Bowls season reaching its climax

Great Yarmouth and District Federation Bowls by John Vince

THE rain arrived when there were 24 heroes on the bowling green at Caister for the Watering Bowl final. I have to apologise for insisting that the game had to take place, but with the season nearing conclusion, it had to be.

Both sets of players from Potter Heigham and Hickling stuck to the match. At five ends Potter Heigham had established a lead of 14 shots (27-13) Hickling at 10 ends had reduced this only to (30-42).

The gap opened more at 15 ends to (58-43) and Potter Heigham ran out winners (79-58), then the 24 heroes came off the green shaking hands.

In the struggle for Division One league honours Woodbastwick had a good week with a 90-66 (6-1) win at Rollesby followed by a close win at home to Burlingham 85-84 (5�-1�) and then a 95-56 (7-0) win at Potter Heigham.

Closing up fast are Acle who won at Gorleston Conservatives 82-62 (7-0) followed by wins at home against Martham A 77-64 (6-1) and Rollesby 82-62 (6-1).

Gorleston Conservatives seem to have gone off the boil, losing at home to Northgate 72-74 (2�-4�) and then at Runham 59-79 (2-5).

Runham also had a home win against Halvergate Top Green 97-57 (7-0) and Fleggburgh Private recorded wins over Gorleston EBF 94-60 (7-0) and Potter Heigham 79-52 (5-2).

In Division Two, Caister A are emerging as firm challengers obtaining a 114-60 (6-1) win at Ormesby to go into second spot just behind Ormesby, but they could not maintain this form at Filby A losing 65-78 (2-5). Filby A also had a good home win, over Hickling 84-53 (7-0).

Filby B at Winterton won 80-70 (6-1) and Caister B, at home to Ludham, picked up a 81-69 (6-1) win.

League results and tables on page six

Tomorrow (Saturday) sees the Donny Pearce final at Martham Bowls Club between Martham A and Halvergate Top Green. All are welcome.

Martham Bowls Club

THE Watson Shield Open Pairs held at Martham Bowls Club has proved extremely popular, especially since its conversion to Australian rules, and on Sunday 20 couples competed for the trophy and a share of the prize money which is donated by Festival Enterprises Ltd. Martham's father and daughter John Lown and Susan Moore took first place. The runners-up were John Marshall and Len Harris whilst third place went to Susan's sister, Sandra Faircloth and husband Eric.

There was success and disappointment for 16-year-old Jessica Ward bowling with Norfolk's Amy Rose in the Inter-County Double Rinks at Leamington Spa last weekend as they beat Buckinghamshire by one shot on the Friday but lost on Saturday to eventual winners Devon by just seven shots. She raced back to Norfolk ready for a trip to Lincoln on Sunday to bowl with the Norfolk Federation U25s.

On Thursday, Martham's Yarmouth A team play Lakeside in the semi-final of the County Cup at Costessey Private and Bing Smith and Debra Nicholson will be bowling in the final of the Great Yarmouth and District Ladies' Pairs on Sunday. Supporters welcome.

Playing Caister at home was Martham's last game in the EBA League, one bock won and two lost, overall score 54-73 for just one point.

In the Yarmouth League Martham A results were: Acle 77 (6), Martham A 64 (1) and Halvergate 42 (0), Martham A 107 (7).

On Monday Martham Ladies travelled to Blofield, two blocks won by three shots each and the three block won by two shots for all six points.

Lovewell Blake Malta Cup League by Brian Grint

Despite Great Yarmouth A losing to Acle A they remain in the hunt for the runners-up spot.

Their cause will be helped when Martham and Freethorpe meet. Gorleston won their second match of the season, against Flegg Private by 20 shots.

Caister's big win at Acle B looks to have earned them a place in the play-offs but with Browston A losing again at Freethorpe their reign at the top is looking precarious.

The big win for Martham B against Great Yarmouth C gives them an outside chance of qualifying, similarly Acle B if they win their final games.

Rollesby Bowls Club

PLAYING away to Acle in the Yarmouth League, Rollesby won a disappointing solitary point. The only success was the block of R Clark, D Gammon and M Thomas 19-17. Overall score 62-82, points 1-6.

Welcoming Stalham in the semi-final second leg of the Rotary Shield, Rollesbywon on all four rinks, T Coots, T Wilkin and B Catchpole 17-16, Daniels, J Mason and J Catchpole 28-10, M Coots, T Wright and G Curtis 31-13, J Avery, E Taylor and T Avery 29-12. Result 105-51 and now a wait for the winners of the tie between Neatishead and Dilham.

Entertaining Potter Heigham in the Yarmouth League and trying to avoid a double defeat within eight days, Rollesby performed much better and despite losing on two rinks 7-25 and narrowly 18-19, enjoyed good wins of 21-15, M Coots, T Wright and T Coots and 32-7, J Avery, J Mason and T Avery to gain a 78-66 win and a valuable 5-2 points.

