Acle Indoor Bowls by Brian GrintACLE'S under-25s had to play Rugby in the national quarter-finals of the double rinks at St Neots last Sunday.The journey in the ice and snow was not good news, the team having to play at St Neots at the same time as the Acle Open which meant many players had to forgo that competition.

Acle Indoor Bowls by Brian Grint

ACLE'S under-25s had to play Rugby in the national quarter-finals of the double rinks at St Neots last Sunday.

The journey in the ice and snow was not good news, the team having to play at St Neots at the same time as the Acle Open which meant many players had to forgo that competition.

Jessica Ward, Ashley Smith, Jamie Howlett and Patrick Willimott were 5-10 down after five ends, 11-12 at 10 and by 15 were 17-15 up. From 19 each at 19 ends they won 22-19.

Daniel Seabourne, Rob Fulcher, Will Pitt and Lewis Moore went 5-1 up at five ends , 7-9 at 10 , 9-12 at 15 and were 10-17 after 18, finishing 15-18.

Result: 37 each and an extra end had to be played.

Lewis Moore's rink drew the short straw and it went down to the final bowl with Acle losing out by the one shot.

The very high standard of bowls, the competitive spirit and the exemplary behaviour of all concerned made this game a textbook example for all to follow.

The Men's A team had an important win.

A return fixture at Bowling Club in not the best of travelling conditions saw John Colcombe, Wyn Willimott, Daniel Noble and George Tubby settle well and at 10 ends they were 11-5 up. They continued to play well and went 18-6 at 15, going on to win 22-13.

Mark Elliott, Roy Himpleman, Denis Goodley and Tony Dunton - despite dropping a four on the first end, by 10 ends were 12-5 up. This lead was cut back to 15-14 after 16 ends but from here Acle took charge and finished 23-14.

Jamie Howlett, Arthur Jolliffe, Rob Parker and Tim Stone dropped a five on the first end but came back to 7-10 after 10 ends and

14-13 at 15 for a tight finish with some excellent bowling by both rinks. It finished 19-18.

Robin Norman's rink dropped a five on the third end followed by a four on the fourth and were 5-18 down after 10 ends. At 15 ends it was 8-24 and the game in total stood 55 each.

The following six ends were crucial and Robin's rink dropped only one more shot, scored a five on the 20th and finished 17-25.

Result: 81-70 and 6-1 points.

In the last six ends Acle scored 10 more shots than Bowling Club and won the game'

This puts Acle four points behind Bowling Club but with two games in hand.