2014 Six Counties Championship

On Sunday 13 April 2014 the ECCBA Six Counties Championships was held at Braintree Leisure Centre.

The competition involved the six Eastern Counties, Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Norfolk and Suffolk. Each county were represented by six rinks (fours), each playing one nine end game against each of the other counties.

With the ECCBA league title retained last month the Suffolk team were now looking to retain the Six Counties trophy and in doing so win the event for the third consecutive year.

The Suffolk rinks selected were:

Suffolk 1 (S1): Jim Goodrich, John Varden, David Ford, Paul Daniels
Suffolk 2 (S2): Trevor Cain, Ellen Grube, Andy Pooley, Sue Gilder
Suffolk 3 (S3): Sam Runnacles, Peter Fellingham, Mick Watkins, Tom Runnacles
Suffolk 4 (S4): Peter Runnacles, Rita Runnacles, Clint Watling, David Mittell
Suffolk 5 (S5): Sally Goodrich, Ann Hathaway, Andy Gilder, Steven Cain
Suffolk 6 (S6): Sue Davey, Don Allum, Colin Fellingham, Neil Jolly

Suffolk’s first opposition were Norfolk and it was S3 and S5 who got off to the best starts and soon had their games under control. Early leads were extended and by the finish both games were won 14-3. The other four games were a lot closer though and would all go to the final ends before the outcomes were decided. S2 added another win by 11-7 and in tight conclusions both S1 and S4 drew their games, 9-9 and 7-7. Unfortunately in the final game S6 just couldn’t do enough to get a positive result and lost 5-7. Overall it had been a decent start and placed Suffolk in second place, one point behind Cambridgeshire.

Next up for Suffolk were Hertfordshire and this time it was S1 who got the team off to a flying start. Controlling their game from start to finish, they ran out comfortable 16-4 winners. Meanwhile S2 were also involved in a high scoring game, which after three ends they found themselves 9-2 down. There then followed six ends of incredible bowls during which they scored fifteen unanswered shots to win a see-saw game 17-9. There were no such dramatics in the other games which were all relatively close affairs. S3 were the next to secure two points with a 9-4 win, followed by S4 who edged a slim 9-8 win. Finally in the two lowest scoring games, the clean sweep was achieved by S5 and S6 who both won 7-4. This excellent maximum points haul moved Suffolk into top spot, only two points ahead of Cambridgeshire.

In the next session the top two teams played each other and as usual there were six high quality games. Unfortunately the performance level set by the Suffolk rinks in the early sessions wasn’t reached and it turned into a disastrous set of games. The one shining light was S2 who won their game 7-4 and the only other positive was a hard fought 7-7 draw by S5. In the other games S1 and S4 could consider themselves a little unlucky to be edged out 5-6 and 6-8 respectively. However neither S3 nor S6 could get a foothold in their games and went down 4-13 and 5-12.

Overall Cambridgeshire now had 27 points, Essex had gone into second spot with 24 and Suffolk had dropped to third place with 23.

Suffolk needed to bounce back immediately but it wouldn’t be easy against Essex. This time it was S3 who got Suffolk off to a great start, without conceding a shot they raced away to a convincing 14-0 win. Another two points were added by S4 who won their game 12-8 and S5 contributed a point with an 8-8 draw. However that was where the good news finished as the other Suffolk rinks slipped to defeats. S1 and S2 were involved in close games but lost 4-8 and 8-12 respectively and S5 couldn’t get into their game losing 4-13.

With one set of games to play, Cambridgeshire remained top with 34, Essex had 31 and Suffolk now had a lot to do, back on 28. However in Suffolk’s favour was that Essex and Cambridgeshire had to play each other and a slim Essex win would give Suffolk a chance if they could score heavily against Bedfordshire.

In the final session against Bedfordshire the first two games were exactly what Suffolk were looking for. Both S1 and S2 won well by 15-5 and 13-8 respectively. That double was followed by similar results for S3 who won 11-4 and S6 who after a slow start turned their game around to win 12-5. Meanwhile S5 were involved in the closest game, but keeping their nerve on the latter ends, they also won 9-6. Lastly S4 just couldn’t get a start in their game and were always playing catch up, going down by 4-11. Ten points from Bedfordshire was a good return but would it be enough?

Unfortunately for Suffolk a tight session of bowls between Cambridgeshire and Essex had finished as a 6-6 draw, which was just enough to earn Cambridgeshire the overall win.

Overall it had been a slightly below par performance from Suffolk, albeit the effort and enthusiasm could not be faulted. Following a decent start, the sessions against Cambridgeshire and Essex had proved costly, leaving just a little too much to do in the final set of games. Mention must be made of S5 (3 wins and a draw) and S2 and S3 who both won four games from five.

Neil Jolly (County Captain)

Hertfordshire v Suffolk

On Sunday 16 March, Suffolk played their final ECCBA league match, away against Hertfordshire at the Drill Hall in Ware.

Suffolk went into the match with a thirteen point lead over second place Cambridgeshire, whose match was also away at bottom county, Bedfordshire.

Suffolk knew that a fifth win from five should be enough to secure them their fourth consecutive league title. However it wouldn’t be easy against a Hertfordshire team who were having a great season themselves.

