LAWS OF THE LAWN – Jack Placement Quandaries

Q: If the jack ends up just on the edge of the rink boundary but not in the ditch, is it still live?
A: Yes, it is in play unless it crosses the side boundary. Precision is everything, unless you are just hoping for a wick.
Q: What happens if the jack is displaced outside the boundary of the rink during play?
A: The end is to be replayed in the same direction or as agreed by both skips.

YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED,

Q: Should I apologise for lucky shots?
A: Only if it is the fifth one in a row.

Q: What is the etiquette if my mobile rings mid-end?
A: Offer to buy the rink a round and silence it immediately. Bonus points if it plays “Roll With It.”

“HEARD ON THE GREEN,"

“That bowl had more cu"rves than a seaside road.”
“I was aiming for the jack, not Parliament.”
“It looked good until it moved.”

FINAL END

The greens were tough, the winds were trickier, and the shot choices occasionally divine — but once again, Marine Gardens proved that bowls is a beautiful mix of physics, finesse, and friendly banter.

Stay dialled in, skip sharp, and as always, stay “On the Jack."

THIS WEEK ON THE GREEN – Club News and Activities.
Weekly Round-up – Alan Paterson, Press Officer - Week Ending Sunday, 29th June 2025.

The week began brightly with a commanding away performance in a friendly against Southwick Park. Marine Gardens swept all four triple rinks, securing an emphatic 80–43 victory. Top Rink honours went to the superb trio of John Sadler, Liz Baldwin, and Duncan Gayler, who posted a dominant 20–7 win.

Things stayed on course in a competitive Brodie League match at home to Lancing. Our players made full use of the excellent green, delivering a 3–1 rink win and a 67–47 shots margin. Eight valuable points were collected, thanks in large part to a stunning 23–7 win by Top Rink performers Les Gritton, Bob Cole, and Graeme Poole.

Midweek saw a tougher challenge as the team travelled to Petworth for a WSBL fixture. Despite the typically tricky artificial surface, Marine Gardens secured 2 hard-earned points—more than we have often come away with in past encounters there. Credit goes to Terry Ashley, John Nettleingham, Graham Ray, and the tireless Ivan Godsmark, who adapted brilliantly to notch up a well-deserved 20–10 victory.

The week concluded with a home friendly against Southwater, played under glorious sunshine. It was a tight affair, with the visitors overturning a deficit after tea to win two rinks to one, with one halved. The final shot tally—61 to Marine Gardens, 62 to Southwater—says it all: a match that could have gone either way. Our standout rink was the team of Betty Stevenson, Ken Leadbeater, and Jenny Ashman, who secured a 16–13 win.

Congratulations to all involved for representing the club so well and maintaining our spirit and sportsmanship throughout a busy and challenging week.