Six Counties Championship

On Sunday 12 April 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.

Having retained the ECCBA league title last month the Suffolk team were now hoping to regain the Six Counties Championship, having finished runners up to Cambridgeshire last year.

With five regular bowlers unavailable it was a much changed Suffolk team, the rinks selected were:

Suffolk 1 (S1): Jim Goodrich, Don Allum, Andy Gilder, Paul Daniels
Suffolk 2 (S2): Sue Davey, Ann Hathaway, Colin Fellingham, Sue Gilder
Suffolk 3 (S3): Sam Runnacles, Ralph Sadgrove, Mick Watkins, Tom Runnacles
Suffolk 4 (S4): Pete Runnacles, David O’Brien, John Varden, David Mittell
Suffolk 5 (S5): Rita Runnacles, Ally Hobbs, Sally Goodrich, Steven Cain
Suffolk 6 (S6): Keith Jolly, Paul Leach, Peter Fellingham, Neil Jolly

First up for Suffolk were Hertfordshire, a difficult start given the opposition’s recent league form. Any early nerves were soon gone though as S2, S3 and S4 all got off to flying starts. Dominating their games from first end to last and three wins were never in doubt, S2 winning 12-2, S3 by 12-5 and S4 by 13-2. That was then followed up by an equally convincing win from S5, again controlling the game on their way to a 13-3 win. The other two games were far closer though, S6 traded shots with their opposition throughout and the last bowl of the game turned a draw into a slim 8-7 win. A similar game for S1 but unfortunately they were unable to complete a clean sweep of wins, just being edged out 6-7. Overall a great start though, ten points and straight into top spot with a two point lead over Essex.

Next up for Suffolk were the defending champions, Cambridgeshire. It was a disappointing start this time, particularly for S2 and S3 who simply didn’t get a foothold in their games, losing 1-15 and 2-15 respectively. Slightly better for S1, who were involved in an entertaining see-saw game, which went right down to a last end measure, when one shot scored secured an important 12-12 draw. S4 were also involved in a high scoring encounter, but it was another game lost, by 8-11. A couple of wins were desperately needed, S5 and S6 duly delivered, but only just. In two tight games that went right down to the final bowls, the Suffolk rinks held their nerve, S5 winning 8-7, S6 winning 7-6. Overall Suffolk were fortunate to escape with five crucial points, they were now equal top with Norfolk.

The games didn’t get any easier in the next session, with Essex providing the opposition. The first three games were tight affairs and could’ve gone either way. In the end Suffolk could only manage one win, S3 bouncing back well to secure two points with a 6-3 win. Meanwhile S2 lost 5-8 and S1 could consider themselves unlucky to lose 4-5, with the time limit preventing the final end being played. Suffolk couldn’t really afford to lose any of the remaining games and S4 ensured their win by getting off to a great start and running away to a comfortable 11-2 win. Again S5 and S6 were involved in tight games and again the outcome would come down to the final bowls. S6 did just enough to avoid defeat with an honourable 9-9 draw, S5 went one better, winning their last end and the game 6-5. Seven points from Essex was a fair outcome and overall Suffolk were now top on their own with Norfolk and Cambridgeshire four points back.

Five points now covered the top four teams, so Suffolk needed a good session against Bedfordshire. S2 were having a tough day and things just weren’t going their way. This time their game went to the final end but again they found themselves on the wrong end of the result, losing 8-9. Better news in all of the other games though, S1, S3 and S4 all got off to decent starts and began to exert more control over their games as the ends went by. Come the finish, they had earned three comfortable wins, S1 and S4 by 13-4 and S3 winning 14-6. For a change S5 and S6 were not involved in nail biting final end deciders, as both had their games wrapped up far sooner, S5 winning 11-5 and S6 by a convincing 18-4. Ten very important points scored, which kept Suffolk at the top of the leaderboard. However going into the final games, there were still three teams in it. Cambridgeshire were only four points behind and with Bedfordshire to play, they provided the biggest danger.

In the final session Suffolk faced Norfolk, who themselves had a slim chance of winning the event. Their chances improved dramatically when they won the first two games, S1 and S2 going down to 4-9 and 4-10 defeats respectively. It was all to play for now and the remaining four games were all low scoring and close during the early ends. However from the middle ends the Suffolk rinks all started to gain a degree of control. S4 and S5 always looked the most likely to record wins and so it proved, S4 edged away to a 9-3 win, whilst S5 raced away to a 14-5 win. That was soon followed up by S6 sneaking a 7-3 win and the job was completed by S3 with a hard earned 7-7 draw.

So to finish Suffolk had taken seven points from Norfolk, meanwhile Cambridgeshire had only scored six points in their final games.

Suffolk were the Six Counties Championship winners.

The final scores were:

Pts F A Suffolk 39 265 193 Cambridgeshire 34 285 192 Norfolk 31 212 237 Essex 30 225 239 Bedfordshire 26 218 261 Hertfordshire 20 209 292

What a great day it had been for the Suffolk team, given the changes in personnel and rink combinations, a fantastic effort by all 24 bowlers. Whilst unfair to mention individuals, much credit to Ann Hathaway, Ally Hobbs and Keith Jolly who came into the team late in the day and all played well.

Well done also to S6 (4 wins and a draw) and particularly S5 (5 wins) who were the only rinks in any of the six counties to be unbeaten all day.

For the team, this victory means that Suffolk now hold all of the Eastern Counties and National Team titles, a magnificent achievement by a very talented and committed group of bowlers.

Neil Jolly (County Captain)

Full set of results

Suffolk v Cambridgeshire

On Sunday 15 March, Suffolk played their final ECCBA league match of the season against Cambridgeshire, at Needham Market.

Suffolk went into the match with a seventeen point lead over second place Hertfordshire, knowing a win would guarantee them retaining the ECCBA league title.

