2007 Summer League Finals Day Report

The Suffolk Carpet Bowls summer season culminated on Sunday 16th September with a memorable afternoon of bowling at Needham Market. Throughout the summer 36 teams played in 5 geographical leagues and the winner of each league earned the right to participate in these Summer League play-offs. This meant the teams of 14 (two rinks and two triples) from Barking, Brockley, Chelmondiston, Hadleigh and Tithe Barn would play each other in two sessions. The first session was the rinks with each team playing both their fours against different opposition. On four of the five mats the results were decisive with two strong wins for Hadleigh and one for Brockley and Tithe Barn, the last mat saw a slow tactical battle between Barking and Brockley. Barking had got off to a great start and Brockley kept fighting back but on the last end Barking just secured the win. At the halfway stage Hadleigh were in the lead but Barking, Brockley and Tithe Barn were all still in the hunt, the second half was going to be interesting!

All the second half triples games were very close but with Barking beating both Chelmo and Hadleigh, and Brockley beating Tithe Barn the result hinged on the last mat to finish. This was the tussle between Hadleigh and Brockley, another tight affair but as they went into the last end Hadleigh were one shot up. At this point the championship could have gone to any one of three clubs, whoever won out of Hadleigh or Brockley would be champions but if they drew, Barking, who already had 6 points but an inferior shots tally, would have sneaked in to collect the trophy. It went to the very last shot. Brockley were holding two as the Hadleigh skip bowled his last wood which hit the holding bowl and altered the head but it still left Brockley holding sufficient shots to win the game and become Suffolk Summer Champions, with last years champions Barking second and Hadleigh third.

After the bowling Suffolk Carpet Bowls Association were very pleased to be able to present cheques of over £1000 to two very worthy local charities, this being the money raised at the recent Charity Carpet Bowls Tournament organised by the S.C.B.A., run by Karla and Jeremy Brown and sponsored by Ipswich Plumbers with equipment supplied by T&D Carpet Bowls. Pauline Hearn and Bob Harvey on behalf of the East Anglian Air Ambulance and St Elizabeth's Hospice came along to collect cheques of £1075 each.

Peter Jones