With a couple of regular bowlers unavailable, both Ann Hathaway and Joey Stones were picked for their first matches of the season. The rinks selected were:

Suffolk 1 (S1): Jim Goodrich, John Varden, David Ford, Paul Daniels
Suffolk 2 (S2): Trevor Cain, Ann Hathaway, Andy Pooley, Sue Gilder
Suffolk 3 (S3): Sam Runnacles, Peter Fellingham, Mick Watkins, Tom Runnacles
Suffolk 4 (S4): Peter Runnacles, Rita Runnacles, Clint Watling, David Mittell
Suffolk 5 (S5): Sue Davey, Ralph Sadgrove, Andy Gilder, Steven Cain
Suffolk 6 (S6): Joey Stones, Sally Goodrich, Colin Fellingham, Neil Jolly

In the first session it was S3 who got the Suffolk team off to a real flyer. Picking up the lines of the mat very quickly they completely controlled their game. Without conceding a shot they raced away to a convincing 21-0 win. The other two games were a lot closer, with the outcomes in doubt until the final ends. In the first game to finish S5 were unable to get the better of their last end as they lost 6-8. However it was better news in the other game as S1 got Suffolk’s second win of the day with a crucial 10-7 win.

The other Suffolk rinks went to the carpets in the second session looking to build on a decent start but it was the home rinks who played the better bowls from the off. S4 were just unable to get into their game at all and it gradually drifted away from them, finishing with a 4-14 defeat. Meanwhile S2 were involved in a real tussle which always looked like going to the final bowls and that’s exactly what happened. With a bowl to go S2 were holding a winning lie but the Hertfordshire skip’s excellent last bowl reversed that and another game was lost 5-7. In the other game it always looked like a lost cause for S6 but they hung in and went into the last end two shots behind. Then in a complete turnaround they scored the three shots they needed to steal a highly unlikely 9-8 win.

The third session needed an immediate reaction from Suffolk but despite not playing badly, only one game went Suffolk’s way. Having played well in their first game it was S1 who secured the solitary win. Bowling confidently, they controlled their game without running away with it and deservedly won by 11-3. Unfortunately it was an uphill battle for both S3 and S5 and neither could get an early grip on their games and defeats always looked the likely outcome. By the end both games were lost 4-9.

So at the halfway stage, Suffolk found themselves behind by 8-10 and winning the match seemed a long way off. To make matters worse the Suffolk team knew that Cambridgeshire were comfortably beating Bedfordshire and the destination of the league title was now very much in the balance.

The fourth session was going to be crucial as if Suffolk didn’t come out on top, their chances of winning the league would be slipping away. It didn’t start well as S6 just couldn’t adapt to the away mat, were soon in trouble and conceding shots. It only ever looked like one outcome and it finished with a 2-14 defeat. There was better news on the other mats though as both S2 and S4 were bouncing back well from their first game losses. S4 who lost heavily first time out showed great character in putting the loss behind them, playing well as a team and earning an important 11-4 win. S2 bowled well again and this time they got the win they deserved, it wasn’t comfortable but playing big shots under pressure they secured a 10-6 win.

With the match scored now tied at 12-12 the penultimate session needed the Suffolk rinks to come out on top again. Right from the start it was the Suffolk bowlers playing the better bowls and you could sense a momentum swing for the first time during the day. Both S1 and S5 were ahead early and neither looked back. Again it was S1 setting the standard and playing a good tactical game they protected their lead to finish up as 11-3 winners. That was closely followed by S5 who played their best game of the day, just when it was needed and they won 10-4. Lastly the closest game of the session involved S3 and going into the last end the outcome remained in doubt. Unfortunately it didn’t go Suffolk’s way and the game was lost 6-9.

Going into the final session the Suffolk team knew the Cambridgeshire result and as such two points were still needed to win the league. S4 immediately settled any Suffolk nerves by playing well again and taking an early lead in their game. Over the second half of their game they were able to do enough to protect that advantage and secured the vital two points needed with a 10-5 win. S2 were also playing another good team game and always seemed in control without having a convincing lead. By the end another two points for Suffolk with a 9-7 win. Finally S6 were also playing a better game and it looked like being a clean sweep of three wins. However the last end didn’t go their way and the game finished as a 10-10 draw.

The match finished with a Suffolk win by 21-15 (shots: 153 - 127).

It had been a really good day of quality bowls with both teams playing their part. Hertfordshire had pushed Suffolk all the way and it was only in the last few sessions that a Suffolk match win looked on the cards.

All of the Suffolk rinks had contributed to the match win but particular mention must go to S1 who won all three games.

The points scored by Suffolk had been enough to win them the ECCBA league title, even though it had gone right to the wire before top spot was secured. Five consecutive wins, including three matches away from home and the bowlers that have represented Suffolk this season should be extremely proud of their efforts.

Neil Jolly (County Captain)

Norfolk v Suffolk

On Sunday 16 February, Suffolk played their penultimate ECCBA league match, away against Norfolk at Wortwell Community Centre.

Suffolk were looking to record their fourth consecutive win and in doing so hopefully maintain or possibly extend their lead at the top of the league.
The rinks selected were:

Suffolk 1 (S1): Jim Goodrich, John Varden, David Ford, Paul Daniels
Suffolk 2 (S2): Trevor Cain, Ellen Grube, Andy Pooley, Sue Gilder
Suffolk 3 (S3): Sam Runnacles, Peter Fellingham, Mick Watkins, Tom Runnacles
Suffolk 4 (S4): Peter Runnacles, Rita Runnacles, Clint Watling, David Mittell
Suffolk 5 (S5): Sally Goodrich, Ralph Sadgrove, Andy Gilder, Steven Cain
Suffolk 6 (S6): Sue Davey, Don Allum, Colin Fellingham, Neil Jolly

In the first session it was important the Suffolk rinks adapted to the away carpets quickly to get the team off to a good start. That’s exactly what happened, S3 led the way and without running away with the game they gradually opened up a healthy lead. By the end they’d secured a comfortable 11-1 win. Close behind them were S5 whose game followed a similar pattern. Their early lead slowly increased and they finished with deserved 12-3 win. Lastly S1 weren’t having such an easy time of it, despite playing well they were always behind. However they battled away and over the last few ends their more accurate bowls paid dividends and they scored the shots they needed to earn a valuable 7-7 draw. A five point session was a great start.

