Suffolk lose in thriller to rivals

SUFFOLK lost to the last bowl of the match against Norfolk in the Eastern Counties League.

Taking into account the fact that Norfolk are national champions - winning the Liberty Trophy in both of the last two years - Suffolk were anxious to improve on last year's performance, when they were thumped 178-85.

Suffolk got off to a flying start in the match and led by 11 shots at five ends.

Norfolk then began to apply the pressure for which they are so famous, but Suffolk resisted with their new-found team spirit and at 10 ends the Suffolk lead had been reduced to six shots and at 15 ends the lead was just three.

After four hours of exciting bowling Suffolk still led by two shots with the last rink playing the final end. David Wood and his colleagues had played so well but on the last end the young Norfolk skip Lee Moore held two shots - the game was a tie but he had the last bowl to play.

He held his nerve and drew another shot to break Suffolk hearts - but what a performance!

On rink one, the usually solid four of Jamie Bloom, Ian Clouting, Bob King and Carl Finbow had an off day and were drawn against the strongest Norfolk rink, whose skip Philip Barr was in outstanding form. Suffolk went down 29-12.

A new rink of Lee Garwood, Shaun Cook, David Todd and David Wood, thoughtfully put together by manager Chris Southgate, played consistently well and won by six shots, scoring 20-14.

John Chalk with Aaron Brown, Duncan Snape and Marcus Fuller powered to a good win 24-14.

Gwyn Chambers, skipping due to the illness of Colin Rumsby, played some good controlled running woods and with his team of Stuart Fuller, Liam Botten and Andy Phillips, scored five on their last end to draw against the experienced Norfolk skip Philip Day - a great result.