Federation Central Team travel to Kingston Maurward

Report on match from Philip de Glanville>
“The Bath Federation Central team were once again without their Team Captain Paul Francis for their away match in the lovely gardens at Kingston Maurward. KM were fielding a very strong team headed up by Jonathan Powe, a minus two handicap, so we were very fortunate that Roger Hayes agreed to join the Bath team at very short notice. Margaret Murray and Philip de Glanville were beaten all too easily in the morning doubles (+14T) but Roger had a comfortable, though surprisingly low-scoring, win over KM’s Tim Dennis, HC4. In the afternoon Margaret played very well against their Martin Strange, HC11, and kept him at bay with a +4T win but Philip wasn’t on form at all and lost by 9 hoops on time to Tim. Kingston Maurward having just one full sized lawn, and with the score at 2 all at tea time, the decider took place as a third round 18 pt game between Jonathan and Roger. Both showed great expertise on a very dry undulating lawn with tight firm hoops. Roger took his first ball round easily but jammed in Rover. Jonathan then went round, Rover-peeled Roger and pegged him out with a ‘grievous’. This left Roger a potentially easy victory with all three remaining balls at his disposal and 1.5 bisques in hand. He was unfortunate however in getting stuck at 4B and eventually Jonathan overhauled him to win +3. It was our first defeat of the season.”