The other Suffolk rinks went to the carpets in the second session looking to continue the fine start. In all three games the Suffolk bowlers started well and this time it was S2 who set the standard. Keeping their game tight at the start, they hit a purple patch from mid-game onwards and they raced away to a very impressive 16-5 win. The other two games were closer but the Suffolk rinks were playing the better bowls. S4 in particular played a consistent game to win 11-6. Lastly it was S6 who completed the whitewash session with a fairly comfortable 9-4 win.

In the third session S1 took confidence from the fine finish to their first game and controlled their game. With all four bowlers contributing to a good rink performance, they went one point better in winning 10-5. S3 also maintained their unbeaten start with another consistent team effort and they looked very comfortable on their way to an 11-3 win. Finally S5 were involved in the closest game which always looked like going to the final end, indeed the final bowl. Unfortunately they were just edged out, losing by 9-11.

At the halfway stage, Suffolk held a healthy 15-3 lead but they needed to maintain concentration and performance levels if they were to achieve a big win to keep them at the top of the league.

The fourth session proved to be the closest of the day with low scoring games across all three carpets and the home rinks playing better. However it was the confident S2 who again played the better game, always looking in control as they recorded another win, by 8-4. That was followed by S4 who replicated their earlier consistent display in winning 9-6. Unfortunately S6 were unable to complete an unbeaten session, they had their chances but were just edged out on the final end, losing 8-10.

The penultimate session saw the Norfolk rinks again improve which resulted in the three games being a lot tighter. S1 in particular were involved in a real battle but yet again they upped their performance level to stay in the game. Going into the last end they held a slim lead but it took a fine last bowl draw from the Suffolk skip to save a possible defeat and earn a deserved 9-6 win. Meanwhile S3 looked comfortable in their game having dominated the early ends to secure a healthy advantage. Then the game turned and going into the last end it was level at 8-8. S3 played a good last end but again it took a skips final bowl to win the game by 10-8. That left S5 who had got off to a terrible start which they had recovered well from, giving them a chance going into the final end. Unfortunately, unlike the other two games, the last end didn’t go S5s way and they lost by the slimmest margin, 7-8.

Suffolk went into the final session looking to finish the day the way they had started with three unbeaten games. Whilst at the start of the session the games were close, as the ends went by Suffolk gained complete control. S2 and S4 were both involved in low scoring games but were always slowly increasing their leads with good tactical bowling. S2 were the first to finish with a 9-2 win and then S4 followed that with an 8-3 win. At the start of S6s game it looked like being a difficult challenge but from the fourth end onwards their better drawing bowls dominated the game and they gradually eased away to a deserved 13-3 win.

The match finished with a Suffolk win by 29-7 (shots: 175 - 94).

It had been a great day for Suffolk and their best all round team performance of the season so far. Consistent early bowls and sound tactical decisions throughout had proved to be crucial.
Every Suffolk rink performed well but particular mention must go to the unbeaten rinks of S1 (two wins and a draw) and S2, S3 and S4 who won all three games.

Suffolk remain top of the league, thirteen points ahead of Cambridgeshire. In the final set of games both counties are playing away, Suffolk at Hertfordshire and Cambridgeshire at Bedfordshire.

The final match for Suffolk against Hertfordshire is on Sunday 16 March.

Neil Jolly (County Captain)

Suffolk v Bedfordshire

On Sunday 19 January, Suffolk played their third ECCBA league match of the 2013/14 season, at home against Bedfordshire at Bildeston. Suffolk were hoping for their third consecutive win and an improved performance on the last match when they were only able to edge a 19-17 home win over Essex.
The rinks selected were:

Suffolk 1 (S1): Jim Goodrich, John Varden, Andrew Cooper, Paul Daniels
Suffolk 2 (S2): Trevor Cain, Ellen Grube, Andy Pooley, Sue Gilder
Suffolk 3 (S3): Sam Runnacles, Peter Fellingham, Mick Watkins, Tom Runnacles
Suffolk 4 (S4): David Ford, Rita Runnacles, Clint Watling, David Mittell
Suffolk 5 (S5): Sally Goodrich, Ralph Sadgrove, Andy Gilder, Steven Cain
Suffolk 6 (S6): Sue Davey, Don Allum, Colin Fellingham, Neil Jolly

In the first session all of the Suffolk rinks got off to reasonable starts but it was S5 who secured the better early advantage. 5-0 up after four ends was increased as the game went on and they only lost one end on their way to a convincing 13-2 win. S3 were also 5-0 up early but they couldn’t get away from their opponents, indeed after seven of the nine ends they were facing defeat at 6-9 down. Showing great resilience they recovered well to win the last two ends to grab an 11-9 win. Lastly S1 were also not having an easy time of things, finding themselves 2-7 down with three ends to play. However a great eighth end saw them score five shots and whilst they dropped a single on the final end, an 8-8 draw was certainly a point earned.

The highlight of the second session was the performance of S2 who completely dominated their game. Playing consistently throughout they deservedly won every end on their way to a tremendous 16-0 win. Meanwhile the other two Suffolk rinks were involved in far closer games with the outcomes uncertain until the final ends. S4 gained an early lead but were behind after five ends. They then gained control again and didn’t lose another end to win 9-5. S6 were also struggling at the start but by the fourth end they’d levelled the game at 3-3. They then rattled off four consecutive winning ends and by the finish that had earned them an 8-4 win.

After the first two sessions, Suffolk had a very healthy 11-1 lead but Bedfordshire had showed enough to suggest they would be making things difficult for Suffolk.

