Lea Valley League Information

Gidea Park - Away 4 - 6
In the first league match of the year it was a pleasure to bowl on a very good green as the players could actually feel the weight rather than throw the bowls up the other end. The only worrying point however was that in these conditions two of the Nortel rinks were well beaten whilst the other two rinks just scraped home. Nortel's two Middleton Cup trailists were both skipping and had varying fortunes. Tony Nimmo looked on course to record a win and was drawing 10-10 halfway through his match only to fall away over the last few ends and lose 22-11. Steve Mitchinson's rink started brightly but were never able to get away from their opposition and they almost payed the price as on the 17th end and 6 shots up they dropped a five. Two singles on the next two ends gave them a three shot cushion on the last end. But Gidea Park almost drew the game as the skip was holding two shots with the last bowl in his hand, but he was unable to make it count and Steve got home by one shot. Arthur Needs rink had a similarly close game after being well down at the beginning. Arthur went into his last end one shot up, but with the last bowl of the game left in his hand he was two shots down in the head. But a great bowl saw him roll the two shot bowls out of the head and finish on the jack for a two shot victory. On the other rink John Cuin could not repeat his success of last week as his rink got off to a poor start and things did not get any better as they lost by 17 shots.

Tye Green - Home 6 - 4
Nortel played their first home League match of the season. The four rinks had mixed fortunes, the most successful rink of the day was skipped by Arthur Needs and they got off to a flying start which they turned into a commanding lead and won by over 10 shots. At the other end of the scale Eddie Smith's rink got off to a bad start but they pulled back to within a few shots at the halfway stage only to lose the last few ends and go down by about ten shots. For the second week running Steve Mitchinson's rink was to be decided on the last end. His rink were 19-18 up going into the final end but in search of the shot bowl to give them victory Steve inadvertantly pushed up a short Tye Green bowl into shot which gave Tye Green two shots and a one shot victory. The last rink to finish was Bobby Rose's who had held a few shots advantage throughout the match and went into the last end with a four shot cushion which was sufficient to ensure victory.

Silverthorn - Home 10 - 0
Nortel hit form against Silverthorn as they scored maximum points. Eddie Smith's rink was in command throughout the match until the last few ends when they dropped a five but they avoided any other slip ups and won comfortably. Steven Mitchinson's rink struggled early on but they slowly managed to pull away after 10 ends and this continued up to the last end as they turned out to be the highest winning rink on the day. John Cuin skipped his rink to victory, they held a few shots advantage throughout the game and and cruised home. Bobby Rose Continued his impressive early season form as he chipped in to ensure Nortel made it ten points out of ten.

Harlow - Home 2 -8
After the previous day's great victory Nortel slumped to a somwhat disastrous defeat. Tony Nimmo's rink got off a bad start and things steadily got worse. However a five late on in the game did give a glimmer of hope but this was snuffed out and Tony wet down. Eddie Smith's rink went into an early lead but they could not hold on and they were finally beaten by a few shots. Arthur Needs made up the trio of losing skips he was always behind and could never really get his rink into the game. The one bright spot came from Bobby Rose as he skipped his rink to a hard fought 8 shot win in what was a very tight game for te first 15 ends.

Valentines Park - Away 7 - 3
Nortel were struggling to get a full side out for this fixture but in the end had the luxury of a Middleton Cup player sitting on the bank watching. Nortel's other Middleton Cup player, Tony Nimmo had a bad day at the office as he got off to a terrible start. Things did get marginally better but he was never going to be able to turn things around completely but his comeback enabled Nortel to get a draw on the overall score. Of the other rinks Jim Sugar got off to a very good start and ensured he kept this up to win his match. Arthur Needs also got off to a good start and and held numerous counts of 4s and 5s but he was never able to hold onto them, otherwise he could have come away with a massive win. The final rink was skipped by Eddie Smith and although he was losing early on, he managed to steady his rink and came back to record a win.

Pymmes Park - Home 8 - 2
I don't have many details to hand, except that Bobby Rose was the only skip to lose. David Needs, Bruce Dickson and Bob Gardner meanwhile all skipped their rinks to wins.

Gidea Park - Home 2 - 8
I currently don't have any details to hand, judging by the score I think I will keep it that way.

Orford House - Home 8 - 2
Again I don't have many deatils of this except that our Captain Bruce Dickson was the only losing rink. As the other rinks won I will try to obtain more info. on this presently.

West Essex - Away 0 -10
Our trip to Leyton ended in heavy defeat as all rinks lost. Steven Mitchinson's rink was really the only rink in with a shout but eventually went down by a few shots joining the other losing skips - Eddie Smith, Bobby Rose and Arthur Needs.

Orford House - Away ????
Pymmes Park - Away 6 - 4
On a very hot afternoon Nortel handled the tricky rinks well to secure the overall result. Victories were secured by Steven Mitchinson and Eddie Smith, whilst the two losing rinks were Bruce Dickson and ?????

West Essex - Home 10 -0
nortel got retribution for the drubbing a few weeks earlier as they won on all rinks. As yet I do not have any rink details.

Silverthorn - Away 2 - 8
After their great win a week earlier Nortel were brought back down to earth as they sufferred a heavy defeat. The only bright spot came in the win for the rink skipped by Bruce Dickson, losses were recorded by Steven Mitchinson, ????? and ?????

Tye Green - Away 6 - 4
In this local Harlow derby Nortel were also playing for the Newson Cup, which they have won for the past 4 years. They retained the trophy and won the overrall points thanks to two big wins one courtesy of the rink skipped by Eddie Smith and the other skipped by Steven Mitchinson as he played against a rink containing Chris Vine. Nortel's two losing rinks were skipped by Arthur Needs and Tommy Ambrose both going down very narrowly.

Larsens - Home 10 - 0
Nortel recorded a big victory which puts them 1 point behind league leaders West Essex. With three league games left things could be very tight at the top come the finish of the season. The 4 winning skips were Arthur Needs, Dave Needs, Bob Gardner and one other.

Valentines Park - Home 2 - 8
Nortel were hoping to keep up their recent good form, but Valentines Park were not in a generous mood and beat us on three rinks. The only winning rink was skipped by David Needs whilst the losing rinks were skipped by Bobby Rose, Arthur Needs and Bruce Dickson.

Larsens - Away 0 - 10
Well Larsens took revenge in a big way after Nortel won on every rink in the home fixture against Larsens earlier on in the season. The tables were turned as there was defeats for Tommy Ambrose, Jim Sugar, Albert McBennett and Steven Mitchinson.

Harlow -Away 6 -4
With a number of players away on holiday and Harlow challenging for the league hopes were not high for a Nortel victory. But as the game got under way Nortel surprised themselves. There was a 29-9 victory for Steven Mitchinson and there was also a victory Bobby Rose's rink. Whilst David Needs and Tommy Ambrose both lost but managed to keep the scores down to a respectable level enabling Nortel to get the overall victory.

Click on the link below to view the final Lea Valley league table.


Lea Valley League Table