I WAS bowled over to see the state of the former Sportsman bowling green.

The once velvet-like swathe of grass is now a muddy playing pitch.

Where the likes of the country's top crown green bowlers, including the great Brian Duncan and Norman Fletcher, rolled their jacks is now a training field for pub's junior RL teams.

If it had to go it couldn't have been put to better use.

It's sad to see yet another of the area's greens has bitten the dust, but if players are not willing to contribute to their upkeep then surely most will go the same way.

Licensees can't afford to maintain the greens and lighting without some custom or contribution from players who use the facilities, and that's what's been happening I'm told.

If other bowlers are not willing to play ball they too may lose their greens.

Meanwhile at the Sportsman the kids are making good use of area and have been given an activity to keep them out of trouble -- and that's what more youngsters need.