07/06/2026
Last Friday saw Diss host Long Stratton in a Border League match.
The bizarre weather of the previous 48 hours lifted, giving us a sunny evening, if not as warm as recent matches, allowing us to enjoy an enthralling match, with somewhat a surprising end result.
Played across rinks 2, 3 and 4, one rink took a early lead for the home side, one took a lead for the visitors, and one rink changed hands frequently in early stages of the match.
3 ends to go however, Diss were behind on all 3 rinks 😞.
Rink 2 - 16th end, Diss picked up 2, finally going into the lead. 17th end, Stratton got 2 shots, tieing the rink, 18th end, and holding 2, Diss skip John declined to bowl his final wood, took the two, claiming a rink win by two points.
Rink 4 - were next to finish. After 16 ends, Diss were trailing by 10 points to 16.... 17th end, Diss pick up 2 shots, 4 behind.... 18th end, and the final woods leave the head looking like 4 shots to Diss... but #2 Kevin asks for a measure for 5th... and is correct!! Second rink win secured... by one point...
Rink 3 - these were last to finish, and appeared unaware of the dramas unfolding either side of them. This was the rink which had taken the early lead, but second half of the match had seen Statton fight back hard, and the final wood of 16th end saw Diss trailing 11 points to Stratton's 18, with all eyes on their last 2 ends.
17th end... 6 shots to Diss, one behind, and many spectators starting to ponder the "what ifs?",
18th end - the end changed hands throughout the first 16 woods. As the skips prepared to deliver their final woods, Diss held by one shot, and Guy advanced another Diss wood, so holding 2... and everyone held their breath, as the Stratton skip sent the last wood of the match towards the clubhouse. Sadly for Stratton, the wood failed to do Diss any significant damage, meaning skip Guy also scored a rink win, by 1 shot.
Overall shots score Diss 52 - Stratton 48
Points awarded Diss 9 Stratton 0
Everyone retired to the clubhouse to reflect on the result, enjoying a lovely buffet laid on by Carole (also from the last rink to finish).
Personally, I do not recall watching a game change so dramatically in the final couple of ends on every rink.