The rinks selected were:

Suffolk 1 (S1): Jim Goodrich, Don Allum, 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, David O’Brien, Clint Watling, David Mittell
Suffolk 5 (S5): Sally Goodrich, Rita Runnacles, Andy Gilder, Steven Cain
Suffolk 6 (S6): Sue Davey, John Varden, Colin Fellingham, Neil Jolly

As is usually the case in the first session, it was S1 who got the Suffolk team off to a confident start. Their consistent bowling secured them an 8-1 lead after five ends and they don’t lose games from that position, finishing up as comfortable 11-5 winners. Not far behind them were S5 who were looking good at 4-1 and 7-2 up. However a couple of lost ends and the game was back in the balance at 7-6, but they bounced back well to win the last two ends and the game by 11-6. The tightest game involved S3, who played well enough to gain a lead, but not quite well enough to keep it. They were up 4-2, 7-4 and 9-7 ahead, but two shots lost on the final end saw the game finish a fair 9-9 draw. Suffolk could be pleased with the unbeaten start though.

The second session saw S2 fly out of the blocks, they completely dominated the first three ends to be 12-0 up. There was simply no way back for the opposing rink and S2 cruised to a 17-6 win. The other two games were far closer though and would be decided by the final bowls. S6’s game was a real see-saw affair, 0-2 down, then 4-2 up, then 4-6 down and still a shot behind playing the last end. It was the perfect last end though, accurate early bowls, a conversion shot to tuck the jack in and a couple of blockers, four shots scored and a hard earned 9-6 win. S4 were also not having it all their own way but were always in front, 6-2, 7-3 and 8-4. Unfortunately, a couple of double shot dropped ends resulted in an 8-8 draw. However a good point gained and Suffolk’s unbeaten start had been maintained.

In the third session it was S3 who made the better start of the Suffolk rinks, playing well to win four of the first five ends to be 8-1 up. This enabled them to share the remaining ends and ease their way to an 11-3 win. The other two games were low scoring encounters, with the outcomes uncertain until the last ends. S5 were never behind in their game, but couldn’t build a healthy lead. They were 2-0, 5-2 and then 7-4 up going into the last end, in which they did enough to score another shot and earn an 8-4 win. Finally S1 were involved in a real battle, in a game where they were only ahead once. At 1-4 down they did well to get the game back to all square at 4-4 and going into the last end it was 5-5. It was an excellent team final end though building a head that protected the jack, scoring a single shot they needed to win the game 6-5.

At the halfway stage, Suffolk had not lost a game and held a commanding 16-2 lead. There was still work to be done though.

The start of the fourth session was all about S4, hitting top form they controlled the early ends and after six ends they were 9-0 up. That proved to be more than enough and despite losing a couple of ends, they ran out comfortable 11-3 winners. It was a bizarre start in the game involving S2, as in a poor first end they dropped five shots and in a great second end they levelled the game. Things took a turn for the worse again when they lost three ends to go 6-8 behind but they hit back again, winning the final three ends to win an incredible game 11-8. S6’s game started well with a two shot first end but they were chasing from there on out, 2-5, 5-7 and then 6-8 down playing the last. They didn’t give up though, indeed had an opportunity to win the game but had to settle for two shots and a well earned 8-8 draw.

Suffolk’s unbeaten day came to a shuddering halt in the penultimate session, but it certainly wasn’t down to a lack of effort. First the good news, another win for S1, but again they didn’t have it all their own way. Things were looking good at 4-0 up, but not quite so good at 4-6 down with just two ends to play. S1 never know when they are beaten though and true to form they scored two shots on each of the final ends to win 8-6. For S3 it was always looking like a slow start would cost them, 0-4 and 2-6 behind, but they did really well to square the game at 6-6 going into the final end. However they were just unable to build a winning head of bowls, three shots dropped and a 6-9 loss. Conversely S5 had got off to a decent start, 4-1 and 6-2 up and they remained two shots in front playing the final end. It was a tight last end and the Suffolk skips final running bowl hit the target perfectly but unbelievably left three opposing woods holding and the game was lost 6-7.

In the final session S2 got off to a more conventional start and had soon secured themselves an advantage, 4-1 and then 6-3. However by the last end their lead was slim at just 6-5, but they held their nerve building an accurate head of bowls, four shots scored and a 10-5 win. S4 again got off to a sluggish start losing the first two ends and then dropping a four on the sixth end saw them 3-6 down. They responded very well though, a crucial double on the seventh and single shots on the last two ends resulting in a 7-6 win. Lastly S6 (now including “super-sub” Ralph Sadgrove) were always ahead in their game, although dropping a five on the penultimate end made for a nervy final end. They played it well though, another two shots and a deserved 12-7 win.

Overall the match finished with a Suffolk win 29-7 (shots: 169-111).

Suffolk had certainly saved the best for last. A fantastic all round team performance, early bowlers dominated all day and were ably backed up by the thirds and skips.

Every Suffolk rink played well, S1 and S2 winning all three games, and S4 and S6 were also unbeaten, winning two and drawing one.

This result means Suffolk win the ECCBA league for a fifth consecutive season, winning all five matches and finishing comfortably ahead of all the other counties.

Everyone who has played for Suffolk this season should be very proud of their efforts and a big thank you from the team to those that have come along and supported us.

The Suffolk team’s next outing is the Six Counties competition at Braintree Leisure Centre on Sunday 12 April.

Neil Jolly (County Captain)

ECCBA League Results and Standings

Suffolk v Hertfordshire

On Sunday 15 February, Suffolk played their penultimate ECCBA league match of the season against Hertfordshire, at Bildeston.

Suffolk were looking for their fourth consecutive win, to maintain their top spot in the league. A tough test was expected, as Hertfordshire were having a good season, sitting in second position in the league and only nine points behind Suffolk.

After a couple of late withdrawals from the team selected, the selectors were grateful to Ann Hathaway and Heather Cain who stepped in to play. The rinks that faced Hertfordshire were:

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

The first session of the day saw the consistent bowling of S1 get the Suffolk team off to a great start. Five shots on the fourth end extended their lead to 8-1 and despite losing the last couple of ends, the first points went to Suffolk with a comfortable 13-5 win. The other two games were far closer though and in both the advantage changed hands numerous times. S5 had got off to a decent start, leading 3-0 but from there they went 3-5 and 5-7 behind. However a couple of shots on the final end salvaged a hard earned draw. Meanwhile S3 had got off to a poor start, dropping four shots on the very first end. They bounced back well though levelling the game by the fourth end, only to go 4-7 behind, which they got back to 6-7 with an end to go. On the final end they were holding the two shots they needed, only for the Hertfordshire skip’s last bowl to fortuitously clip a short bowl in for shot. A cruel way to lose 6-8.

