ON A lovely sunny day the girls of Somerset’s Under 31 squad travelled to Cheltenham Bowls Club for the first game in the annual ‘Amy Rose’ competition.
They were taking on, what proved to be, a very strong and talented team from Warwickshire.
Somerset’s team, most of whom were in the 2021 line-up who brought home the trophy to the county, were joined by two new members, Lydia and Fliss Sheldrake, for this the first game in the competition and as you can imagine the tension was high.
During the trial ends many a wood ended up in the ditch on the extremely fast green, something we haven’t been used to so far this season after all the rain we’ve had.
The Warwickshire girls seemed to get to grips with the green faster than our girls and after three ends we were 12 - 0 down. Not the best of starts but our girls didn’t give up and showing great fortitude began on a steady fight back. By the 18th end we were 5 down and things were certainly hotting up.
The tension both on and off the green was mounting. On the 19th end Somerset pulled back 4 shots only to drop 3 on the 20th end, leaving Somerset needing 4 for a draw or 5 for a win!
Our first rink of Chloe, Fliss, Chantelle and Olivia managed to claim one shot which meant we still needed 4!
On our second rink, Lydia, Madi and Imogen had managed to get 3 woods around the jack and we were down to the last 2 woods o the game. The tension obviously got to the Warwickshires skip as, under pressure, she sent a fast wood down which was wide of the mark.
We had a draw with one Somerset wood to go! Everyone was on the edge of their seats and the tension was palpable: all Somerset’s players and supporters held their breath and Laura, like the brilliant bowler she is, came in with her very last wood, giving Somerset 4 shots and the game.
It was a brilliant, hard fought game and our amazing Somerset girls will now go on to meet Devon in two weeks time at Devizes for the semi final. Something I’m really not sure my nerves can take !
Such a game was naturally great for the sport.
NH