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While the Spanish National squad were busy helping a team of youngsters from England prepare for the Commonwealth games, the rest of the bowlers from across the Costa Blanca were engaged in a much more serious international, Wales versus England. The Welsh were on their home green at San Miguel and started the proceedings in their normal fashion by serenading us with one of their patriotic songs which the rest us didn’t understand as they insist in singing in some foreign language. England then took up the challenge and sang Land of Hope and Glory and even managed to all finish at the same time and almost in tune. So round one to the Welsh but they didn’t have much to sing about after that. Bowlers from as far a field as El Cid and Country Bowls were spread across the seven rinks at San Miguel and after an epic tussle the Welsh dragon fell victim to St George as England emerged winners on four rinks with a winning shot total of 133 – 106.  

England’s Star rink was made up of Barbara Pilling, Jan Kay, Derek Sale and Val Hignett who posted a 23 – 7 victory to win the England mugs. Without wanting to upset the losing Welsh team we will name no names except to say that Jan’s Welsh husband Geoff is going to take a long time to live this down. Only just losing out on the mugs were Shirley Verity, Dee Lane, Chris Collier and Bill Pain who won 21 – 8. The other England winners were John Marshall, Barbara Brown, Brian Stockell and Bill Young 24 – 16  and John Haigh, Arthur Brown, Noel Verity and Val Sherry 24 – 17.

The Welsh mugs went to Mike Veal, Lorna Vincent, Merv Lewis and Roy Pickin who at 18 -12 won by the same margin as Allen Bowen, Mary Cummings, Idwel Roberts and Mal Hughes 24 – 18 but Roy’s team sneaked it on the most ends won. The final Welsh winners were Nora Crocker, John Eustace, Derek Toozer and Ken Taylor who managed a 16 – 11 victory. To all the other losing bowlers sorry we didn’t mention everyone’s name but we had to leave room for the photographs.

The message to all bowlers across the Costa Blanca, English, Welsh, Irish or Scottish is get your names down for these matches, where else can you play with the people you normally play against and against those that you normally play with and no matter what happens come off the green at the end of the game with a smile on your face having probably made a few new friends.
 

England top rink.

Wales top rink.