The second session saw S2 and S4 make superb starts to their games, both scoring five shots on their first end. The games then followed a similar pattern. S2 lost a couple of ends but then scored nine unanswered shots over the next five ends, eventually winning well by 14-4. S4 also lost the second and third ends but then scored six shots in the next four ends to extend their lead. Swapping a three shot count over the last two ends, resulted in a 14-5 win. S6’s game was far closer and things were looking promising at 3-1 up after four ends. However losing five shots on the fifth end proved costly and despite their best effort they were unable to overturn that deficit and the game was lost 5-10.

In the third session it was S5 who made the better start of the Suffolk rinks, securing an early lead which they extended to 6-1 after six ends. They then made things difficult for themselves though and going into the last end, they were only 6-5 up. It was just enough though as a single shot saw them home by 7-5. S3 meanwhile had made a disappointing start dropping three shots on the first end, but they took control after that. They levelled the game at 4-4 after four ends and winning three of the remaining five ends was sufficient for a 10-6 win. Lastly S1 had also got off to a bad start but got themselves back in the game, at 3-3 after five ends. In a see-saw finish to the game, they were then 3-6 down, then 7-6 up, only to drop two shots on the final end to lose 7-8.

At the halfway stage, Suffolk held a slim 11-7 lead and on the evidence of the games played, the outcome of the match remained uncertain.

The fourth session though was to prove crucial, a session in which none of the Suffolk rinks got off to convincing starts. S4 dropped three shots on the first end and looked out of the game after five ends, when they were 1-6 down. It was then that matters took a turn for the better, having pulled the game back to 4-6, they scored a fantastic four shots on the penultimate end to take the lead for the first time. A controlled last end earned them another two shots and a remarkable 10-6 win. The game involving S6 followed a similar pattern, as they were 2-5 behind after four ends. Again the game then swung Suffolk’s way, S6 winning all of the remaining five ends and scoring seven shots to win 9-5. It was equally as tight for S2, a game where they were never behind but also never in complete control. They led 2-0, 3-2, 4-3 and 5-4 but going into the last end it was 5-5. However they showed great composure, scoring two shots for an important 7-5 win and a maximum six point session for Suffolk.

If the last session belonged to Suffolk, the penultimate session was nearly all Hertfordshire, with the away team showing what a resilient and quality team they have. It was looking good for S5 after four ends as they earned a 5-0 lead. However it was a game of two halves as they were unable to win another end and the game was lost 5-9. It wasn’t any better for S1, 0-5 down early on which they got back to 3-5, only to lose single shots on the next four ends. Second defeat of the session, again 5-9. It was looking more hopeful for S3 though when they held an early 6-0 lead, which they maintained to 10-4 with two ends to go. It was then that it all started going wrong, three shots dropped on the penultimate end made for a nervy last end and despite their best efforts another three shots down and a 10-10 draw.

Suffolk went into the final session 18-12 up overall and Hertfordshire now had a sniff of a drawn match. S2 were playing well though and quickly settled any Suffolk nerves by securing an early advantage in their game. Whilst not running away with their game, the lead was always theirs and winning five out of the nine ends was enough for a crucial 10-6 win. S6 meanwhile were involved in a real battle, 2-1 up went 2-3 down and then 4-3 up. The seventh end proved pivotal when they scored three shots and another three count on the final end saw them home by 10-4. Unfortunately S4 were unable to get their third consecutive win of the day, in a game where they were unable to recover from a slow start. Finding themselves 0-8 behind proved too much to claw back and the game was lost 4-10.

Overall the match finished with a Suffolk win 22-14 (shots: 153 - 122).

Suffolk had been made to work very hard for the win, by a Hertfordshire team who showed great determination and ability. There was very little between the teams all day and maybe home advantage was enough to swing the match in Suffolk’s favour.

Every Suffolk rink had contributed points to the victory, but particular mention should go to S2 who won all of their games.

The win keeps Suffolk at the top of the league and extends their lead over Hertfordshire to seventeen points. Suffolk’s final league match of the season is at home against Cambridgeshire, at Needham Market on Sunday 15 March (10.30am start).

Neil Jolly (County Captain)

ECCBA League Results and Standings

Suffolk v Norfolk

On Sunday 18 January, at Needham Market, Suffolk faced Norfolk in the third ECCBA league match, looking to continue their winning start, following two away successes against Essex and Bedfordshire.

Paul Leach came into the team for his first Suffolk match, the rinks selected were:

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

In the first session it was S1 who flew out of the blocks, after four ends they pretty much had their game won, having amassed an 11-0 lead. Whilst they lost the next two ends, they didn’t drop another shot on their way to a comfortable 15-3 win. S3 had also got off to a decent start and were 4-0 up, but the whole team went AWOL on the fourth end, dropping a terrible six shots. They bounced back well though and got it back to 9-9 going into the last end, where they held their nerve for a single shot 10-9 win. Lastly S5 got off to a slow start finding themselves 4-0 down, which they got back to 4-4, only to lose the next three ends to be 7-4 behind. Saving the best until last, a superb final end saw three shots scored and a 7-7 draw salvaged.

The second session saw S6 make the better start of the three Suffolk rinks. After six ends they were 8-0 up and from there on out it was safety first to protect that lead. Whilst they dropped three singles shots, the win was never in doubt and the game finished 8-3. S4 had also got off to a good start scoring three shots on the first end, but after that they were unable to build multiple shot winning heads and were playing catch up. Whilst they were only two shots down going into the last end, it proved too much and the game was lost 5-8. The best game of the session involved S2, a real see-saw encounter, they were 2-0 down, 3-2 up and then 3-4 behind. However the penultimate end was the game breaker when they scored four shots and they did just enough on the final end to secure an important 7-6 win.