The third session proved that as Suffolk were only able to win one of the three games. Again it was S5 who made a great start which secured them a comfortable 9-1 lead. They didn’t look back from there and pressed on for another convincing win by 15-4. It was downhill from there though for Suffolk as both S3 and S5 were both unable to get any control in their games. S3 were 3-1 up but their opposition quickly levelled the game at 4-4 and S3 could only win one more end in losing 5-10. S1’s game followed a very similar pattern, they were 4-4 after 5 ends and they also won only one more end, finishing with a 5-10 loss.

After that disappointing session, Suffolk needed to bounce back immediately and they did just that when both S4 and S6 got off to flying starts. Indeed it wasn’t until the seventh end of both games before either rink conceded a shot. By then S4 were 12-0 ahead and whilst they lost the final ends, it was still a comfortable 12-5 win. In an almost mirror image game S6 were 14-0 up before losing the last three ends and winning 14-4. Unfortunately S2 couldn’t complete the full house, although they went very close. Whilst they played well to get an early advantage, it always looked like being a tight game and in losing the last two ends the game slipped away 6-7.

The penultimate session turned out to be Suffolk’s best of the day as all three rinks won their games. Most impressive and continuing their fine form was S5 who raced away to an unassailable 11-0 lead after just four ends. They maintained that advantage through to the end to record an excellent 16-5 win. S1 were involved in another close game with the lead changing hands regularly. It was only during ends six to eight that they were able to get any sort of control, scoring six shots which was enough to take them to a 9-5 win. Meanwhile S3 were also in a see-saw game and behind by 3-5 after five ends. They then hit a rich vein of form reeling off four consecutive winning ends and the eight shots scored secured them an important 11-5 win.

Going into the final session Suffolk now had a decent overall lead in the match but a strong finish was essential. S4’s game started as a low scoring affair and they were 1-3 behind after four ends. It looked better after the sixth end though as they lead 6-3, only to throw that away to be 9-6 behind with an end to play. Then reflective of an unpredictable game a superb final end saw the game turn again, S4 scoring a four to steal an unlikely 10-9 win. Meanwhile it was another close start in S6’s game as they held a slim 4-2 lead after four ends. However the latter ends belonged to S6 as they dropped only the one shot in winning 13-3. Finally S2 were struggling in their game, but they recovered well from 1-6 behind to be 7-6 in front after six ends. Unfortunately the next two ends were lost and there was no way back as the game was lost 8-11.

The match finished with a Suffolk win by 27-9 (shots: 189 - 106).

It had been a good day for Suffolk and an important win against an improving Bedfordshire team. Generally the team performance was far more consistent than the display against Essex and hopefully that trend will continue in the last two matches.

Suffolk remain top of the league, nine points ahead of Hertfordshire, with Cambridgeshire a further three points back.

Their next match for Suffolk is on Sunday 16 February, away against Norfolk at Wortwell Community Centre.

Neil Jolly (County Captain)

Suffolk v Essex

On Sunday 8 December, Suffolk played their second ECCBA league match of the 2013/14 season, at home against Essex at Bildeston. They were looking to follow up on their fine win away against Cambridgeshire, but knew they would be in for a difficult match.
The rinks selected were:

Suffolk 1 (S1): Jim Goodrich, John Varden, Andrew Cooper, Paul Daniels
Suffolk 2 (S2): Trevor Cain, Ellen Grube, Andy Pooley, Sue Gilder
Suffolk 3 (S3): Rita Runnacles, Peter Fellingham, David Ford, David Mittell
Suffolk 4 (S4): Sam Runnacles, Don Allum, Mick Watkins, Tom Runnacles
Suffolk 5 (S5): Peter Runnacles, Ralph Sadgrove, Clint Watling, Steven Cain
Suffolk 6 (S6): Sue Davey, Sally Goodrich, Colin Fellingham, Neil Jolly

In the first session S1 and S3 got off to flying starts and by the midway point both had commanding advantages. S1 in particular played very well to lead 11-2 after five ends and dominating the latter ends they were convincing winners by 17-3. S3 weren’t far behind them though, scoring five shots on the fifth end to lead 11-1. Despite losing the last two ends they were also comfortable winners by 13-5. It was a different story in the other game where a heavy shot count against on the fourth end left S5 will a lot to do. Whilst they did win three out of the last five ends it wasn’t enough and the game was lost 10-7.

It was a tighter start to the second session and the closest game involved S2. Whilst they were behind at the start they recovered well to have an 8-3 lead after six ends. However the Essex rink fought back and with S2 losing a single on the final end, the game finished all square at 8-8. Meanwhile S6 had built up a decent early lead of 6-0 which they extended to 13-3 and despite losing a couple of late ends they won well by 14-7. Lastly S4 had got off to the worst start, finding themselves 6-0 behind, but they then recovered well to 6-4. Unfortunately that was the end of the comeback as the last two ends were lost, as was the game 10-4.

After the first two sessions, Suffolk had a very slim 7-5 lead and performances needed to improve.

The third session saw S1 again make a great start and five shots on the fifth end took them to a convincing 10-0 lead. Controlling the second half of their game they eased away to fine 15-2 win. Unfortunately the opposite had happened to S5 who just didn’t get into their game at all, things going from bad to worse as they found themselves 13-0 down. They made a fight of the last few ends though, but it was an impossible task and the game was lost 13-6. Lastly S3 were also struggling early on, as they were 5-0 down. Sharing the middle ends they recovered somewhat to 7-4 behind but just couldn’t do enough on the last end to get a result, losing by the odd shot 7-6

With the match tied overall at 9-9, Suffolk needed a good session and the fourth provided it. It was S2 who led the way, securing an early lead which they increased to 6-1. Whilst they shared the final four ends, it was enough for them to win 8-5. S4 had also got off to a similar start, playing well to lead 6-2. Four consecutive single shot ends saw them go 10-2 up before a terrible last end saw them drop a six to edge a 10-8 win. Finally S6 were involved in a close game, which after six ends they only had a 4-3 advantage. However they controlled the remaining ends to finish with an important 11-3 win and a maximum six point session for Suffolk.

