ROCKWELL Shortmat Bowls Club were pleased to welcome Bradford on Tone for their first visit to the Green to play a 4 mat friendly - and it turned out to be a thrilling game.

As with most bowls clubs, the players on both sides knew each other.

To start things off (Green names first ) Syd, Mick B & Reg were matched with Bill, Graham & Paul. Things started well for the Green to be 3--1 up after 4 ends but that was as good as it got. Bradford got used to the mats and & never let the home trio score another shot, coming away with a 7---3 victory.

Next to play Lauraine, John Y & Mike R were put to the sword by Bob, Dave & John and found themselves 6--2 down after 6 ends. They did manage three shots over two ends but the visitors just kept taking shots to win 10--5. The normal break was taken with the Green 17-8 down.

The restart saw the most entertaining game between Joy, Graham & Mike R & Gill, Elaine & Margaret. The lead changed every other end and after 9 ends the visitors were leading 10--9. The Green trio somehow gained a 2, thus scraping a 11--10 home victory.

The last game of the evening saw Heather, Bill & Bob against Stephanie, John & Richard. The first 6 ends were even, at 3 all. The Green then took two 3s on ends 7 and 8 to be 9--3 ahead with 2 to play. The visitors pulled back a 3 on end 9 but a 5 on the last end saw a surprising home victory 14---6.In what proved to be a very entertaining evening - a tie -f 33-33 all seemed a fair result. Bradford thanked the Green for a good match and hoped to see the Green at Bradford soon.