S1 again got Suffolk off to a good start in the third session, 3-0 and then 4-1 up. However by the seventh end the game was level at 5-5, but a crucial single shot saw them take a 6-5 lead into the last. The game was heading for a draw until the Suffolk skips conversion shot moved the jack, three shots scored and a 9-5 win. The game involving S3 was a close one, albeit they were never behind. The decisive ends were the fourth to the seventh where seven unanswered shots were scored to take a 9-2 lead. They were able to protect that quite easily and the game finished 9-4. Finally S5 were playing better than they had in their first game and after losing the first end, they also were never behind again. Despite conceding an unlucky five shots on the sixth end, they responded well to press on and win the game 11-9.

At the halfway stage, Suffolk held a commanding 15-3 lead but Norfolk were playing well, so the second half would need to be the same again to ensure the match was won well.

S2 certainly weren’t in the mood to let complacency set in, as they swiftly built up a convincing 15-0 lead, after just five ends. Whilst they lost the next two ends, they finished with a flourish, five shots on the last for a very impressive 21-4 win. S4 meanwhile were also playing well in a game which they led from start to finish. They gradually increased their lead and whilst the game was still in the balance at 6-2, four more shots made the two points safe and the game was eventually won 10-3. Unfortunately S6 were unable to complete the clean sweep of wins, although it wasn’t through a lack of trying. They were 3-2, 7-4 and then 10-4 behind but kept plugging away, it wasn’t enough as the final end was lost for a 10-12 defeat.

The penultimate session proved to be the best of the day for Suffolk. Yet again it was S1 who led by example, hitting top form on just the first end scoring a seven shot count. There was no looking back from there and they were able to share the remaining ends and still win convincingly by 16-7. The other two games were very similar in their scoring patterns early on, with both Suffolk rinks building leads. The more comfortable of the games was for S5 who scored twelve unanswered shots between the second and the sixth ends and that proved to be enough, winning 12-7. S3’s early lead was gone by the sixth end, but four shots on the next end was the deciding factor and they also went on to win 12-7.

In the final session it was S2 who carried on from where they had left off, despite losing the first end they won the next six to earn an 11-2 lead. It was an advantage they weren’t going to squander and the game finished with an 11-6 win. S6 also hit the front at the start of their game, 5-0 up after two ends. However it wasn’t until the seventh end until that advantage was increased to 9-3. The final two ends were shared and the game was won 10-5. Lastly S4 were involved in a difficult game and were on the back foot from the start. The crucial end was the sixth, when 6-4 down went to 9-4 and from then there was no way back despite their best efforts. The game finished with a 5-11 loss.

Overall the match finished with a Suffolk win 29-7 (shots: 188 - 116).

It had been just the result Suffolk had hoped for, against a Norfolk team who more than played their part in a really good bowls match. The main difference had been that Suffolk had edged the close games with big shots played on some final ends.

Every Suffolk rink had played well, but particular mention to S5 who were unbeaten (two wins and a draw) and S1, S2 and S3 who won all three games.

This win takes Suffolk to the top of the league but only nine points ahead of Hertfordshire. The next round of matches see the top two teams face each other, Suffolk at home to Hertfordshire at Bildeston on Sunday 15 February (10.30am start).

Neil Jolly (County Captain)

ECCBA League Results and Standings

Bedfordshire v Suffolk

On Sunday 14 December Suffolk travelled to Barton-le-Clay to face Bedfordshire in their second ECCBA league match.

Suffolk had got off to a great start in their first match, a 27-9 win away against Essex, so they were looking to finish 2014 with another victory.

David O’Brien came into the team for his first Suffolk match, the rinks selected were:

Suffolk 1 (S1): Jim Goodrich, Don Allum, 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, David O’Brien, John Varden, David Mittell
Suffolk 5 (S5): Sally Goodrich, Rita Runnacles, Andy Gilder, Steven Cain
Suffolk 6 (S6): Sue Davey, Ralph Sadgrove, Colin Fellingham, Neil Jolly

In away matches you’re always looking to get off to a solid start and pick up the lines and speeds of the mats as quickly as possible. Whilst Suffolk didn’t make the best start, by the third end of each game, the rinks had hit their stride. It was S5 who were first to exert their dominance and when they got in front they didn’t look back, easing away to a comfortable 13-2 win. The other games were far closer but two more Suffolk wins always looked on the cards as they reached the later ends. So it proved to be, S1 winning 11-6 and S3 by 11-7. A maximum six point starter for Suffolk, it was just what they were hoping for.

As with the first session, the second session wasn’t a flying start for the other Suffolk rinks and generally things didn’t improve a great deal. The best performance came from S4 who did just enough to win their game 9-5. Unfortunately the other two Suffolk rinks were unable to add to the points tally. S2 played some good ends during their game but then conceded too many shots on other ends and that resulted in an 8-10 defeat. Meanwhile S6 simply didn’t build any end winning heads and were chasing the game. They pulled back on the seventh and eighth ends but put themselves in trouble on the last and the game was gone, losing 5-8.

Looking to get Suffolk back on track, S1, 3 and 5 came to the mats hoping to stay unbeaten. It wasn’t to be for S3 though, as with S6 before them they just couldn’t get to grips with the lines on mat 3. They were behind early on and despite their best efforts to manufacture end winning positions, things got worse as the game went on, losing 4-14. It was better news for Suffolk on the other mats though with both S1 and S5 playing consistently well again. Their steady bowls were duly rewarded with two wins, S5 by 10-4 and S1 by 12-7.

At the halfway stage, Suffolk had an overall 12-6 lead, so they would certainly be hoping to increase that advantage by the end of the day.

In the fourth session it was S2 who bounced back well from their first game loss and were soon in front in their game. Controlling the latter ends well, they eased away to a 13-7 win. Meanwhile S4 were making a better go of tricky mat 3 than the two Suffolk rinks before them, securing a lead and just about holding on to it on the last end, to win 9-5. Lastly S6 played a slightly better game than their first outing, but were still unable to dominate. Trading shots with their opponents, they went into the last end one shot up and clung on to a dead end to sneak an important 7-6 win. Overall a valuable six point session for Suffolk.