Having taken a lead in the match, the penultimate session was a disappointing one for Suffolk as two of the three games were lost. The one highlight was a win for S3 in a game which they led from the start. Protecting a 6-1 advantage, they held on for a crucial 7-4 win. S1 meanwhile had been unable to repeat their previous performances which had resulted in two comfortable wins. Behind from the third end and dropping four shots on the sixth end left them with too much to do and the game was lost 9-5. Lastly S5 were involved in a see-saw game, they took a first end two shot lead, only to lose it the very next end but with two ends to play they were up again 8-7. It just wasn’t their day though and despite their best efforts the final ends were lost, as was the game 10-8.

Going into the final session Suffolk had a 17-13 overall lead but Essex had the momentum and were generally playing better. After the first few ends of the last session it was all looking healthy from a Suffolk perspective but by the finish it was a completely different picture. S2 had taken an early lead, then lost it and then recovered well to be up 7-6 going into their last end. Unfortunately the game turned again, two shots lost and an 8-7 defeat. S4 secured a better early advantage, playing well in a tight game to be 5-0 up. Again that lead disappeared, they went into their final end at 5-5 and were just unable to get the single shot they needed, another game lost 6-5. That left S6 who were also ahead early, a lead reduced to just 5-3 after six ends and then increased to 8-4 with an end to play. It wasn’t a great last end though and it took a final bowl to avoid a heavy shot loss and secure a 10-4 win.

The match finished with a Suffolk win 19-17 (shots: 161 - 122).

Not a good day for Suffolk and the team had been fortunate to get away with a win overall. It had been a very un-Suffolk like performance, inconsistent bowling and missed opportunities had resulted in the team being unable to gain any momentum throughout the day. On a positive note, two wins from two difficult matches and still top of the league.

Suffolk will be looking for their third consecutive league win, but more importantly a vastly improved performance in their next match on Sunday 19 January at Bildeston again, against Bedfordshire.

Neil Jolly (County Captain)

Cambridgeshire v Suffolk

On Sunday 24 November, fresh from their success at the Nationals a fortnight before, Suffolk played their first ECCBA league match of the 2013/14 season, away against Cambridgeshire at Milton. Against their main rivals, this was the toughest possible start for the Suffolk team in their effort to retain the league title.

The team showed some personnel and positional changes from the winning Nationals team with Trevor Cain and Clint Watling making their league debut for Suffolk. The rinks selected were:

Suffolk 1 (S1): Jim Goodrich, John Varden, Andrew Cooper, Paul Daniels
Suffolk 2 (S2): Trevor Cain, Ellen Grube, Andy Pooley, Sue Gilder
Suffolk 3 (S3): David Ford, Rita Runnacles, Clint Watling, David Mittell
Suffolk 4 (S4): Sam Runnacles, Don Allum, Mick Watkins, Tom Runnacles
Suffolk 5 (S5): Peter Runnacles, Ralph Sadgrove, Andy Gilder, Steven Cain
Suffolk 6 (S6): Sue Davey, Sally Goodrich, Colin Fellingham, Neil Jolly

In the first session it was soon apparent that the fast swingy carpets wouldn’t be easy to play and the Suffolk bowlers would have to adapt quickly. It was S5 who picked up the speed and lines of their carpet first and they quickly built a lead they never looked back from, getting the first Suffolk points on the board with a 13-3 win. That was then followed up by S3 who despite a slightly slower start, grew in confidence as their game progressed and by the end had won well 9-4. S1 meanwhile hadn’t made a good start but by the middle ends had recovered well to level their game 6-6. It went to the final end, indeed the final bowl and they were unfortunate to come out on the wrong side of the 9-8 scoreline.

Having had the benefit of watching the carpets for a session, the other Suffolk rinks all got off to a decent start. Leading the way were S2 who controlled their game from start to finish, gradually edging further away they finished with a comfortable 13-5 win. The pattern of that game was repeated in the other two games, as both S4 and S6 both built early leads which they never looked in danger of surrendering. S4 winning their game 11-4 and S6 also winning well by 9-3.

After the first two sessions, Suffolk were delighted with their overall 10-2 lead.

From the start of the third session it was clear the games were going to be far tighter than the previous session. In two of the games there was very little separating the teams going into the final ends. It was S3 who were involved in the closest game and it was only some excellent bowls played on the last end that saw them scrape home 7-6 for two well deserved points. It was a similar story for S5, but again some composed play towards the end of their game earned them an important 8-6 win. Unfortunately in the other game S1 were just unable to recover from a bad start and with everything going against them, they lost 11-1.

With confidence high after their unbeaten first games, S2, S4 and S6 all flew out of the blocks at the start of the fourth session. Setting the pace were S6 who soon had a healthy looking lead and despite a couple of careless ends in mid-game, they finished with a resounding 20-8 win. Not far behind them were S2 who continued their fine form, never looking in any danger whilst on their way to a 13-3 win. Lastly, S4 were involved in a slightly closer game but they were also playing well and completed the clean sweep of wins with a 9-4 success.

The penultimate session was disappointing for Suffolk as two of the three games were lost. The one bright spot was another good team performance from S3, in a close game. It was their consistency which saw them to their deserved third consecutive win of the day, by 9-5. In the other two games, S5 got off to a dreadful start which they were unable to turn around, losing 4-13. Finally S1 also got off to a bad start which they recovered well, but then the final ends went away from them and the game was lost 9-20.

The start of the final session saw the Suffolk rinks determined to end the day on a high and in doing so extend their overall lead. Again it was S6 who led the way, securing an early slim advantage which they extended as the game progressed and they won 10-1. S2 bounced back well from their previous game loss, in playing far more consistently from start to finish in edging a close game by 10-7. In the last game S4 were continuing to play well and had earned a small lead going into the final ends. However a disappointing last end saw the game turn around and they slipped to a 6-8 defeat.

