The 2017 Eastern Counties Champion of Champions was hosted by Hertfordshire on 14th May.

FOURS - Sue & Steve Isles and Jim & Sally Goodrich

After a big opening defeat of 15-3 at the hands of Cambridgeshire the team recovered with a 10-3 win over Essex. Hertfordshire were the only team to have won both of their games.

Things got even better against Bedfordshire as Suffolk recorded the biggest win of the day with a massive 20-3 victory putting them into a clear second place overall.

They then picked up their 3rd win with an 8-5 victory over Norfolk, keeping them just 2 points back from Herts who had still not dropped a point.

Their final opponents would be Herts and holding a shot advantage, any win for Suffolk would be enough to take the title, sadly it was not to be as Hertfordshire won the game 14-8 to finish unbeaten. Suffolk's defeat dropped them down to a third place finish, a few shots behind runners-up Cambridgeshire.

TRIPLES - Tom Runnacles, Sam Runnacles & Clint Watling

The opening game against Cambridgeshire was close but it just went Suffolk's way 9-8. And they made it 2 out of 2 with a 9-6 victory over Essex. With everyone else having lost at least once Suffolk already had a 2 point lead.

It was another win for Suffolk against Bedfordshire 11-4 in their third game, keeping them 2 points clear of Herts and Norfolk.

Next up were Norfolk and it was another comfortable win, 15-3, although Herts were still just 2 points behind overall.

A draw would be enough for Suffolk to win but they did better, beating closest rivals Herts 12-7 to finish with a perfect record, four points clear of Hertfordshire and Norfolk.

PAIRS - David Ford & Steven Cain

The opening game against Befordshire went down to the wire but Suffolk held on for an 8-7 win which they followed up with a more comfortable 11-3 victory over Norfolk. That put Suffolk equal top with Cambridgeshire.

Herts were their next opponents and it was a comfortable 10-1 win, keeping them tied for the lead.

Unfortunately their winning run stopped against their title rivals Cambridgeshire as they lost 10-7, dropping Suffolk down to second.

Still, taking the title was not out of the question, they Suffolk would need to win and Cambs would have to lose. Cambridgeshire did their bit by losing to Norfolk, but unfortunately Suffolk also lost, 10-5 to Essex. Suffolk finished second, the best of 3 teams on 6 points, all of them 2 adrift of winners Cambridgeshire.

SINGLES - Mick Watkins

Mick began well with a 9-7 win over Bedfordshire but had that same score reversed on him against Norfolk. Hertfordshire were leading the way having won both games.

In a low scoring game Mick fell to a 6-4 defeat at the hands of Herts in his third game and sadly it was another narrow defeat in his fourth, 9-8 against Cambridgeshire.

Mick's final game against Essex was yet another close one although this time he salvaged a point in an 8-8 draw. That left him fourth overall with Cambridgeshire taking the win.

TEAM
With everyone having played twice it was clear that this was going to be a straight fight between Herts, who were on 14 points and Suffolk who were just 2 behind, while none of the other counties could do better than 6 points.

Unfortunately as the day went on Suffolk were dropping points here and there while Hertfordshire stayed consistent and with everyone having one game each left to play Herts now had a handy 6 point advantage.

In the end Hertfordshire took the overall win with 30 points, leaving Suffolk as runners-up again, with 25 points.

Full Set of Results