The penultimate session saw mat 3 be Suffolk’s nemesis again and this time it was the previously unbeaten S1 who suffered. They kept their game tight but left themselves too much to do on the last end and the game slipped away 7-9. No such problems for the other two Suffolk rinks though, as both cruised to comfortable wins. S3 bounced back well from their last game defeat and never looked in any trouble on their way to a 14-3 win. It was an even better display from S5 who conceded only a single shot in winning 13-1 for their third consecutive win.

Suffolk were looking to finish the day with another clean sweep of wins in the final session and that’s just what happened. Playing by far their best bowls of the day it was S6 who got off to the best start and with a number of high shot scoring ends, they raced away to a one sided 19-1 win. It wasn’t anywhere near as straight forward on the other carpets though. S4 were involved in a real tussle, in a game which could’ve gone either way. However with a three shot lead going into the last end, it enabled them to take the jack off to earn an important 8-7 win and their third consecutive win. Lastly S2 were on the dreaded mat 3, but playing it reasonably well from the start. Building some good end winning situations they gradually increased their shot advantage and ran out deserved 10-7 winners.

The match finished with a Suffolk win 28-8 (shots: 183 - 109).

It had been another good away win for Suffolk, in a match where Bedfordshire had also played their part. Two high scoring wins from two away matches is what Suffolk had hoped for and this sets them up well for the remainder of the season. All of the rinks had contributed well to the points total but particular mention must go to S4 and S5 who were both unbeaten, recording three wins.

Looking at the league table sees Suffolk comfortably in second place with 55 points, just three points behind Hertfordshire.

Suffolk now have three home matches to play, the first of which is against Norfolk at Needham Market Community Centre on Sunday 18 January.

Neil Jolly (County Captain)

Essex v Suffolk

On Sunday 23 November the Suffolk team started the defence of their ECCBA league title with a tricky away match against Essex at Braintree Leisure Centre.

Suffolk were looking to build on the momentum gained from their success at the Nationals earlier on in the month, but it wouldn’t be easy against an Essex team who always play their own mats well.

The Suffolk rinks selected were:

Suffolk 1 (S1): Jim Goodrich, Don Allum, 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, John Varden, Clint Watling, David Mittell
Suffolk 5 (S5): Sally Goodrich, Rita Runnacles, Andy Gilder, Steven Cain
Suffolk 6 (S6): Sue Davey, Ralph Sadgrove, Colin Fellingham, Neil Jolly

As anticipated in the first session the Essex team started well and the Suffolk rinks had to hang in there for a few ends until they got to grips with the carpets. When the mat lines and speeds were picked up it was S3 who were first to take control and from the middle ends onwards they dominated their game and ran out comfortable 12-5 winners. The other two games were far closer though and it wasn’t until the final bowls were played that the outcomes were decided. However from a Suffolk perspective it was two favourable results, S5 deservedly edging their game 8-7 and S1 securing an honourable 7-7 draw. Five points out of six was just the start Suffolk were hoping for.

The second session started in a similar fashion to the first, with the Suffolk rinks needing a few ends to get used to the mats. It was S4 who were playing the better bowls of the Suffolk rinks and once they had earned themselves a decent lead, they never looked back, winning well by 9-5. Meanwhile S2 were involved in a low scoring game and despite being behind early, they gradually played their way back into the game. Having got a slight lead, this was protected and another win followed, by 7-4. Lastly, S6 were also playing catch up as they were 6-0 down early on but the middle ends saw them turn this around and going into the last end, it was a tied game. On the final end however, the jack was unfortunately knocked off, resulting in an 8-10 loss. Overall another four points for Suffolk and the good start had been maintained.

Looking to follow up their unbeaten starts, S1, 3 and 5 came to the mats in confident mood in the third session. Their confidence was not misplaced as they all got off to good starts. Impressive again were S3, another win always looked on the cards and it was duly delivered by 11-5. It was a similar story for S1, playing really consistent bowls, they also ran out deserved 11-5 winners. S5 were not quite as comfortable though, in a high quality game that always looked like it wouldn’t be decided until the last bowl. A brave skips bowl earned S5 a one shot lead going into the last end and they just did enough to secure another shot to win the game 8-6. A maximum six point session for Suffolk and this further extended their overall lead to 15-3.

Having got into their stride at the end of their first game, it was S2 who made the best start in the fourth session. With the whole rink playing consistent drawing bowls, they were relatively untroubled on their way to an 11-5 win. It wasn’t quite as comfortable for S4 though, a close game in which they had to play well to stay on top. However they held their nerve during the final ends and delivered another two points with a hard earned 8-6 win. Finally, a slow start for S6 saw them in trouble from the early ends, which they were simply unable to recover from. Despite a late rally, the game was lost 4-10. However another four points and the overall lead further increased.

The penultimate session saw S3 on top form again and there only ever looked like being one outcome as they steadily increased their lead. A good all round rink performance resulted in a comfortable 13-4 win. Meanwhile S1 were involved in a real see-saw battle, a sluggish start saw them behind early and then an excellent skips conversion shot saw them level the game with six shots on one end. They won the next couple of ends to lead going into the last, then found themselves in trouble but did just enough to secure a valuable point with an entertaining 11-11 draw. The news wasn’t as good in the remaining game though, where S5 struggled from the start and the home rink played well in winning 14-4.

In the final session, the outcomes of two of the games were pretty much decided quite early on, when both S2 and S6 got off to flying starts. Playing their best bowls of the day, S6 dominated from start to finish on their way to a one-sided 17-3 win. S6 were also well up after a few ends and despite dropping a few shots, they always stayed far enough ahead to remain in control, finishing with a 15-7 win. That left S2 who were involved in a real battle, but typical of the rink they hung in the game and they were rewarded with a couple of shots on the last end to secure a good point with a 7-7 draw.

The match finished with a Suffolk win 27-9 (shots: 171 - 121).