The match finished with a Suffolk win 26-10 (shots: 169 - 120).

What a fantastic day it had been for Suffolk. Away from home, against their main rivals on tricky carpets, they had dominated the match from start to finish. The new bowlers settled into the team and played well and the revised rink combinations had gelled quickly. However the main difference between the two teams had been the consistency and drawing bowls throughout the day of Suffolk’s early bowlers.

Congratulations should go to S2, S3 and S6 who won all of their games.

Suffolk will be looking to build on this great start and hopefully improve on this performance in their next match on Sunday 8 December, at Bildeston against Essex.

Neil Jolly (County Captain)

2013 National Championships

On Friday 8 November the Suffolk team and their supporters travelled to Potters Leisure Resort at Hopton-on-Sea for the 2013 National County Championships.

Nine counties were competing, Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Durham, Essex, Hertfordshire, Norfolk, Northumberland, Sunderland and Suffolk. Each county were represented by six rinks (fours), each rink playing one nine end game against all of the other counties, over a weekend of bowling.

The team selected to represent Suffolk was:

A: Jim Goodrich, John Varden, Paul Daniels, James Rous
B: Sam Runnacles, Ellen Grube, Jon Jordan, Sue Gilder
C: Andy Pooley, Don Allum, Neil Tuckey, Tom Runnacles
D: David Ford, Rita Runnacles, Andy Gilder, David Mittell
E: Peter Runnacles, Ralph Sadgrove, Mick Watkins, Steven Cain
F: Sue Davey, Sally Goodrich, Colin Fellingham, Neil Jolly

The competition started on the Saturday morning and Suffolk’s first opponents were Norfolk. None of the Suffolk rinks got off to a particularly quick start but it was A who found their form first, going on to win 8-4. In the other two games, going into the last ends Suffolk were looking like losing both. However two superb final ends saw B grab three shots to steal an improbable 9-8 win and C a couple of shots to salvage an 8-8 draw. A five point start was probably more than the performances deserved.

With an odd number of counties competing, in the second session Suffolk were not playing. Rinks A, B and C returned for the next session against an improving Durham team. This time it was C who started better and they were comfortable 10-4 winners. Meanwhile A and B were involved in tighter games, which by the end were shared, A sneaking a 9-7 win and B just falling short, losing 8-9. Overall four points was a fair return from a tricky session.

The fourth session of the day saw rinks D, E and F play their first games, not an easy start though against defending champions Cambridgeshire. Suffolk E wasted no time in hitting top form as they ran away to an astonishing 19-2 win. D and F were involved in closer games though which would go to the final ends. D ended up losing 7-10, but a five shot last end count for F saw them come from behind to win 10-6. Suffolk were pleased to get a four point return from their main rivals.

Northumberland were the next opposition for A, B and C and this was Suffolk’s best session so far. With all the rinks improving from their earlier games, three wins were secured. In particular B played very well in a difficult game to win 8-4, A won 12-6 and C were dominant in their convincing 19-4 win.

Hertfordshire were next up for D, E and F and again it was E who led the way with an impressive 13-4 win. That was soon followed up by F winning 11-8 and finally with D edging an 8-6 win, another maximum six point return was secured.

A, B and C faced Bedfordshire next, all of them got off to terrible starts and it wasn’t until the third ends that Suffolk even scored a shot. Performances improved gradually as the games went on but going into the final ends, all of the games were level. With perfect timing the Suffolk rinks all played their best end and turned what could have been a horror session into three valuable wins, A winning 10-7, B by just 7-6 and C by 13-10. Six crucial and hard earned points.

Local rivals Essex were up next for D, E and F and difficult games were expected. D proved otherwise as they strolled to a 15-2 win and E played well again to win 12-5. It was less comfortable for F though and it took until the last end for them to get a 6-5 win. Another six points on the board for Suffolk.

The final session on Saturday saw A, B and C face Sunderland, who weren’t having a good day. Having to play better than they did against Bedfordshire, performances were improved from the start and three wins never looked in doubt. A winning 10-4 for their fifth consecutive win of the day, B won 13-7 and C won 16-6 to stay unbeaten for the day.

It had been an unbelievable day for the Suffolk rinks, losing only two games and dropping just five points out of a possible forty eight. During the afternoon they had won fifteen consecutive games, over the five sessions. Overall Suffolk led the way with forty three points, an eleven point lead over Cambridgeshire, with Essex four points further back.

Sunday morning, as with Saturday got off to a tricky start for Suffolk with games against Norfolk. Two of the rinks continued from where they had left off, with E and F winning well by 11-3. It was less comfortable for D though and they were unlucky to lose 4-5 to the last bowl of the game.

After Suffolk’s session break D, E and F returned to face Durham. D immediately bounced back well from their earlier defeat to win well 9-2. Meanwhile F were involved in great tactical battle, playing well in the middle ends to get a lead, finishing with a 10-6 win. Finally it was disappointment for E who couldn’t recover from a poor start, losing 6-11. Four points was a fair reflection of the session, but overall Suffolk’s lead had been reduced to nine points.

It was now a crucial session, with the top two teams facing each other. Cambridgeshire started all three games well and the Suffolk rinks had no answers. A got closest, playing good bowls in the last few ends but just fell short, losing 9-10. In the other two games B lost 3-8 and C lost 2-9. Suffolk’s overall lead was now down to just three points.

Suffolk needed to respond immediately and get the momentum back and D, E and F did just that against Northumberland. Whilst the performances weren’t convincing, D were the most impressive in winning 10-4, F struggled to a 10-7 win and E fought hard to get a 6-6 draw.

