Category: Match

Bustards v Swanage Dolphins

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> Sadly, the long awaited end of season clash between the top two didn’t happen, thanks to the weather. As there was no time available to rearrange the match, the result was deemed to be a tie, 1 point each. > Congratulations to the Dolphins on winning the league & well done to the Bustards, who were the only team to beat the Dolphins & are also promoted to division 4, where next season we will be facing off against the Dragons!
This is how our league ended up :-
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> > Ivan Buss > 7th September 2024.

Bournemouth Beavers v Bustards

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 > > The Bustards travelled south for their penultimate game of the season, at the picturesque Meyrick Park ground. The green was damp & very worn. Summer has sadly disappeared, as the weather was cool, overcast & windy, on what was Bournemouth Airshow Saturday. > > Rink 1 – Tony, Paul & Geoff W26-11. Another day, another comfortable win. Lost the first end, then won 6 of the next 7, taking 16 shots to 3, to lead by 16-4 after 8 ends. This included 2×3 & 2×4. Another 5 ends were won after this, which included another 4, to seal the match 26-11. Yet another super performance by the boys. > > Rink 2 – Lewis, John & Ivan W17-13. 5-12 down after 8 ends, we rallied to win a scrappy match, with a 4 & a 3 along the way. > > Match score Bustards 43 v 24 Beavers. Bustards 6 points, Beavers 0 points. > > On Saturday we are at home to champions elect, Swanage Dolphins. We are the only team to beat them this season & we are going to try our very best to complete the double.
> Our team remains unchanged. The match starts at 10am & the bar will be open from midday. All spectators are very welcome, for what is our last match of the season. > > Ivan Buss > 31st August 2024.

Bustards v Highcliffe Leopards

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This match was postponed on Saturday due to the weather and rearranged for tonight. As the Leopards are chasing points to get ahead of their sister team Highcliffe Panthers, they were really keen to play.
Rink 1 – Tony, Paul and Geoff W37-6. OMG, what can you say? The boys won 13 ends which included a 4, 2×5 and an 8! Over the last 8 ends 24 shorts were won and only 2 lost. Another brilliant performance by the boys, who have only lost 2 games all season.
Rink 2 – Lewis, John and Ivan L18-19. After 8 ends we trailed 1-11, before we got on a roll and won 5 of the next 7 ends, to reduce the lead to 14-17. This included a 5 and a 4. After 17 ends the scores were tied at 18-18 and, frustratingly, on the last end we missed getting the winning shot by a couple of inches, losing 18-19. Take out a handful of lucky wicks and a stupid 6 on end 13 and we would have won this one. What a great comeback and team effort: so close!
Match score: Bustards 55 v 25 Leopards. Bustards 4 points, Leopards 2 points. They now trail the Panthers by 1 point and they meet in the last match of the season.
B&D match secretary Dave Witt managed to attend tonight’s match as my guest and he thoroughly enjoyed his first ever visit to Downton. Dave will be writing an article on Downton BC, which will feature in one of his regular B&D newsletters and on his Facebook page.
On Saturday we are away to the Bournemouth Beavers at the lovely Meyrick Park ground. Our team is unchanged.
Ivan Buss 27th August 2024.

New Forest Men Success

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After the short New Forest League men’s program finished at the end of July the season continued with the League trophy events. The squad were narrowly beaten in the first round of The Ringwood Shield by Highcliffe. This defeat gave us the satisfaction of qualifying for the plate trophy, The Ivor Fourmy Trophy. This enabled us to defend the Trophy we won last year. In the first round of the Home/ Away format we had a close match against Lymington, which we won by seven shots. In the next round on 22nd August, the lads battled through the miserable weather to comfortably win against New Milton, with a shot difference at home of 30 in our favour and 20 away – total victory of 50 shots. Hooray, we are in the final on 14th September at Fordingbridge BC playing either Highcliffe B or Lyndhurst A.
Regards, Alan

Gala Day

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Hi Teams
Congratulations and Thank you all for participating in the MTL Gala Day.
The Final was between Mere and Alderbury and was won by Alderbury by one shot on the last end.  Downton Divas team of Alan, Marie and Lewis came third, Downton Dragons team of Steve, Dawn and Colin came joint fourth and Downton Dreamers team of Rod, Marg and Lynda came joint sixth out of nineteen triple teams from six different bowls clubs.
The Gala Day raised an impressive £293 for the Westbrook League.
Steve Allen

Bustards v Poole Park Gulls

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Another lovely day for bowls on a green that at least looked the part, against our good friends from Poole.
Rink 1 – Tony, Paul & Geoff W23-14. After losing the first end, we won 12 of the remaining 17 ends, which included 2×4 & 5×2. If we hadn’t lost a 5 on the last end, the score would have been even more emphatic. Well done guys, yet again another excellent performance.
Rink 2 – Muriel, John & Ivan L13-18. A 4 on end 8 for us tied the scores at 7-7 & we led 13-9 after 13 ends, then once again the wheels came off. We lost the last 5 ends losing 9 shots & lost the game 13-18. Indeed, we only won 7 ends in the entire match. Another frustrating, disappointing performance.
Match score Bustards 36 v 32 Gulls. Bustards 4 points, Gulls 2 points. As expected the Dolphins smashed the Kingfishers, so they now only need 2 points from 3 matches to win the league. One of these is against the Broncos, so many congratulations to them, very well played. More importantly, with the Seagulls failing to win, we are guaranteed to finish second. This is a magnificent achievement & congratulations to everyone who has played for us, especially the core six. You have been great & fully deserve your success.
Next Saturday we are at home again, hosting Highcliffe Panthers, who beat us earlier in the season. One change to our team, Lewis comes in for Muriel. The match starts at 10am & the bar will be open from midday. All spectators are very welcome.
Ivan Buss 17th August 2024.

Bustards v Solar Electric

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A dry, but very windy day on a damp, slow green made for tricky match conditions.
Rink 6 – Tony, Rod & Geoff W29-12. After losing a 4 on the first end, we won 11 of the remaining 17 ends, which included a 6, a 5 & 2×4. Their team included a sprightly lady of 90! Well done guys, another excellent performance.
Rink 4 – Muriel, John & Ivan W17-13. We won 12 of the first 15 ends to lead 17-4, then tried very hard to chuck it away with 2×4 & staring down the barrel on the last end, until we fortunately managed to keep it to 1, to win 17-13. Disappointing finish, but we’ll take the win.
Match score Bustards 46 v 25 SE. Bustards 6 points, SE 0 points. We remain second in the league & need two more wins from our last four games to guarantee promotion.
Next Saturday we are at home again, hosting Poole Park Gulls. Our team remains unchanged. The match starts at 10am & the bar will be open from midday. All spectators are very welcome.
Ivan Buss 10th August 2024.