The 2018 Eastern Counties Champion of Champions was hosted by Bedfordshire on 20th May.

FOURS - Len Lamb, Sally Dalton, Helen Halls and Marie Hagger

Unfortunately the Suffolk team struggled in their opening game against Essex, it was relatively close at 9-4 after 6 ends, but over the final 3 ends they dropped a further 10 shots to lose 19-4. And they had to sit out their second game as the Bedfordshire team had withdrawn.

Their second game was against leaders Norfolk and for the better part of the game they led the way, but they dropped shots late on and went down to a 12-11 loss.

Suffolk were slow to start against Hertfordshire, they were already 11 shots behind before they got on the board and although they had a better second half of the game the deficit was too great, they lost 13-6.

Sadly it was another defeat for Suffolk in their final game as they fell away to lose 12-8 against Cambridgeshire.

In the end Hertfordshire finished the day undefeated, two points clear of Norfolk.

TRIPLES - Tom Runnacles, Sam Runnacles & Clint Watling

The Suffolk team were off to a good start against Essex, coming home to a 15-3 win and leading the standings. And they were off to a good start against Bedfordshire, although they still had to work for their 11-6 win.

Suffolk beat nearest rivals Norfolk 15-2 to remain unbeaten and go clear at the top of the standings.

Their penultimate game against Hertfordshire proved to be a tough one, they were behind from the very start and trailed 6-1 after 4 ends, they got it back to 6-5 but still went into the last end 7-5 down, snatched a vital two shots for the draw with their last wood and staying at the head of the standings.

Although they only needed a draw it was never going to be a simple matter to get even that against Cambridgeshire, but crucially they pulled ahead in the middle part of the game. They went into the last end a shot ahead and were able to take one more for a 7-5 win to retain the title.

PAIRS - John Whiting & Doug Adamson

After falling 5 shots behind early on against Norfolk, Suffolk got back to level after 6 ends, but Norfolk pulled away again to win 10-5. And they started their second game well, as they took a very impressive 12-4 win over Hertfordshire.

Unfortunately they struggled against Cambridgeshire and fell to a 12-3 loss.

After a slow start against Essex, Suffolk got ahead but lost the last 3 ends but did enough for a draw.

The final game saw them finish on a high with a 12-4 win over Bedfordshire which left them in fourth place overall, on 5 points, 3 behind winners Cambridgeshire.

SINGLES - Neil Jolly

Neil started well and was 7-1 up against Norfolk after 5 ends, controlling the game thereafter to win 9-4. He was up against Hertfordshire's Neil Tuckey in his next game and to absolutely no one's surprise it was close and ended in a 6-6 draw. The two of them were leading the way overall.

Neil fell behind to Cambridgeshire early on and was 5-1 down after 3 ends, it was a deficit which he was never able to recover as he went on to lose 9-4.

Against Essex Neil didn't really get in front until the second half of the game but once he did he moved away to an 11-4 win. That left him third and with the two teams ahead of him playing one another he was going to need a low scoring draw between them while picking up a huge shot count himself.

It was going to take something miraculous for Neil to take the title and it didn't happen, but he did beat Bedfordshire in his final game, 10-6, leaving him runner-up to Cambridgeshire by 1 point.

TEAM
With 2 sets of games complete Suffolk were tied on 9 points with Hertfordshire, and already 5 points behind leaders Norfolk.

After a further round Suffolk had fallen 7 points behind leaders Norfolk and were now down to 4th.

With the final round of games to come Suffolk were now 4th and looking likely to stay there, 5 points off leaders Norfolk and three behind both Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire.

And that is indeed the way it finished, with Suffolk in fourth, but only a point behind both Hertfordshire and Norfolk and 3 behind eventual winners Cambridgeshire.

Full Set of Results