The weekend of November 20/21st was another miserable weather event.  At least on the Wednesday prior the weather Gods were kind with almost forty bowlers turning out for social bowls.  Not surprisingly there were only four social bowlers on Saturday.  The first round of the  McGrath Senior Singles was also due to start. That it did so was a credit to bowlers, markers, umpire and especially our hard working stand-in Bowls Secretary Glen Giese.  Weather was cold and miserable with drizzle ranging from light to moderate until the skies opened with a deluge.  This caused the green keeper to declare the greens unfit for play.  Since this is a Covid delayed start to the Senior Singles is is not surprising that medical and grabbing a holiday while we can has caused a few forfeits.  Less acceptable is bowlers just not turning up because they do not like the look of the weather and failing to inform the Bowls Secretary or opponent.  Very inconsiderate behaviour.  So Saturday the forfeits left five matches to be played.  Kevin Stafford played so well that he completed his game before the heavy rain arrived.  Against an in form Gordon Lewis, Kevin won 31-15.  Brian Porter was leading Richard Denman 29-18 when play ceased.  After consideration Richard conceded  this match allowing Brian to advance to the next round.  Glen Giese and Mick Flynn are having a really close tussle with Glen having a narrow lead of 16-13 shots.  This match and the other unfinished match will be completed on Wednesday 24th November weather and grass state permitting.  The final match, as might be expected, is another tight game.  Eric Willacy, another in form player (two twenty plus shot wins in his last two social games) and lots of practice against Mike Holmewood.  While Mike has not been on the green quite as often his credentials include losing finalist of the Senior Singles last year.  This by a bare one shot and he could consider himself unlucky not to have won.  On Wednesday Eric and Mike will continue with Mike leading 25-18.

So did Sunday morning dawn any better, no.  A persistent cold light drizzle with only the heavy downpour missing.  Not surprisingly the grass was unfit for play but luckily, at least for the time being, the synthetic was available for play.  Four matches were scheduled with Bob Edwards receiving a forfeit and Jim Neely advancing due to a no show.  This left Keith Edwards against Julie Hayden and Ashley Lewis against Viv Gear.  We all know how dangerous Kieth can be, especially on the synthetic when he does not have to struggle with the extra effort required on long ends of the grass.  However, Julie was his match and while she had to work very hard for her win she scored 31 shots to Keith’s 23 shots.  In the past Ashley Lewis has not always been at his best in the early rounds of competitions.  This time he came out firing  and he needed to as Viv was a very worthy opponent.  In a high quality game Viv scored 21 shots with Ashley the winning 31 shots.  In the end not that close but an excellent performance by Viv.