Trying to maintain their lofty position in the Broadland League away to Neatishead, the visitors contested very close games on three rinks 17-17, 23-21 and 21-22 but came undone overall 73-82 taking only 1.5 points. The winning block of T Bolton, E Taylor, B Catchpole storming back from 6-19 on the 11th end to win 23-21.

Playing their last County League game of the season, Rollesby were looking to finish in style against Freethorpe but again failed to use any home advantage and lost 0-9, overall score 35-63.

Correction to last week's county league match which should have read Caister Centurions 5, Rollesby 4.

Bradwell Bowling Club

THE club was successful in the Super Six competition last Saturday at Lakeside, Lyng.

The Bradwell A team was drawn against Bradwell B, the latter losing by one point only. The A team, Jim Malcolm, Dahlia Macdonald, Eddie Macdonald, Terry Payne, John Sargent and Tom Williams, will play in the finals at Mundesley on Sunday.

The week's Sunshine League match was at home against Beccles Caxton. The overall result was 66-44 in Bradwell's favour. Kath Brown, Frank Hatton and Mick O'Keefe opened with three shots and continued, without hitch, to 25-14. Jean Fagan, Sheila Bean and Andy Cameron led throughout to 23-10, their opponents' three on the 20th the only interruption to their confident play. Stan Hopwood, Ray Norton and Wally Bean drew level on the 10th, dropped back again until 16-16 on the 17th, then added two on the last but recorded 18-20.

In the Lowestoft and District League, at home to Somerleyton, Jean Fagan, Sheila Bean and Andy Cameron were in winning form. With six shots on the fourth and five on the 12th, they concluded 26-13. Peter King, Joy Williams and Dahlia Macdonald achieved a similar result. Following five shots on the first, they proceeded smoothly to 26-15. Other rinks scored 15-20 and 8-28.

Somerleyton turned the tables when they played at home in the Lothingland League. The best result for Bradwell (19-21) was recorded by Anne Baker, Peter King and Colin Deverill, the overall match score being 65-88.

At home to Burrage in the same league, Bradwell won on three rinks. Keith Baker, Frank Hatton and Jean Moore, ceding two on the last, won 22-11. Bryan Vincent, Paul Vincent and Charles Hutcheson, ahead 15-11 on the 18th, took five on the next to boost the final difference to 22-12. Tom Hall, Derek Patterson and Bryan Goffin, five or six shots in front from the early ends, admitted seven shots against them over the last four to win by a narrower margin of 19-18.

Hansells Norfolk County EBA League brought disappointment to the Bradwell team. Ken Saward, Ollie Scarfe, Malcolm French and Eddie Macdonald stuck on the 14th and saw their lead eroded, but scored once more for seventeen all. Other results were 17-25 and 11-26.

Bradwell lost by just four shots overall in a close-scoring match away to Filby in the Norfolk County Federation League. Keith Cooke, Ted Connellan and John Sargent's last profitable end was the 15th, but they were not overtaken, the outcome being 16-13. Tom Williams, Ken Hall and Colin Deverill were chasing from the 10th, but two shots on the last secured them 14-16. Ken Saward, Malcolm French and Terry Payne, overtaken on the 13th, finished 14-19.

In the Lovewell Blake Malta Cup, Bradwell welcomed Freethorpe to Green Lane. Keith Cooke, Malcolm French and Terry Payne scored on the last end for 16-16. Ken Saward, Jim Malcolm and Eddie Macdonald, two shots up, allowed one against them on the last for 15-14. Other rinks scored 17-20 and 13-28.

Last Sunday, Bradwell played a friendly return match away at Watton. The teams finished six shots apart, honours going to Bradwell.

Browston Bowls Club

IN the County League the A team had a 66-50 home win over Yarmouth A and took all six points.

D Pratt, R Lodge, J Ellis and R Turner, 14-7 up at halfway, won 22-16.

J Burwood, V Bloom, C Butcher and J Rounce won 22-16 win. J Malcolm, R Barrett, D Johnson and A Harrison won 20-18.

The B team won 70-39 and took five points from Yarmouth C. D Farman, P Chaplin, G Brister and J Kelsall 32-9; M Parker, P Ridler, P Smith and S Parker 22-9.

In the Malta Cup the B team played Ormesby at home and won on two rinks, D Farman, G Brister and C Posner 21-12 and N Miller, P Ridler, and J Kelsall 16-13.

The two losing rinks kept the scores close, M Harvey 13-15, and P Chaplin 18-19, which enabled the team to take five points.

The EDF team battling against relegation took five points in their home game against Hickling A.

Although winning on only one rink the overall score 56-48 was enough to gain them the extra three points. P Chaplin, N Miller and B Myhill 24-7. M Parker 13-16 and J Malcolm 19-25.

Hickling BC

In the Broadland League Hickling lost to Halvergate 1-6 away and also to Woodbastwick at home 6�-�.

In the Three Wood League the A team lost at Browston Hall 5-4 but the B team beat Caister Castaways at home 7-2.

In the Yarmouth League Hickling lost to Filby 0-7 and to Potter Heigham 78-57 in the Watering Bowl final.

The Ladies beat Freethorpe at home 5-1.