Around the bowling greens

Great Yarmouth and District Federation Bowls

ANY predictions about who would win both Divisions One and Two have flown out of the window.

With just a handful of games left in Division One any one of four teams still have a chance. Two very poor results from Martham A have opened up the run-in.

Burlingham gave their chances a great boost by getting a 93-49 (6-1) win at Martham A, but then dropped all points 72-80 (7-0) playing at home against Fleggburgh Private.

Woodbastwick also won at Martham A (6-1) but are short of games in hand. Acle also had a very good win playing at Woodbastwick 95-63 (6-1) to put themselves in the run.

Gorleston EBF broke into the winners' circle with their first success, at Rollesby, getting home by 72-68 (5-2). They have certainly stuck to the job. They then just lost out playing Northgate at home 76-78 (2-5), and fared no better when Halvergate Top Green called, losing 72-77 (2-5).

Gorleston Conservatives got back to form with a home win against Potter Heigham 82-6 (5-2)

In Division Two it appears to have developed into a three-horse race.

Ormesby, not having had a very good week, just hold on to pole position, but having lost at home to Hickling 64-89 (0-7) and then away at Caister A 72-78 (2-5) have shortened their lead to one point.

Caister A then won playing at home against Filby B 104-62 (6-1) making them a serious rival for the title.

Filby A, finishing very strongly, have moved into third spot but will not have enough games left unless disaster strikes the top two.

Meanwhile Hickling had another 95-73 (7-0) win playing Caister B at home but then not such a profitable trip to Ludham, losing 63-105 (0-7).

Ludham also weighed in with a 97-61 (6-1) home win over Repps. Repps were then glad of a big winning rink at Martham B to overcome them, winning 87-77(4-3).

Now is the time to wish all the players from our area a successful championship at Skegness, try to bring back some national trophies.

John Vince

Bradwell Bowling Club

THE August Open Tournament was another pleasant and successful day.

Twenty-eight triples played in hot sunny weather and many supporters and spectators crowded Green Lane. The tournament was organised and run by Andy Cameron, assisted by Tom Hall. Eric Mills was the umpire.

Winners of the �100 first prize were Bradwell Bowling Club members A Seddon, J Seddon and A Seddon, who collected 35 points.

Second and third places were decided on shots against. T Gallant, J Laxton and J Bayfield, also from Bradwell, scored 33 points, 22 shots against them to achieve second place. Third, with 25 shots against, were K Dunn, D Seabourn and R Pooley.

Fourth and fifth triples each recorded 32 points, but D Thompson, P Thompson and C Howlett took the prize.

In league matches, Bradwell were beaten by Acle in the Lovewell Blake Malta Cup. Stan Hopwood, Ted Connellan and Colin Deverill had the best result. From 12-14 on the 13th end, they achieved six shots on the 14th, but could not score again and lost by just one after a meticulous measure on the last end, 18-19.

In the Lowestoft and District League, Bradwell met Kessingland. Ivan Rudge, Joy Williams and Shirley Lloyd overtook with four shots on the 15th and built on their advantage, 22-16. Tom Hall, Peter King and Charles Hutcheson were ahead throughout and finished 21-15. Keith Baker, Frank Hatton and Ken Hall, 14-14 on the 220th end, lost by one shot 14-15. The fourth rink's score was 14-19.

The Sunshine League team, playing Cortonians, won on two out of the three rinks, the third block losing by one shot. Jean Fagan, George Coxsey and Andy Cameron opened with five shots and held their lead, increasing it on the 19th to 24-15. Rita Ellis, Elizabeth Ward and John Ward were also comfortably in front to the 16th, when Cortonians drew level, 14-14. The Bradwell triple responded with four shots and continued to win 20-17.

Bradwell played away to Fritton in the Lothingland League and won overall. Tom Hall, Dahlia Macdonald and Colin Deverill ran away with the game, keeping their opponents out of scoring chances. The result was 36-6. Jean Fagan, Derek Patterson and Thelma Bradnum began with four shots against them on the first end but reacted with five shots of their own on the second and four on the third. Scoring two further fours and a five made them unassailable and they ended 33-12. Other rinks gave good support.

