BOWLS: IN their penultimate Suffolk Inter League match, the Stowmarket League earned a vital win over the Samford League at Shotley Bowls Club to set up a thrilling finale to the season.

In their penultimate Suffolk Inter League match, the Stowmarket League earned a vital win over the Samford League at Shotley Bowls Club to set up a thrilling finale to the season.

Both sides started slowly in coming to terms with the green, each side having three winning rinks and a five-shot advantage to the visitors at ten ends, Stowmarket increased this to 22 shots and four winning rinks at the interval.

Increasing the pressure after tea, Stowmarket went on to win on all rinks, the closest being on

P Alderton's rink where they scored seven shots over the last three ends to win by one shot.

The rink of Ivan Doe, Carol Bishop and Robert Lillistone scored a 46-15 win to take the

presentation spoons for the first time this year.

The nine points Stowmarket gained sets up an exciting tie on July 29 at Needham Market BC against the 2000 champions Bury League, which is likely to decide the 2001 championship.

Ends summary (Samford first): Five ends 23-27, ten ends 50-55, 15 ends 68-90, 20 ends 90-123, 25 ends 120-153, 31 ends 142-202.

Points: Samford 0 Stowmarket 9.