Against Hertfordshire it was essential A, B and C returned to winning ways, but it wouldn’t be easy. It didn’t take A long to hit something near top form again, as they raced away to an early lead and won 19-4. C were involved in a great tussle and it wasn’t until the latter ends that they had an advantage, but they held on to win 12-6. Lastly B had the closest game, a low scoring affair in which they did well to edge a 6-5 win. Six crucial points secured.

Bedfordshire faced D, E and F next and the Suffolk rinks all got off to sluggish starts. With everything going against them early on, E recovered well to win 12-6 and that was soon followed by a 12-2 win for F. Unfortunately D just had one of those games where nothing went right and they slipped to a 14-2 defeat. However on a positive note, Cambridgeshire had just lost two games and Suffolk’s overall lead was back up to five points.

The penultimate session started well for Suffolk, when Cambridgeshire lost another game. This meant if Suffolk could win all three games against Essex, the championship was theirs. C pretty much finished their game after the first end, scoring a seven from which they never looked back to win 16-5. A recovered from a slow start to control the middle ends and won 10-5. C were also behind early but showing great composure they hit back and secured the vital third win by 12-5.

Suffolk were the National champions, with a session to spare.
The final games of the weekend for D, E and F were against Sunderland. With the overall win already secured and the pressure off the rinks finished with a flourish. Three more wins, D by 9-2, E by 11-6 and F by 12-3.

Overall the finishing positions were:

Pts For Agst 1 Suffolk 78 485 279 2 Cambridgeshire 71 441 301 3 Essex 56 387 360 4 Durham 49 397 357 5 Norfolk 43 350 376 6 Hertfordshire 36 367 423 7 Sunderland 34 336 446 8 Northumberland 33 327 432 9 Bedfordshire 32 331 447

It had been a fantastic weekend for Suffolk, firstly winning the Inter-County title on the Friday night and then following that up with the National Championships. The all round team performance on Saturday had been superb. Sunday was more a test of character, particularly after the three game loss to Cambridgeshire but the whole team responded, losing only one game out of the last fifteen.

The Suffolk team thank everyone who travelled to Potters and supported them during this long weekend of bowls, it was greatly appreciated.

Looking back at 2012/13, this Suffolk team has won everything, firstly the ECCBA league, then the Six Counties and Teambowl, concluding with the double win at Potters. This is a very talented group of bowlers who play the game in the right way and with a smile on their face. Every Suffolk bowler can be extremely proud of what they have achieved and the team spirit and camaraderie shown throughout the season.

Neil Jolly (County Captain)

James Rous, John Varden, Paul Daniels, Jim Goodrich	Jon Jordan, Ellen Grube, Sue Gilder, Sam Runnacles	Tom Runnacles, Neil Tuckey, Andy Pooley, Don Allum
David Ford, Andy Gilder, David Mittell, Rita Runnacles	Steven Cain, Peter Runnacles, Ralph Sadgrove, Mick Watkins	Neil Jolly, Sally Goodrich, Sue Davey, Colin Fellingham

Inter County League Play-Off Match 2013

The 2013 Inter County League Play-Off match was held on the evening of Friday 8 November 2013 at Potters.

The match was between Suffolk (Eastern Counties League winners) and Sunderland (Northern Counties League winners) for the 2012/13 season.
Suffolk were looking for their third consecutive win in this match, having beaten the same opposition in the last two years.

Each county were represented by six rinks (fours), each playing one nine end game.
The team selected to represent Suffolk was:

A: Jim Goodrich, John Varden, Paul Daniels, James Rous
B: Sam Runnacles, Ellen Grube, Jon Jordan, Sue Gilder
C: Andy Pooley, Don Allum, Neil Tuckey, Tom Runnacles
D: David Ford, Rita Runnacles, Andy Gilder, David Mittell
E: Peter Runnacles, Ralph Sadgrove, Mick Watkins, Steven Cain
F: Sue Davey, Sally Goodrich, Colin Fellingham, Neil Jolly

As with the last two matches between Suffolk and Sunderland, all of the games were close for the first few ends, with neither county able to secure a significant advantage.

It was Suffolk A who made the first decisive break, dominating their game from the middle ends, running away to a very comfortable 17-2 win.

Sunderland soon countered that win as the game gradually slipped away from Suffolk B. Whilst not playing badly, they ran out of ends losing 2-9.

All of the remaining four games were close and by halfway the overall winner was no clearer.

It was then that the Suffolk rinks began to take greater control. Suffolk D secured a lead and held on to win 11-7. That was soon followed by Suffolk F who after a slow start won a number of consecutive ends to ease away to an important 10-4 win.

With three wins in the bank, Suffolk needed just one more to win the title again. Suffolk C were involved in the tightest game, with only a shot in it with an end to play. Playing a controlled last end they secured the crucial win, 10-7.

In the other game Suffolk E were just not able to gain any momentum and lost 4-11.

It had been a great start to the weekend for the Suffolk team and they were delighted to win 8-4 (shots: 54 – 40).

Suffolk had defended their title and won the Inter County League trophy for the third year in succession.

Neil Jolly (County Captain)

2013/14 Suffolk Squad

Following the squad trials on Sunday 13 October at Needham Market Community Centre, the players selected for the 2013/14 season are:

Neil Jolly - Brockley – captain
Sally Goodrich - Claydon – selector
Steven Cain - Great Blakenham – selector
Don Allum – Great Blakenham
Trevor Cain – Great Blakenham
Andrew Cooper – Hundon
Paul Daniels – Kelsale
Sue Davey - Cockfield
Colin Fellingham - Cockfield
Peter Fellingham – Cockfield
David Ford – Great Blakenham
Andy Gilder - Barking
Sue Gilder - Barking
Jim Goodrich – Claydon
Ellen Grube – Hundon
David Mittell – Great Blakenham
Andy Pooley – Great Blakenham
Peter Runnacles – Barking
Rita Runnacles – Barking
Sam Runnacles – Barking
Tom Runnacles – Barking
Ralph Sadgrove – Hundon
John Varden – Old Felixstowe
Mick Watkins – Barking
Clint Watling – Claydon

Squad Reserves
Trevor Bean – Stanningfield
Ann Hathaway – Hundon

The squad is now looking forward to their first Eastern Counties league match, away against Cambridgeshire at Milton Community Centre on Sunday 24 November 2013.