It had been a great day for Suffolk and just the result they’d hoped for from the first league match of the season. To lose only three games to a decent Essex team on their own mats takes some doing and it had been a good all round team performance from the Suffolk bowlers. Well done to S3 and S4 who won all of their games and to S1 and S2 who were unbeaten.

Suffolk’s next challenge is away from home again, this time against Bedfordshire at Barton-le Clay on Sunday 14 December.

Neil Jolly (County Captain)

National County Championships 2014

Over the weekend of 1 and 2 November the Suffolk team and their supporters were at the Potters Leisure Resort, Hopton-on-sea for the 2014 National County Championships. Suffolk were hoping to retain the trophy they had won at Potters last year. 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, David Ford, Paul Daniels B: Trevor Cain, Ellen Grube, Andy Pooley, Sue Gilder C: Sam Runnacles, Peter Fellingham, Mick Watkins, Tom Runnacles D: Peter Runnacles, Rita Runnacles, Clint Watling, David Mittell E: Don Allum, Ralph Sadgrove, Andy Gilder, Steven Cain F: Sally Goodrich, Ann Hathaway, Colin Fellingham, Neil Jolly The competition started on the Saturday morning and with there being an odd number of counties, it was Suffolk who sat out the first session, during which both Sunderland and Hertfordshire scored the maximum six points. In the second session Suffolk had a difficult start to the competition, facing their main rivals and last year’s runners up Cambridgeshire. As expected all of the games were close, with outcomes uncertain until the final ends. D were playing well but then one bad end cost them, dropping a five saw them on the back foot from which they couldn’t recover, losing 8-13. E had the tightest match but were just unable to get a lead towards the end, losing by the odd shot 7-8. It was better news in the other game though, where F led from start to finish on their way to an 11-5 win. Overall a disappointing start, with only two points secured.
The next session saw rinks A, B and C’s first outing, their opponents were Bedfordshire. It didn’t take the Suffolk rinks long to find their form as they all dominated their games from start to finish. Most impressive were A who scored big in winning 22-5 and B weren’t far behind in their 14-4 win. Meanwhile C were doing what they needed to do with a relatively comfortable 9-4 win. A deserved six point maximum session moved Suffolk up to fifth overall, with Sunderland still in the lead. The fourth session saw rinks D, E and F play Hertfordshire and they needed to bounce back after the Cambridgeshire session. It didn’t prove easy though as Hertfordshire were having a good day and playing well. All three games went to the final ends and it was the Suffolk rinks who edged them all. D led the way with an 11-7 win and both E and F were relieved to battle their way to 7-4 wins. A tough session but maximum points again and overall Suffolk were now up to third, behind Durham and Sunderland. It was second place Durham, who Suffolk faced next in an important session of bowls. This time it was B who led the way and earned the first points with a crucial 12-7 win. Meanwhile A were still playing well but not having it all their
own way, a see-saw game saw Durham earn a 7-7 draw with the final bowl. Lastly C unfortunately couldn’t add to the points tally, as they went down 5-9. A drawn 3-3 session, which both counties were satisfied with.
Next up for D, E and F were local rivals Essex, who to that point had been having a poor day. The Suffolk rinks were in no mood to show them any sympathy though and it was F who took a lead first and they eased away to a comfortable 9-3 win. Not far behind were D, another win and two points with an 8-5 win. The closest game involved E who were winning most of the way but just let it slip on the last couple of ends. However it was still an important point earned from a hard fought 7-7 draw. The five points moved Suffolk up a place overall to second, two points behind new leaders Durham. Sunderland were the next opposition and it wasn’t long before C had complete control of their game, indeed they didn’t concede a shot on their way to a resounding 17-0 win. Meanwhile B were quietly going about their business, playing a controlled game on their way to an 8-3 win. In the other game, unusually A just couldn’t get a decent foothold and whilst they improved as the ends went by, it finished with a 9-14 defeat. However the four points scored was enough to close the gap to one behind leaders Durham.
The penultimate session was probably the most comfortable of the day for D, E and F. Three wins always looked on the cards against Northumberland and were duly delivered. F conceded the least number of shots in winning 10-1, E scored the most in winning 14-4 and D also played well to win 12-3. An impressive six point maximum, but still Suffolk were a point behind Durham overall.
The final session on Saturday saw A, B and C face third place Norfolk, who were having a good day. Suffolk were looking to finish the day on a high and that’s just what happened, following three excellent performances. The consistency of A returned and they earned a 9-5 win, that was matched by B who secured their fourth consecutive win of the day, winning 9-3. The best match involved C, it was close at the start and then on the seventh end, skip Tom Runnacles (pictured) last bowl secured four shots, but the debate goes on as to whether he meant it or not!! Either way, it secured a lead they held on to, to win 11-3. The six point maximum session moved Suffolk into top spot overall for the first time, which they were delighted with. Overall their thirty eight point tally saw them five ahead of both Durham and Cambridgeshire. Could Suffolk stay there? Sunday morning, as with Saturday, saw Suffolk sit out the first session.
Durham took advantage of this, winning all three games to go back into first place and Cambridgeshire scored four points to close within a point of Suffolk. It was now a crucial session, second versus third, as Cambridgeshire were the opposition. It was C who set the tone for the session, scoring five shots on their first end from which they never looked back, racking up further multiple shot counts in a fantastic 19-5 win. Meanwhile it was a similar story on the other mats as A and B were playing just as well and convincing wins never looked in doubt, A by 13-4 and B by 13-3. By far it had been Suffolk’s best session of the weekend, some sublime bowling and sound tactics at the perfect time had moved Suffolk back into top spot, but only a point ahead of Durham.
Suffolk now needed to maintain the momentum and D, E and F did just that and it was Bedfordshire who suffered. E played a great game of bowls and it was only on the last end they conceded anything, winning 22-4. Equally as resounding were F, accurate early bowls followed by tactical blockers on a slow mat secured a 19-1 win. D finished the job, playing just as well as the other rinks in winning 14-5. Overall Suffolk (with a session in hand) had a four point lead over Durham and were ten points ahead of Cambridgeshire. If Saturday was anything to go by, the games against Hertfordshire would be tricky and so it proved. C were playing confidently though and they won 12-5. A were involved in a real tussle and it took a close measure on the last end for them to secure a hard earned 6-5 win. Lastly B paid for a slow start and ran out of ends in losing 8-10, their first defeat of the weekend though. However four points was enough to further extend Suffolk’s overall lead. Next up was a crucial session of bowls against second place Durham, which could go some way to deciding the title. D started well and looked on for a win but Durham edged back into the game and a last end decider went against Suffolk, losing 8-10. F were involved in the closest game, they had a lead for most of it but it was never clear cut and they just held on to record an important 7-6 win. Meanwhile it was looking a lost cause for E at 7-0 down to a previously unbeaten Durham rink. Then some end winning heroics from skip Steven Cain dragged them back into the game and a tactically superb final end concluded the improbable turn around and a crucial 10-8 win. Suffolk now had a seven point lead over Durham. It was now essential for A, B and C to maintain momentum against Essex, who were having a better second day. With confidence high Suffolk simply didn’t let their opposition into the games and by halfway were in complete control. The consistency of A shone through again, dropping only a single shot to win 14-1. B returned to winning ways with a convincing 11-2 win and after a slow start, C found their form and completed the whitewash with a 13-6 win. Overall the lead was now eight over Durham and a massive fifteen over Cambridgeshire. Sunderland were next for D, E and F and the first Suffolk points went to F who led from start to finish and 14-1 reflected their dominant display. Not far behind them were E, buoyant from their Durham win, they continued where
they left off and deservedly won 15-4. Unfortunately D just didn’t get to grips with their slow mat early enough, they were always playing catch up and despite a valiant effort on the latter ends, went down 5-11.
Incredibly, with two sessions to play the four points won against Sunderland were enough for Suffolk to retain the National title. The Suffolk team however were in no mood to take their foot off the pedal and whilst the penultimate session against Northumberland started slowly, normal order was soon restored. Both A and C recorded comfortable wins, 11-5 and 13-6 respectively. Most impressively B showed real spirit, 7-1 down and 8-5 behind with one end to play, they manufactured a three shot count with skip Sue Gilder’s final bowl to earn an 8-8 draw. The final games of the weekend for D, E and F were against Norfolk. Whilst there was nothing to play for, none of the rinks wanted to end the weekend with a defeat and none of them did. Three more wins, D sneaked a well deserved 6-5 and E and F were more comfortable, 12-2 and 8-4 respectively. Overall the finishing positions were: PTS Shots+ Shots- 1st Suffolk 79 523 248 2nd Cambridgeshire 65 424 334 3rd Durham 61 425 294 4th Norfolk 50 364 354 5th Hertfordshire 44 349 347 6th Essex 44 341 388 7th Sunderland 39 324 416 8th Northumberland 26 324 446 9th Bedfordshire 24 275 522 What a weekend it had been for the Suffolk team, retaining both the Inter-County title on the Friday night and then the National Championships. The team performance on Saturday had been really good, losing only four games from twenty four played secured an overnight lead which was healthy.
However on Sunday the team played even better, losing only three games. The standard was set with the early morning three big wins over Cambridgeshire and the performance level was maintained throughout the day. The early bowlers were accurate and consistent, the threes/skips attacked and defended at the right times and made sound tactical decisions. Every bowler contributed to the win and all should be very proud of their efforts and team spirit shown throughout the competition. Also during the weekend, two awards were given out, Peter Fellingham won the Webber Award (best newcomer) and Sue Gilder won the Players Player, congratulations to them both. The Suffolk team thank everyone who travelled to Potters and supported them during this long weekend of bowls, it was greatly appreciated. Neil Jolly (County Captain)