In the same league, away at Lound, Peter King, Paul Vincent and Ken Saward began their scoring on the eighth end, then made up for lost time with 25-15. Tom Hall, Brian Pilgrim and Jean Moore were 10 shots ahead by the seventh but then had to battle for their 21-15. Elizabeth Ward, Anne Baker and John Ward, overcoming five shots against them on the 16th, scored three on the last end for a creditable 19-19 draw. The fourth rink's result was 12-23.

Rollesby Bowls Club

ROLLESBY needed to score heavily in this week's games in the Yarmouth League if they were to have any hope of remaining in the top flight, but failed at every attempt.

At home against neighbours Fleggburgh Private, despite reasonably close games on all four rinks, the home side managed only a solitary point with the win of T Bolton, S Daniels, J Catchpole 20-16, and that, courtesy of a six on the last end. Overall score 75-82, points 1-6.

Maybe the best opportunity of the week was away at fellow strugglers Northgate. However, the visitors could not capitalise on the strong wins of J Palmer, T Wright, A Palmer 23-14 and S Allen, D Gammon, B Catchpole 23-10 and suffered equally heavy losses on the other two rinks to lose overall 71-74, points 2-5.

The remaining opportunity of points was at home to title favourites Martham, and they gave nothing away as usual. A win by a single point by C Johnson, T Wright, G Curtis 21-20 and a 19-19 draw by S Allen, R Blunden, B Catchpole resulted in a 1�-5� defeat and a grand total of 4� points for the week which was well below expectation.

The remaining match was in the Broadland League, where Blofield Heath were the visitors and went home happy with a 5-2 points win after a 75-60 score. Winning blocks on the night were J Mason, A Christie, R Austin 19-13 and C Johnson, P Taylor, G Curtis 17-16.

w The club are holding a three wood pairs open tournament at 2pm on Sunday, sponsored by The King's Head, Ormesby. Entrance fee is �2 per person with cash prizes. Refreshments are available. All bowlers are welcome, and booking in is recommended.

Please contact Terry or Jane Avery 01493 748167 for more details.

Browston Hall

THE A and the B teams in Division Two of the Malta Cup League finished their seasons with 6-1 wins in the last four games.

The A team playing at home against Martham B won a close fought match 74-71, K Leach, J Ellis and A Harrison 15-2 up at the eighth, held on to win 9-17. D Noble, P Tyrell and R Turner 5-12 down at halfway, secured a 21-19 win. G Downing 18-16 and D Pratt 16-19.

Playing at Yarmouth against their B team a win of 76-56 put Browston on top of Division Two. G Downing, G Obsen and V Bloom 28-6. K Leach and D Noble 17-15 and 18-16. D Pratt 13-19.

The B team away at Yarmouth B won 69-58 top rink P Chaplin, B Myhill and P Smith who led from the start winning 20-11. D Farman 23-21, M Harvey 16-14 and N Miller 10-12.

At home against Yarmouth C a convincing 72-50 win with D Farman, G Brister and P Smith winning 24-8. P Chaplin 21-10, M Harvey 16-15 and N Miller 11-17.

The A team, having won Division Two, played at the Britannia Greens in the Lovewell Blake Malta Cup League finals day play-offs, and found it tough going against a strong Freethorpe side, losing 53-110. In the play-offs for third and fourth places against Caister, Browston ran out second best although winning on three rinks G Downing 23-16, J Watson 20-13 and D Pratt 21-16, D Noble and his team struggled to gain shots and lost 1-31.

Martham Bowls Club

IN the Great Yarmouth League Martham A's results were Martham A 49 (1), Burlingham 93 (6); Martham A 62 (1), Woodbastwick 76 (6) and Gorleston Conservatives 80 (5), Martham A 72 (2).

Hickling Bowls Club

HICKLING A team played Costessey Private last week in the Three Wood League area finals but lost 36-61.

In the Yarmouth League they played Caister B at home winning 7-0 and beat Ormesby away 7-0, but lost to Ormesby at home 1-6.

They also played Ludham in the Yarmouth League away, losing 7-0.