Neil Jolly

2013 Six Counties Charity Teambowl

On Sunday 29 September 2013 the Essex CBA hosted the ECCBA Six Counties Charity Teambowl at Littleport. Their chosen charity was the Macmillan Cancer Support.

The competition involved the six Eastern Counties, Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Norfolk and Suffolk.

Each county were represented by four singles bowlers, four pairs and four triples, each playing one seven end game against each of the other counties.

Suffolk were looking to add the Teambowl title to the league and Six Counties Championship already won.
The team selected to represent Suffolk was:

S1: Tom Runnacles (single), Sam Runnacles & Andy Gilder (pair), Sally Goodrich, Ellen Grube & Sue Gilder (triple);

S2: Mick Watkins (single), Peter Runnacles & Colin Fellingham (pair), Sue Davey, Peter Fellingham & Neil Jolly (triple);

S3: Paul Daniels (single), David Ford & David Mittell (pair), Don Allum, Rita Runnacles & Steven Cain (triple);

S4: James Rous (single), John Varden & Jim Goodrich (pair), Andy Pooley, Ralph Sadgrove & Jon Jordan (triple);

It was a difficult start for Suffolk as their first session opposition were a competent Essex team. However the Suffolk singles soon got the first points on the board with three good wins. Mick led his game from start to finish winning 13-1, whilst both James and Paul left it late to win their games 6-5 and 8-7 respectively. They were followed on by the pairs and after some tight games, Suffolk were again unbeaten in three. S2 and S3 winning 7-5 and 11-8, whilst S4 earned a hard earned point with a 4-4 draw. Finally it was a similar outcome in the triples, this time three wins from S2 by 10-4, S3 by 10-5 and S4 by 9-4. Suffolk had scored seventeen points against Essex, a great start and straight into first place overall.

The games would get no easier in the second session as the opposition were the defending champions, Cambridgeshire. The singles got Suffolk off to a good start, Mick and James winning again, 11-2 and 7-4, with Tom adding an extra point with a hard fought 5—5 draw. All of the pairs were then involved in close low scoring games and the final outcome of two each was a fair reflection, S2 and S3 both winning again by 7-6 and 5-3. It was then an identical outcome to the triples games when S2 and S4 both won their games comfortably, 9-2 and 10-1. Suffolk had just edged their rivals overall by 13-11 and it was enough to keep them in top spot, three points ahead of Norfolk.

It was first versus second next when Suffolk faced Norfolk. Again the consistent singles got Suffolk off to a good start with three wins. Mick and Paul winning well 9-2 and 7-2, followed by James playing a superb last end to steal his game 5-4. The pairs then continued their good start with two comfortable wins, S1 (10-6) and S4 (12-6) and a well earned 7-7 draw on the last end by S2. The triples then had Suffolk’s best session of the day so far when maximum points were secured with four wins. S1 won well by 12-5, but the other games were close and went to the final ends before S2 won 7-5, S3 and S4 both by 6-4.
Nineteen points against Norfolk was a fantastic outcome and overall Suffolk had extended their lead at the top to eleven points ahead of second place Cambridgeshire.

Suffolk’s penultimate opponents were Hertfordshire and this time the singles could only share their session. James kept up his unbeaten record with a comfortable 12-2 win and Paul got the other two points with a good 10-3 win. Things took a turn for the worse in the pairs when some good play from the opposition restricted Suffolk to just two points, S3 also maintaining their unbeaten day with the solitary win by 6-4. A recovery was needed and the triples did just that with theirs and Suffolk’s second maximum session of the day. Leading all of the games from start to finish, four wins were secured, S1 (10-3), S2 (16-1), S3 (9-3) and S4 (12-3). Not the best result overall but a fair reflection of the games played. Fourteen points against Hertfordshire kept Suffolk in first place with a healthy nine point lead over second place Cambridgeshire.

Going into their final set of games against Bedfordshire, it was Suffolk’s competition to lose. As with previous sessions the singles got the team off to a steady start. In four low scoring tight games Paul edged a last end decider by 7-6, James won well again 9-2 and Mick recovered from an early deficit to secure a 5-5 draw. The pairs improved on their last performances by getting another three solid wins, S1 (12-7), S2 (13-1) and S3 (10-6). Finally the triples finished the day on a high with another unbeaten session, S1 battled well for a 6-6 draw and the others all won, S2 (9-4), S3 (6-5) and S4 (10-2). Overall Suffolk had taken eighteen points from Bedfordshire.

The final points and standings were:

	PTS
Suffolk	81
Cambridgeshire	68
Norfolk	61
Essex	53
Hertfordshire	51
Bedfordshire	46

It had been another great team performance from Suffolk, leading the competition from the first session to the last. The points had been shared across the team and particular mention should go to those who didn’t lose a game all day, James Rous (five wins), the pair of David Ford/ David Mittell (four wins and a draw) and the triples Sue Davey/ Peter Fellingham/ Neil Jolly (five wins) and Andy Pooley/ Ralph Sadgrove/ Jon Jordan (five wins).

The Suffolk team will now be looking to continue this good form into the National Championships at Potters over the weekend of 8 – 10 November.

Neil Jolly (County Captain)