Inter County League Play-Off Match 2014

For the fourth year in a row, the 2014 Inter County League Play-Off match saw Suffolk face Sunderland, on the evening of Friday 31 October at Potters.

This is the match between the Eastern Counties League winners and the Northern Counties League winners, Suffolk having been victorious in the three previous matches.

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, David Ford, Paul Daniels
B: Trevor Cain, Ellen Grube, Andy Pooley, Sue Gilder
C: Sam Runnacles, Peter Fellingham, Mick Watkins, Tom Runnacles
D: Peter Runnacles, Rita Runnacles, Clint Watling, David Mittell
E: Sally Goodrich, Ralph Sadgrove, Andy Gilder, Steven Cain
F: Don Allum, Ann Hathaway, Colin Fellingham, Neil Jolly

Whilst Suffolk had won this match the last three years, generally the games had been very close, with little to choose between the two teams.

However on this occasion there only ever looked like being one winner, when the games had reached the halfway stage. By that time Suffolk A, B and C all had commanding leads and were controlling their games.

It was Suffolk A who got the first winning points on the board with a fine 11-4 win, closely followed by Suffolk C with an equally resounding 13-5 win. Not to be outdone Suffolk B secured win number three with a comfortable 12-6 win.

Whilst the other games were closer, neither Suffolk D or E ever looked in any real trouble and they gradually pulled away from their opposition. Suffolk E winning well by 9-6 and in a low scoring game Suffolk D won 7-3. Unfortunately Suffolk F were unable to recover from a sluggish start and lost 5-10.

It was just the start to the weekend the Suffolk team had hoped for, retaining the Inter-County title and doing it with a confidence boosting team performance.

The final result was a Suffolk win by 10-2 (shots: 57 – 34).

Neil Jolly (County Captain)

2014/15 Suffolk Squad

The Suffolk squad trials took place on Sunday 12 October at Bildeston Village Hall.

Each bowler played six rinks games during the day, with every bowl scored on its accuracy.

The Selection Committee thanks Michael Ashman, Richard Sago and Keith Jolly who scored all of the games.

