BOWLS: Suffolk continued their impressive Eastern Counties League form with a comprehensive 120-87 victory over Hertfordshire. This was an impressive performance from the Suffolk team winning on 5 rinks and drawing on the other.

BOWLS

Suffolk continued their impressive Eastern Counties League form with a comprehensive 120-87 victory over Hertfordshire. This was an impressive performance from the Suffolk team winning on 5 rinks and drawing on the other.

The backbone of the Suffolk performance came from the rink skipped by Greg Nash who was in outstanding form and was well supported by Richard Leeder, Steve Miller and Carl Finbow. They restricted their opponents to just 6 singles and a two as they cruised to a 23-8 victory.

Andy Bishop also made an impressive Eastern Counties League debut skipping his rink of Charles Clarke, Brian Insley and David Thompson to a 11 shot victory wining 15 of the 21 ends in the process. All players played their part in the excellent victory.

Adrian Holden celebrated his 1st England call up with a hard fought draw over their opponents. At one stage Adrian and his rink of George Ward, Mark Addison and David Wellington found themselves 12-2 down at 8 ends but recovered well and with one end to play actually led by two shots. Although they conceded a count of two on the final end it was a spirited performance from the Suffolk quartet.

Neil Prentice and Gary Miller, Andy Meikle and Clive Webb came from 16 -13 down at 19 ends, scoring five shots on the final ends to snatch a 18-16 victory. Neil and Gary both performed well giving the Suffolk rink a strong foundation on which to build.

Mark Royal and his rink of Stuart Gaught, Duncan Snape and Ian Page only ever trailed once this being the opening end. With Mark Royal in impressive form, particularly in the opening half of the game they built a 12-4 lead by 10 ends. It was a lead they would not relinquish eventually winning 18-14.

The executive rink made amends for their disappointing defeat in the previous game with a 1 shot victory over their Herts counterparts. It appears the changes made to the executive rink worked well as they recovered from 12-6 down to record a 18-17 victory.

This victory gives Suffolk a realistic chance of retaining the Eastern Counties League.

This performance also gave the selectors a few headaches in selecting the Middleton Cup team to face Norfolk on Saturday, with several new players giving impressive performances.

FULL MATCH DETAILS

C.Clarke, B.Insley, D.Thompson & A.Bishop 22

G.Wood, S Kilford, P.Havord & S Cooke 11

S.Gaught, D.Snape, I.Page & M.Royal 18

G.Gough, D.Bass, S.Gentle & T.Mascot 14

D.Taylor, R.Taylor, V.Tricker & P.Rowe (Executive Rink) 18

P.Vidoy, A.Melbon, A.Cottington & C Dunstone 17

N.Prentice, G.Miller, A.Meikle & C.Webb 18

T.Keeling, A.Humphrey, M.O'Flanagan & R.Briden 16

G.Ward, M.Addison, D.Wellington & A.Holden 21

D.Davis, W.Donoghue, M.Brackley & D.Lewis 21

R.Leeder, S.Miller, C.Finbow & G.Nash 23

D.Oliver, P.Andrews, I.Gregg & J. Dowler 8

Scores at 5 ends 24-25 10 ends 55-48 15 ends 79-66 Final 120-87

Of the 126 ends played Suffolk won 73

Following the Eastern Counties match Suffolk's selectors have met as chosen the following team to take on Norfolk in the opening game of this season Middleton Cup. They have handed a recall to Brian Insley and debuts to Richard Leeder,Steve Miller and Carl Finbow. Suffolk will need to be at their best if they are to beat Norfolk who will looking to avenge the 20-2 points defeat Suffolk handed out last year at Norfolk

Suffolk V's Norfolk Saturday 8th June 2002 2.00pm Felixstowe & Suffolk Bowls Club.

Neil.Prentice (Ipswich B.C) David.Thompson (Risbygate B.C) Andy Catchpole & Kelvyn Earthroll (Both Ipswich B.C)

Steve Mayes (Felix & Suff) Calvern Kemp (Rookery) Andy Meikle & Clive Webb (Both Felix & Suff)

Mark Todd (Beccles) Duncan Snape (Melton) John Catchpole (Beccles) & Mark Royal (Rookery)

Mark Addison, Brian Insley (Both Felix & Suff) Dave Wellington (Brandon) & Adrian Holden (Felix & Suff)

Richard Leeder (Rookery) Steve Miller (Ipswich B.C) Carl Finbow (Rookery) & Greg Nash (Cornard)

John Rednall (Felix & Suff) Chris Love (California) Brian Andrews (Melton) Alan Barnes (Marlborough)

Reserves to attend