Wargrave edge derby thriller with Twyford and Desborough dominate in Triangular showdown

A splendid summer Wednesday evening met the players from Twyford Bowling Club as they travelled to Wargrave Bowling Club for their annual village derby in the Hedges Cup. Having lost the Dawes Cup Derby in July and not won the Hedges since 2023, Wargrave were eager to succeed.

The Hedges Cup is a 5 mixed triples match and Wargrave started positively on all 5 rinks.

Rink 1 saw Dave Stonham, Adam Ellis and Martyn Mellor start positively and kept their dominance throught finishing on 20 - 8.

Rinks 2 consisting of Philip Linstead, Jim Thompson and Jean Burton and Rink 3, Sue Patterson, Stan Coombs and Peter Burton saw Wargrave's only 2 losing rink.

On Rink 4 Tony Boffin, Heather Annetts and Maurice Freeman dominated going 9-0 up over the first 8 ends, Twyford gained a little ground but the Rink finished with a Wargrave win 16 - 10.

Rink 5 with Chez Annetts, Vic Waite and Keith Sykes saw the most well matched teams. The score remained even, with wins alternating with each end. This was Lead Chez Annetts' first competitive match and the extra pressure affected her game a little, with her only gaining shot on 5 occasions. No 2, Vic Waite was Wargrave's most consistent player, frequently holding 2 or 3 shots after his turn. The Twyford Skip did well to take back shots and reduce a head of 4 or 5 to just 1, occasionally to take the end however Wargrave's Skip Keith Sykes remained focused and often reversed the Twyford Skips effort with his last wood. The rink finished with a Wargrave win, 15 - 11.

Wargrave's 2 losing rinks were by quite large loses so by the end of the match, the players were unsure of the final result. It was to Wargrave's delight that Twyford captain Terry Bardwell announced that Wargrave had won by just 2 shots - a 71 - 69 win and the Hedges Cup would be coming back to Wargrave after a 2 year stay in Twyford.

On Sunday Wargrave travelled to Henley for a 3 mixed triple match. The green was fairly fast in the heat.

Norah Holder, Ray Gardiner and Tony Boffin were pushed but managed a win of 14 - 19 on Rink 1 and Vic Waite, Stan Crooks and Jean Burton were also challenged and managed a draw at 11 -11 on Rink 2.

On the final Rink John Tegg, Martyn Mellor and Peter Burton were well matched and pulled through to a win of 13 - 19.

Giving an overall win to Wargrave of 38 - 49. A good team effort.

Photo 1 - The Wargrave and Twyford teams line up before their derby match.

Photo 2 - Captain Peter Burton proudly holds the Hedges Cup after a Wargrave win.