After careful consideration of all who trialled, the players selected for the 2014/15 season are:

Neil Jolly - Brockley – captain
Sally Goodrich - Claydon – selector
Steven Cain - Great Blakenham – selector
Don Allum – Great Blakenham
Trevor Cain – Great Blakenham
Paul Daniels – Kelsale/Belstead
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
Paul Leach – Thurston/Stanningfield
David Mittell – Great Blakenham
David O’Brien – 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
Ann Hathaway – Hundon
Joey Stones - Brockley

The squad’s first challenge is their first Eastern Counties league match, away against Essex at Braintree Leisure Centre on Sunday 23 November 2014.

Neil Jolly

2014 Six Counties Charity Teambowl

ECCBA Six Counties Charity Teambowl 2014
On Sunday 28 September 2014 Suffolk CBA hosted the ECCBA Six Counties Charity Teambowl at Littleport.
In memory of Graham Robinson the SCBA’s chosen charity was the East Anglian Air Ambulance.

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 retain the Teambowl trophy and add it to the league title already won.
The team selected to represent Suffolk was:

S1: Tom Runnacles (single), Peter Runnacles & Andy Gilder (pair), Ann Hathaway, Ellen Grube & Sue Gilder (triple);

S2: Mick Watkins (single), John Varden & Colin Fellingham (pair), Sam Runnacles, Peter Fellingham & Neil Jolly (triple);

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

S4: Jim Goodrich (single), Sally Goodrich & Clint Watling (pair), Trevor Cain, Ralph Sadgrove & Andy Pooley (triple);

The first session of the day took on more importance than usual, as on paper the top two teams Suffolk and Cambridgeshire faced each other. It was a session that neither county could afford to lose heavily. The four singles matches as expected were close, and by the end a shared session was a fair outcome. For Suffolk, Mick won 8-5 and Jim by 8-3, with both Tom and Paul only losing their games on the final end. Next on were the pairs and leading from the front were Don and David, without dropping a shot they cruised to a 15-0 win. That was followed up with wins by S1 by 11-5 and S4 by 4-3, due to a fantastic last bowl by Clint. With momentum in their favour the Suffolk triples carried on where the pairs had left off, S1,2 and 3 all got off to great starts and increased their leads winning 13-2, 11-2 and 10-5 respectively. Overall it was just the session Suffolk were hoping for, sixteen points from their main rivals, taking them straight into first place.

Next up were Norfolk, never the easiest of games but confidence within the Suffolk team was high. Again the singles games were close but the picture improved for Suffolk as the ends went by. Mick and Jim won again, by 8-2 and 9-4 respectively, Paul also ground out a 7-4 victory and yet again Tom was unfortunate to lose a last end decider. In the pairs, this time it was John and Colin who got off to the best start and they raced away to a deserved 9-1 win, quickly followed by a 9-6 win for Sally and Clint. Meanwhile Don and David struggled early on but showed great character to bounce back and secure a 6-6 draw. In the triples, there were then two convincing wins for S1 and S4, neither conceding a shot on their way to 10-0 wins. Two further points were scored by S2 when they won their game 8-5. So overall it was seventeen points from Norfolk, keeping Suffolk in top spot, just three points ahead of Essex.

Suffolk faced Hertfordshire next, who in the previous session had drawn twelve each with Cambridgeshire. Again the singles got Suffolk off to a reasonable start, Tom deservedly won his game well by 8-1, Paul won again by 10-3 and Mick picked up a valuable point with a hard earned 6-6 draw. The pairs then had Suffolk’s best session of the day, when maximum points were secured. There were convincing wins for John and Colin (6-1), Don and David (11-2) and best of all Sally and Clint (11-0). However the best game involved Peter and Andy who had to work really hard to win their game 5-4. Not to be outdone, the triples then went on and did exactly the same, another four wins. S1 winning 8-3, S2 by 12-5, S3 by 9-5 and S4 by 10-2. It had been a fantastic session for Suffolk, scoring twenty one points and improving again on the first two sessions. Suffolk remained top, now five points ahead of Essex and fourteen points ahead of Cambridgeshire.

Suffolk’s penultimate opponents were Bedfordshire and this time it was Tom who got the team off to a great start, leading from start to finish on his way to a 9-1 win. There were then tight wins for Paul by 6-4 and Jim by 6-5, with Mick losing a final end decider by the odd shot 6-5. The pairs then hit their second consecutive maximum point session, with all of them playing very well. Don and David starred this time winning 12-3 and not far behind were John and Colin (10-4), Sally and Clint (7-3) and Peter and Andy (9-6). Again the triples didn’t want to be outshone by the pairs, so they went and did exactly the same, another clean sweep of four wins. Most impressive were S4 winning 13-2 and whilst the other games were closer, the outcomes never seemed in doubt, S1 winning 9-6, S2 by 9-4 and S3 by 6-3. It was Suffolk’s best session of the day, scoring twenty two points, which was improved by Essex and Cambridgeshire having played out a close session. The result of which had substantially increased Suffolk’s overall lead to fourteen points over Essex and twenty five points over Cambridgeshire.

The final set of games saw first against second and it was Suffolk’s competition to lose. In the singles Mick led from the front, racing away to a one-sided 13-2 win and Paul fought hard to earn a valuable point from a low scoring 4-4 drawn game. The other two games were lost by Jim and Tom, but only on the final bowl. In the pairs Don and David hit top form again and a convincing 11-1 win followed. Then a closer 6-3 win for Peter and Andy secured Suffolk the two points they needed to ensure overall victory in the competition. The two other Suffolk pairs unfortunately got off to slow starts, but played well in losing causes. Whilst the triples had nothing to play for, both S2 and S3 picked up wins by 7-4 and 12-2 respectively.

The final points and standings were:

	PTS
Suffolk	87
Essex	75
Cambridgeshire	65
Norfolk	45
Hertfordshire	45
Bedfordshire	43

It had been a fantastic all round team performance from Suffolk, leading the competition from the first session to the last. The points had been shared across the team with every bowler playing their part in the overall win. Particular mention should go to Don and David who were unbeaten with four wins and a draw and the S2 triple of Sam Runnacles/ Peter Fellingham/ Neil Jolly who won all five games.

The Suffolk team are now looking forward to defending two trophies at the National Championships at Potters over the weekend of 1st/ 2nd November.

Neil Jolly (County Captain)