Monday Evening Roll Up

Held during the bowling season, starting at 5.45pm.  
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How To Play

The Green

The green is divided into playing areas called rinks.  The rinks are numbered 1 to 6 and are regularly rotated for even wear of the green. 

The green is surrounded by a ditch which catches the bowls that drop off the edge of the green.  There is a bank above the ditch with markers to show the rink positions.

The green: rink positions are moved and rotated every few days to ensure even wear.

Delivery

Forehand and backhand lines to the jack (for a right-handed bowler).

Players deliver their bowls alternately from a mat at one end of the rink, towards the jack (white or yellow) at the other end.

Bowls can be delivered either forehand or backhand to get one or more bowls closer to the jack than the opposition.

Depending on the bowl, they will have a different way of taking a curved path towards the jack rather than running in a straight line.  The player must judge the correct weight and line to reach their target.

Scoring

After playing all the bowls in one direction, scoring is agreed by the number two or number three player depending on size of team (see below). Points are awarded to the team that has their bowl or bowls nearest to the jack (one point per counting bowl).

Once the end has been played and the score agreed, the direction of play is reversed – the next end is played back down the rink in the opposite direction.

The blue bowls have the nearest bowl, and the second nearest, scoring two. No other bowls count.

Number Of Players

Bowls can be played as Singles, Pairs, Triples or Fours.  The usual format of games are as follows:

  • Singles – the two opponents deliver four bowls.  The first to reach 21 shots is the winner.
  • Pairs– the Players deliver four bowls for 21 ends.
  • Triples – the players deliver three bowls for 18 ends.
  • Fours – the players deliver two bowls for 21 ends.

Roles of players in a Fours game:

  • The Lead (first player) places the mat, delivers the jack and centres it before attempting to bowl as close as possible to the jack.
  • The Two (second player) keeps the score card and scoreboard up to date.  
  • The Three (third player) may need to play different types of shots in order to score more, or to place bowls tactically to protect an advantage. The three also advises the skip on choice of shots, and agrees the number of shots scored, measuring if required.
  • The Skip (fourth player) is in overall charge of the rink, directs the other players on choice of shots, and tries to build the ‘head’ of bowls to his or her advantage.

Winners are the ones with the most shots (points) at the end of the game. 

How to play extracts taken from Pewsey Vale Bowls Club