 14 ends, with 1 on each of the first two ends. Thank goodness we did! Having been watered twice this morning, the green took a while to dry out. Once it did, it started to play pretty well.
Rink 1 – Shelley, Patrick & Richard – lost 3-21. Without doubt Salisbury’s strongest trio, who won 11 out of the 14 ends, scoring a big 6 along the way. We only scored singles. Better luck next time.
Rink 2 – Dave, Paul B & Colin – won 25-4. This time we won 11 out of 14 ends, scoring a 6, 3×3’s & a 4. This time, they only scored singles. An inspired performance, well done boys.
Rink 3 – Marg, Rod & Ivan – won 23-8. We only won 9 ends, but that included a 5, 2×4 & 2×3, with a nice 4 – 5 finish. They managed a 2, a 3 & 3 singles. A good consistent display, well played.
Overall match score Downton 51 (6 pts) v Salisbury 33 (2pts).
There is no game next Wednesday.
Ivan Buss
18 June 2025.

Richmond Park Panthers V Bustards

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Third place Bustards made the shortish journey to Bournemouth to play 4th place Panthers. The weather was great, the green was small & it played pretty well.
Rink 1 – Tony, Steve & Geoff – Lost 13-19. Losing 2-9 after 7 ends, the boys came back well to make a game of it. We then won 6 out of 9 ends to lead 13-10. Sadly, we then ran out of steam & lost the last 4 ends, including a 5 on the last end, to lose 13-19.
Rink 2 – Dibbie, Ann & Ivan – Lost 17-20. 14-2 up after 7 ends, having just scored a 5 (we had 2 of these), we then lost a 4 & a 5 on ends 11/12 to only lead 15-14. After 15 ends it was 16-16. Over the last three ends they played well to snatch victory by 17-20. Only taking 3 shots over the last 11 ends really did for us & to say I’m not happy with that performance, is an understatement!
Overall match score – Bustards 30 v 39 Panthers. Bustards 0 points, Panthers 6 points. We’re still top half of the league, but if we continue to play like that, not for much longer!
Next week we are at home to our good friends the Swanage Dolphins, who are 2nd in the league. 10am start. All spectators are very welcome & don’t forget, the bar opens at midday.
Ivan Buss
14 June 2025.

Pelham Sea Hawks V Bustards

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Last weekends home match against Knyveton Kestrels was forfeited to us, as the Kestrels couldn’t raise a team. We were awarded 6 points & 10 shots.
Fortunately, the heavy rain that was forecast for today stayed away & we were able to travel to Bournemouth & complete our match against the Sea Hawks. Whilst the wet weather gear had to go on twice, we did manage to play a full match, on a very wet green that still played really well.
Rink 1 – Tony, Steve & Geoff – won 23-16. A terrific bounce back from last weeks poor performance. We won the first end, then were never headed, once we took the lead back again on the 5th end. Along the way we scored a 4, a 5 & a 7! Both teams won 9 ends. Well done boys.
Rink 2 – Dibbie, Ann & Ivan – won 23-12. We lost the first 3 ends & were trailing 0-6, before we got to grips with the conditions. Then we won 4 out of the next 5 ends to lead 12-8 & never looked back. Overall, we won 10 ends, including a 5, a 4 & 2×3 & apart from a 4 & a 2, they didn’t score anything more than a single on any end. Well played.
Overall match score – Bustards 46 v 28. Bustards 6 points, Sea Hawks 0 points.
With other results going our way, we are now up to 3rd with a +18 shot difference.
Next week we are visiting the Richmond Park Panthers, hopefully with an unchanged side & the sun shining!
Ivan Buss
7 June 2025.

Fordingbridge Flyers V Bustards

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The Bustards made the short trip to second in the league Flyers today. I’ve never know the Fordingbridge green to be so slow, but the turn was good, so it was like playing at Downton, but on a smaller green. Fortunately, the rain held off, so we managed to get in a full match.
Rink 1 – Tony, Paul & Geoff – Lost 32-7. Bloody hell, very unexpected! We took 1 on the first end, then only won another 4 ends in the entire match. It was 6-11 after 11 ends, then the wheels well & truly came off! We lost 6 out of the last 7 ends, by 1-21 shots, which inc 2×4, 2×3 & a 6 on the last end. Onwards & upwards, better luck next week boys.
Rink 2 – Steve, Ann & Ivan – Won 16-15. Bloody hell, very unexpected! Steve Tanner on debut, played really well, as did Ann. We started off hot, winning 4 of the first five ends to lead 11-1, which included a 5 on end 5. Then the comeback started, but we still led 14-6 after 12 ends. Sadly, we then conceded a 5, to make the score 14-11, but managed to regroup & hold on for a 16-15 win. Both teams won 9 ends.
Steve/Ann – excellent, well played.
Overall match score – Bustards 23 v 47 Flyers. Bustards 2 points, Flyers 4 points. We’re still mid table, but took a nasty hit to our shot difference & which now sits at -10. Ouch!
Next week we are at home to Knyveton Kestrels, with a 10am start.
All spectators are very welcome & don’t forget, the bar opens at midday.
Ivan Buss
24 May 2025