Report from Bob Wilmot Challenge Trophy Teams Manager

The weather was kind this year with warm sunshine most of the two days. The first round against Thames Valley warmed hearts even more with 3 out of 4 wins. A result equalled in Round 4 versus Northern. With two wins each against East Midlands, Anglia and I.O.W., and completed by single wins against Chiltern and Southern, the first day ended with our teams lying in a creditable 4th position.
Sunday again dawned bright and for starters produced 3 wins against Sussex. However, the next three rounds against West Midlands, Kent and Wales added only 3 wins to our total. It was left to the final round of the day against Great Western to see some of the hardest fought matches. Wins of 13-3 and 13-2 were relatively easy for team 3 and team 4 but both teams 1 and 2 lost the deciding point in their final ends.
Team 4 are to be congratulated on achieving 8 of their 12 games (including Kent!).
Possibly, as the only team with four players, they could all take a breather on occasions. Team 1, with 5 wins, fought gallantly in the unfortunate absence of Eric but managed to beat both Chiltern and the Welsh. Team 3 deserved better than their 5 wins with 3 narrow losses. It was left to team 2, who had not had the best of success during the weekend, to play (literally) the final game of Sunday afternoon and provide an exciting finish. It fell to Wendy, nervously holding two boules, to clinch the 12-all score but unfortunately it was not to be.
It was a pleasure for me to “manage” these teams, the easiest and most enjoyable weekend’s work for some time.
Bob Wilmot.