Playing Exonia IBC is difficult at the best of times and when Desborough were facing defeat in the National Over 60's Double Rink Len Essex with his last wood saved the day to get them over the line 35-34. They now play a semi-final against Cumbria on April 11 for the right to play Victory or Coventry on April 12.
The Kent County Ladies took on Desborough as part of their tour and after a thrilling match they triumphed by 1 shot, 109-108. Desborough won on 3 of the 7 rinks with those skipped by John Stannard and Cy Woodward doing well to have winning scorecards but the top rink by a country mile were Joyce Motley, Clive Dawson, Kathy Wells and David Perriman who won by 18 shots, 26-8.
Players from Berkshire, including 5 from Desborough, travelled to Bournemouth to play Devon in the semifinal of the Liberty Trophy and after a tense battle triumphed by 1 shot, 115-114. The team has overcome significant hurdles along the way and if they show the same guts and determination there is no reason they can't beat Durham on April 13.
Although the six rinks were shared Desborough suffered a reverse against Foxhills IBC as they went down by 14 shots, 108-94. John Stannard's rink returned a winning scorecard and those skipped by Sam Stack and David Perriman to have a private battle for top rink honours with the latter prevailing along with Ken Scowen and Gina Braddock as they won by 7 shots, 23-16.
Desborough entertained Ladygate B C and it was a useful practice session as the hosts won at a canter, 171-86. Sam Stack's rink thought they would have been top rink but they were trumped by Yoriko Fowler, Ching Crunden, George Fowler and John Stannard who won by 36 shots, 45-9.
Desborough played in the County Interclub against West Berks IBC and enjoyed a stroll in the park as they won by 59 shots, 159-100. The rinks skipped by Len Essex and Clive Behmber were equally matched and Colin Jones' four did well to win by 13 shots which left the heroes of the day to be the unbadged rink of Kevin Dwyer, Jeff Beal, Graeme Mason and Newark Smelt who won by 24 shots, 36-12. The final against Whiteknights or. Rivermead on March 23 awaits.
C Knowles, R Wyatt, S Cotterill, R Harper. 19-16.
A trip to North London to play Glebelands IBC proved fruitless for Desborough as they went down by 25 shots, 96-71. The rink skipped by Maurice Rhymer did well to return a winning scorecard which left top rink honours to go to Pat Arnott, Ching Crunden, Michael Hobson and Sam Stack who won 18-13.
Usually a trip to Brighton to play Preston IBC usually proves difficult but this time is was a case of so near but so far as Desborough went down by only two shots, 132-130. However the Maidenhead side won on 4 of the 7 rinks and after a threat of a referendum, the Captains agreed on a technical draw. Winning scorecards came from the rinks came from the rinks skipped by Brian Wright and Paul Winstanley which left those skipped by Barry Gill and Clive Northover to fight for top rink honours and that went to the latter who with Chris Howard, Yoriko Fowler and Paul Patel who won by 14 shots, 24-10.
Games between Desborough and the Berks VP's are usually bowling lessons from the visitors but on this occasion the roles were reversed as the Maidenhead side won by 44 shots, 146-102. There was only one losing rink and the one skipped by Michael White won by 16 shots but it wasn't good enough as John Stenson, Tony Burrell, Mike Whittingham and Sam Stack won by 8 shots more, 33-9.
Desborough welcomed Camberley to York Road and proved to be too generous hosts as they received a bowling lesson being defeated 124-68. All but one rink had an afternoon to forget which left Gina Braddock, Pat Hatch, Michael Hobson and Rose Turner to save face by winning by 7 shots, 25-18.
Local bragging rights were at stake when Desborough played Maidenhead Town and although Desborough won on the scorecards by 20 shots, the visitors could claim an honourable draw as they won on half of the rinks. Roger Wyatt skipped a winning rink and Paul Winstanley's four drew which left Pat Arnott, George Fowler, Marsha Buckles and Jeff Simpson to get top rink honours with a mind blowing performace, winning by 29 shots, 37-8.
Desborough faced Cotswold in the National Over 60's Double Rink and after a tense battle won 37-31. The foundation for the win came from the home rink skipped by Eddie Orme while away Len Essex's four did enough to ensure that there were no slip ups. The massive task of playing Exonia in the last eight awaits.
Games against the Somerset Past Patrons is an annual event to relish and this year's encounter was no different as the visitors won by 36 shots, 132-96. The home team only won on 3 of the 7 rinks but at least the selected new bowlers gained valuable experience against experienced opposition. Tony Buckley's rink returned a winning scorecard and it was left to the rinks skipped by Sam Stack and Paul Winstanley to fight it out for top rink honours with the latter along with Norma Cormican, Nigel Harlow and Ching Crunden edging it as they won by 14 shots, 26-12.
Adur IBC travelled up from West Sussex to face a determined Desborough side who won at a canter by 31 shots, 124-93. In a dominant performance the home side won on 5 of the 6 rinks with Pat Arnott, Brian Faulkner, Paul Patel and Dave Perriman grabbing all the glory with a 16 shot win, 26-10.
The County Ladies rolled into town but unfortunately could not stop Desborough winning by 21 shots, 93-72. The rinks skipped by Jim Turner and Maurice Rhymer had their private battle but top rink honours went to John Stenson, John Bucknell and Michael White, winning by 12 shots, 23-11.