I would suggest that this morning’s game was one of the longest in the past year or so.    Starting at 10.15am as usual we didn’t complete it until almost noon.    I’m sure that it’s because we are becoming more experienced and are all of similar skill.   

Dividing into two obvious teams - Ladies and Gentlemen - the Gents kicked off and won first end with a single point but their opponents soon put them in their place with a score of 2 in each of the next two ends. 

Over the next 8 ends each team scored single points almost alternately until the Ladies landed 2 points followed by a 1 and a 3 from the Gents.

By the penultimate end the Ladies needed a single point to win which they achieved, though not without a struggle as there were some very close close calls and changes of advantage throughout. 

Well done, Ladies 😁😁😁

We play again in a fortnight (23rd) at 10.15am on the pitch behind the library.    See you all there.    Ken

 

Overcast skies and a few spots of rain did not daunt 11 members from turning up on the pitch this am (12th).    I was very pleasantly surprised to see so many. 

We split into w mixed teams - A and B - with B team having two extra boules to make up for having one team member short.   

A team kicked(?) off but it was B which scored the first 2 points on the first end plus a further point on the second.    A then collected an excellent 3 points on the 3rd end to make us 3 all. 

Team B then came into its own scoring a 4, a 3 and a 1 respectively on the next 3 ends but Team B bounced back with two singles but A finished with a 2 to give them the winning total of 13. 

Good game, good game - in the words of Bruce Forsyth - with a lot of measuring needed at times to determine the closer boule to the jack.    Join us next time if you can on Bank Holiday Monday.

Ken.

 Blooming frosty and cold this morning so wrapped up warmly to go and play boules only to find the pitch area was quite mild and sheltered between the library and the hedges.  Some coats were soon dispensed with. 

With eight of us raring to play we divided into two teams of four - 4 ladies and 3 gents plus a lady as an honorary gent.

Gents winning the chance to go first put the boot in by scoring 4 points in the first 3 ends but the ladies, nonplussed, retaliated with a point in each of the next two.    Elation was short- lived however with the gents managing a 1 and then a SIX by some sort of fluke. 

Battling on for a further four ends in which the ladies gained 3 points before the gents collected one point in each of the final two ends to reach the winning score of 13 against the ladies’ hard won 5.      There was some very good play from both sides and the scores should have been closer but it was that killer 6 that proved insurmountable.     

A good start to the season and we enjoyed being out in the fresh air.    Next match set for Monday fortnight (17th), same time and same place.    Join us if you will.    Ken. 

 Not being able to play our game of boules a fortnight ago due to pouring rain we were pleased to see a drier, though overcast, morning today.      5 of us appeared on the pitch so teams were made up of three ladies and 2 laddies with the latter having 3 boules each against the ladies’ two.  

Ladies pitched first and won the first two ends with a 2 and a 1 but the Laddies retaliated with two 2s.   Scoring continued relatively evenly and by the end of 9 ends we were 7 points each.     

By this time we were playing in a light drizzle so decided to play just one more end to decide the winner.    The Laddies gained the winning one point on the very last boule after a nail-biting end.   

So that’s it until 2025.   Thanks to all who have turned up to play when able.    We’ve had some very happy mornings.     It’s such a simple game played to our own rules so whether two or twelve players gather on the day we can accommodate them.    Give it a try when we restart next year.  

If the weather looks promising during November we may call a last minute game so keep a look out in your emails.    

Ken.  

 As our word smith is on holiday it has fallen to me to report on today's game.

Unfortunately with some on holiday and others on the sick list we were down to 4 players today.

So we split into two teams. The first match start well as the side that I was on scored one on the first round,

and thought we were off to a good start but then we were white washed and the other side reach 13 before we scored another point.

As this was a short game we decided to go again - and this time we gave them a good run for their money, they scored in the first

two rounds, we scored in the next four, then they got another one point, we got three rounds. in the end they beat us 13 to 11,

we had nothing to be ashamed of we had put up a good fight and had plenty of banter and laughs along the way.

Do think about joining us - we meet every other Monday morning on the pitch behind the library. Next game will be at 10-15 on Monday

30 September. Everyone is welcome

Ingrid

A very fine drizzle faced us this morning so not expecting to play.    However, one plucky lady joined us and as the precipitation had ceased we decided to give it a go but only play up to 9 points.

There being only 3 of us we decided to play individually against each other.    Four ends later the scores stood at 1 point each for the two ladies and two for team K when another  lady member passed by who decided to join us.   

A swift rearrangement of teams with the original two ladies making a merged  team (Team C) carrying forward a combined score of 2 whilst the new player joined Team K also on 2 points, so even- Stevens.    I told you our rules were flexible!

Team K took the next two ends with 1 point each matched by Team C with a 2 and then followed with a one in each of ends 8 and 9.    Team K then managed to win two 1s before Team C grabbed another point.   

By this time Team C was leading 7 - 6 but Team K came back with a 2 and then a 1 which gave them the winning score of the agreed 9.    Well done to all in this close match.    Though the sun only peeked through at times at least there was no more rain, in fact, it was a very muggy and humid morning and a couple of jackets were discarded during play.

Next game is due in two weeks on the 16th at 10.15am at the pitch behind the library so join in then.    K & C won’t be there so someone, perhaps, will need to arm themselves with a rake.    It will also be that I’ll be offline so be unable to remind you nearest the time so put this date in your diaries NOW!

Ken

 We’re due on the boules pitch again on Monday (19th) so hope to see many of you there at 10.15am behind the library.    Open to all to give it a try.

As an aside, may I say thank you to all those who were able to respond to my plea for help to set up and put away tables at the last meeting.    It was a great help.    If you can continue to do so for future meetings it would be most welcome.

Ken