ROCKWELL Green short mat bowlers were pleased to welcome Staplegrove for the first leg of their annual summer contest. played over four mats & ten ends.

When things finally got underway (Green names first) Christine, Reg & John S rather dominated Janet, Albert & Sue, going into a 9—0 lead after six ends.

Staplegrove did take ends seven and eight, but Rockwell Green came back hard to take the last two ends for an emphatic 15—3 win.

Next to play Lauraine, John Y & Mike R met Heather, David S & Keith in a very absorbing game with neither side gaining a clear lead.

With sides level at 5—5 after seven ends, Staplegrove gained one shot on end eight, while a tied end on end nine left it with all to play for.

Staplegrove took one shot on the last end, thus gaining a 7—5 victory, with some remarkable play by their skip, Keith. After the break for tea and coffee things were all set up to continue.

Scores at this point, Green 20 Staplegrove 10. Joy, Bill & Bob were caught on the back foot by Heather, Janet & Albert, finding themselves 11—0 down after five ends.

The Green did start to recover with a 5 on end six but it was too little too late and the visitors won by 13—10.

Last to play were Graham, Dave D & Brian against Carol, Keith & David B. The Staplegrove trio were in determined mood holding a 10-- 4 lead with two to play.

The Green trio did take the last two ends to end 7—10 down, a well-deserved win for Staplegrove. After an entertaining evening, Staplegrove did well to come back from 20—10 down at the halfway point to losing by only 4 shots, which the Green carries forward to the away leg.