A fax message came through to work one afternoon advertising Mates in Bowls. Lawn bowls we all said, “weird,” no thanks and the fax went in the bin. A few weeks later the same fax came through again and having seen the large orange Mates in Bowls signs around the city the curiosity got the better of me and I looked up the website.

After navigating my way through it I said to the girls – I think we should do this, from the photos it looks as though you don’t have to be getting on in age to enjoy this – and from that the “x-rayted’ lawn bowls team was born!

Dressed up in our skeleton t-shirts (most appropriate as we work in a radiology practice), we nervously took our first few steps onto the club grounds. There was no one to be seen when suddenly Barry arrives at the door. “Welcome ladies,” he said, “come on in, have a drink.” And we thought – well this place seems pretty all right!

Wine in hand we ventured out to the green. After a bit of coaching by the wonderful Robin we were into it and what a time we had. I can honestly say I have never laughed as much playing sport ever! With a great team, great company, great wine, great sausages on the Barbie and great fellow competitors, who were equally as keen to dress up and get into the spirit of things (after we showed them how of course) makes me think that Mates in Bowls is a bloody good concept!

My apologies to the green keeper for doing cartwheels down the green. I’m not sure that the correct bowls etiquette was properly cemented in our training – something we can work on for next year!

Soooo basically my workmates and I had an absolute ball of a time playing Mates in Bowls. What fabulous people they are at Otatara Bowling Club – thank-you so much!

Rachel – 20 something year old member of the X-rated team