Acle Indoor Bowls by Brian GrintACLE Ladies played Desborough at Chesterton in the national quarter-finals of the Yetton Trophy and lost, despite all playing well.

Acle Indoor Bowls by Brian Grint

ACLE Ladies played Desborough at Chesterton in the national quarter-finals of the Yetton Trophy and lost, despite all playing well.

Melanie Haylett's rink came back from 1-7 down to 11-12 at 13 ends and finished 17 each. Marion Himpleman's rink was 7-1 up at five ends then 11 each at 11, 15-17 at 18 and finished 17-19. Geraldine Reeve's rink went 3-7 down at eight ends, scored a five on the 14th to go 14-10 up but finished 16-18. Sue Batchelor's rink went 3-9 down at seven ends, 8-12 at 12, 11-17 at 18 ends and in a bid for a big score on the final end dropped a seven and lost 11-26. Result 61-81.

After 15 ends there were only eight shots in the game and all to play for.

In the County Top Ten League, Acle men played Pinewood and a 5-2 points win is almost certain to give them the title.

In the pairs, captain Mick Harvey with David Cole had a comfortable win 30-14 which included two fours and a six.

In the triples Ron Taylor, Alan Casburn and Bill Downie went from 13-5 up to 13-12 then won the final three ends to finish 20-12. Jeff Watson's rink lost 13-22 in the fours and Brian Kirby found Ray Cutting on form, losing in the singles.

It is still mathematically possible for Pinewood to win the title but unlikely, and the champagne is being kept on ice till next weekend.

Acle's Tim Stone and Fakenham Gallow's Jamie Chestney helped England relieve holders Scotland of the British indoor bowls team title, and lifted the Hilton Trophy.

Stone was outstanding as second man to team captain Andy Thompson.

Marina Bowls

PLAYING Shotford A at home in the County League, the Ladies Reds had a very close game. At seven ends they were four in front, two down at 10 ends, two up at 11 ends, going on to win by eight shots 56-48, and 8-0 league points.

B Payne, B Phillips and G Swanston were ahead 6-4 on four ends, lost four on the next end 6-8 then scored five on the following end making it 11-8 to the Reds. After that they lost six shots to nil on the next four ends, and were then 11-14 down. Scoring seven shots to one on the last four ends they won 18-15.

C King, L Westgate and P Ellis were 4-8 down at eight ends then fought back with eight shots to one over the remaining ends, winning 12-9.

B Wright, S Allen and J Warnes were 11-3 ahead at eight ends but then had a run of five ends without scoring, and their opponents scored eight, but the Reds still managed to win 12-11.

R Beckett, N Pyzer and D Edwards 7-4 ahead at four ends, then had six shots scored against them on the next two ends for 7-10. At nine ends they were 10-11 down, but then scored four more shots to two against on the last four ends and won the game 14-13.

Playing at North Walsham the Reds won by 63-43 and 7-1. Except for the first end they were in front all through. Three blocks won and one lost.

G Sewell, M Nichols and B Wright were 10-4 up at eight ends, at 11 ends the score was even at 10-10, after which the Reds scored five more shots to nil over the last three ends and won 15-10.

R Beckett, N Pyzer and D Edwards were top block winning 11 of the 13 ends played for 24-7.

B Payne, B Phillips and J Howlett, although seven all at eight ends, lost five shots to eight on the next six ends and lost 12-15.

C King, L Westgate and P Ellis were 6-5 at seven ends, 8-8 at 10 then four more shots to three over the last four ends brought a 12-11 win for the Reds.

Acle's Rob Parker, Barbara Meeks and Denis Goodley (pictured) won the Norfolk Federation Mixed Triples title.