Match Report - Surrey League v Croydon IBC

SL Match Report

09/11/2025

Vs Croydon

The Dragons travelled to the outer reaches of one of London’s ancient southern territories on Sunday – Croydon. Historically an ancient parish in the Wallington Hundred of Surrey, at the time of the Norman Conquest of England, Croydon had a church, a mill, and around 365 inhabitants, as recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086. It now also has an indoor bowling green!!

With the shadow of Guy Fawkes hanging over the game, fireworks were on the cards against this respected club. The Dragons were in no mood for taking prisoners and with the heat turned up (literally), the game looked like a tricky fixture for the club.

The rink scores were as follows:

Rink 3 – Steve W (L), Ted R (2^nd), Wayne T (3^rd) & Paul D (Skip)                       Score 15 – 17

Rink 4 – Charlie M (L), David K (2nd), Keith M (3rd) & Ian M (Skip)                Score 23 – 15

Rink 4 – Bernard C (L), Bryan G (2nd), Mike V (3rd) & David H (Skip)          Score 22 – 12

                                                                                                                                                      Score 60 - 44                                       

Donyngs won on two rinks, lost on one and won overall, 14 points to 4

Rink 3 – Following changes to the rink, the team got off to a steady start, picking up two 4’s in the first six ends to take a solid lead of 9 shots to 5, after six ends, winning three of the first six ends. The middle third of the game saw the dragons lose momentum as Croydon switched to short ends and mounted a comeback. Donyngs won only two of the next six ends but maintained the lead by 12 shots to 9 after 12 ends. Despite a big effort by Donyngs to regain the momentum and see out the game, Croydon managed to extinguish the dragons fire in the last six ends. Croydon won four of the last six ends, to run out victorious by 17 shots to 15 after eighteen ends. Donyngs won seven of the eighteen ends played, with an average score of 2.1 shots per end won.

Rink 4 – The rink got off to an excellent start whilst getting to grips with the conditions on the green and in the venue (sauna like!). Skipped by the SL debutant, that well know dragon “Ian-cus Mellis-Sium”, Donyngs won five of the first six ends to lead by 9 shots to 2, after six ends. The next six ends saw the dragons build on the good bowls played and maintain their lead. Winning three of the next six ends played, the dragons led by 16 shots to 10 after twelve ends, picking up a five on the eleventh end. With a solid overall performance over the last six ends, Donyngs won four of the last six ends to win by 23 shots to 15. Donyngs won twelve of the eighteen ends with an average score of 1.9 shots per end won.

Rink 5 (Top rink) – This rink was home to the “Master Dragon – Bernard China” and the opposing loveable rouge “Two Shoe Luke” from Croydon! The rink got off to a quiet start with the dragons getting the measure of the Croydon boys and checking to see if they were up to dealing with a dragon onslaught. Donyngs won two of the first six ends but trailed by 3 shots to 6 after six ends. The next six ends saw Donyngs begin to find their line and length and there were ominous signs for the Croydon team. Donyngs won four of the next six ends to tie the scores at 11 shots each after twelve ends. Donyngs then unleashed with some fantastic bowling, winning five of the last six ends to run out winners by 22 shots to 12. Overall, the rink won eleven of the eighteen ends with an average score of 2.0 shots per end won.

Across all three rinks, Donyngs won 30 (56%) of the 54 ends played at an average of 2 shots per end won.

Donyngs were leading by 28 shots to 26 after ten ends. In the next five ends Donyngs added nineteen shots to their overall total across all three rinks to lead by 47 shots to 39. In the last three ends, Donyngs added 13 shots to their overall score as opposed to Croydon, who added 5. This proves the value of a strong finish in the last three ends of a close game!  

Well done to all the Dragons who played. Great team effort!! Thanks go to the spectators who came to watch – especially “Speedy” dragon and Alex “The Young” dragon……..