Winning Start To Surrey League Campaign

SL Match Report by Wayne Thornton, Our News Hack On The Green

05/10/2025

Vs Sutton

The Donyngs Dragons went to Sutton in the first game of the 25/26 season, with renewed focus and a new playing ethos. The mood was focused yet expectant, and with the debut of the Gaunt Gladiators (Bryan & Alex), everyone was rearing to go! Sutton always poses a huge challenge at the start of the season, and Donyngs have not managed a win against them for some time now. None the less, the Dragons were up for a challenge and looking to take the first scalp of the season. The rink scores were as follows:

Rink 2 – John H (L), Charlie M (2^nd), Bryan G (3^rd) & Ted R (Skip)                    Score 20 – 14

Rink 3 – Alex G (L), Wayne T (2nd), Keith M (3rd) & Steve W (Skip)               Score 13 – 19

Rink 4 – David H (L), Mike V (2nd), Paul D (3rd) & David H (Skip)                  Score 23 – 14

                                                                                                                                                      Score 56 - 47                                       

Donyngs won two rinks, lost one and won overall, 14 points to 4

Rink 2 – With Bryan G playing his first SL game for Donyngs, the start was very good and the team settled quickly. Donyngs took an early lead by 9 shots to 4, after six ends, winning three of the first six ends. Things then settled down for Donyngs, and the boys developed their lead further, winning three of the next six ends, to lead by 13 shots to 7 after 12 ends. Donyngs then dug deep under pressure from Sutton to win three of the remaining six ends and run out victors by 20 shots to 14 after eighteen ends. Crucially, Donyngs won the last three ends of the game, scoring seven shots, at a very important time in the overall match. Donyngs won 9 of the eighteen ends played, with an average score of 2.2 shots per end won.

Rink 3 – With Alex playing his first SL game for Donyngs, the team got off to a solid start thanks to some very good leading by Alex and some crucial skip shots from Steve. Donyngs took a slender lead of 8 shots to 6, winning three of the first six ends. Donyngs then came under pressure from Sutton with some very good and lucky bowling from the Sutton skip, Steve Shanley. Sutton clawed back the lead, to lead by 12 shots to 10, with Donyngs only managing to win two of the next six ends. Unfortunately, Donyngs just couldn’t turn the momentum around which Sutton had built and struggled for the last six ends, winning only two ends and running out losers by 13 shots to 19 after eighteen ends. Donyngs won seven of the eighteen ends with an average score of 1.9 shots per end won.

Rink 4 (top rink) – Donyngs got off to a steady start on this rink as they sparred with the Sutton team over the first six ends. Donyngs won three of the first six ends to level the score at 8 shots to 8 after six ends. Donyngs the applied some dragon pressure from all four players over the next six ends, winning four of the six ends, and taking an impressive 16 shots to 11 lead. This was despite giving away six shots on the sixth end. The Donyngs boys then tighten their grip on the game, winning five of the last six ends to win the game by 23 shots to 14. Donyngs won 12 of the eighteen ends with an average score of 1.9 shots per end won.

Overall, Donyngs won 28 (52%) of the 54 ends played at an average of 2 shots per end won.

Donyngs led overall after ten ends, by 35 shots to 26. We then came under pressure from Sutton and were down by 42 shots to 43, after fifteen ends. Our fighting spirit then came to the fore, and over the last three ends, Donyngs outscored Sutton by 14 shots to 4. Just goes to show, it isn’t over until the Dragons say so………..   

Great team effort everyone and well done!!