Cup holders Kirby Bedon are out after losing at Hevingham on shots after the game finished at 4-4 on points. The match was level at the break after Shirley Brown, Teresa Goldsmith & Selwyn Goldsmith won 15-12 for the cup holders against Pat Williamson's triple and Hevingham's Gill Bunn, John Richardson & Vic Woods had beaten Phil Watson's triple 24-3. After the break Alistair Hunter's Kirby triple beat David Sharpe's triple 17-10 but Hevingham continued to increase their shots lead as George Clarke's triple beat Gerald Chilvers 21-4.
Norwich Cup
Woodbastwick overcame Cromer to reach the final for the seventh time after a great semi-final battle played out over two legs. Cromer enjoyed home advantage in the first leg but were stunned to find themselves 10-2 down on points at the interval. A great comeback saw Cromer level the score at 12-12 on points with Woodbastwick taking just a two shot lead into the second leg. Yet again Woodbastwick produced a 10-2 first half lead to leave them 22-14 up on aggregate but any thoughts of a comfortable victory evaporated as Cromer won three of the next four games. Cromer's dreams of cup glory finally ended as the final session was shared leaving Woodbastwick with a 26-22 aggregate win. Sprowston sprang a massive shock in their semi-final first leg match at home to Bob Carter by handing out a 19-5 beating to the six time cup winners. In fact the scale of the defeat could have been even greater as Sprowston went into the last session 19-1 up but Nigel Willard & Melvin Woods both skipped their triples to late wins against Peter Smart & David Dewing. Margaret Poynter, Tony Mayhew & John Poynter were Sprowston's top triple winning their three games by 7-2, 8-5 & 9-0 while Colin Thornton, David Fuller & Terry Fletcher won two games and drew the other. Bob Carter will now hope that their fast Verde mats will enable them to hit back in the second leg but they have a mountain to climb if they are to reach another final.
South Norfolk League
The top of the table clash saw Hempnall record their tenth straight win with a 6-4 victory at Connaught. Hempnall's county stars led the way with Jon Sparham winning 14-4 and Chris Mann winning 19-6. Connaught also lost at Horsford by 8-2 where Roger Frank's triple won 21-10. Chris Musk, Ty Musk & Sheila Bragg did their best to snatch the match points for Connaught with a 24-9 win but the home side scored 59 shots against 57. Thurton showed some of the form they had last season beating Mulbarton 10-0 with Jenny Walker, Jan McClintock & A Reynolds winning 32-4. Horsford won a close match 6-4 at Mulbarton. Connaught brushed aside Saxlingham 10-0 with Alan Marshall, Philomena King & Ollie Allen winning 21-9.
Thurne League
Halvergate's 10-0 home win against Stalham takes them 19 points clear of second placed Bradwell. A close match at Woodbastwick saw visitors Bradwell finish four shots ahead for a 6-4 win. Bottom of the table South Walsham went down 8-2 at Hemsby.
Tens League
Horsford Heroes came close to their first away win of the season but lost by just one shot at Woodbastwick. In the pairs Norma & Peter Jablonowski produced an 18-13 win for the home side but Sue Fox & Mick Dale replied with a 15-9 win for the visitors. Horsford's Peter Fox, David Crosby & Vic Webster won 15-7 in the triples but Woodbastwick's Damian Lamb, Brian Frost & Jim Couling won 18-8 against Roger Frank to give their side a 2-0 win on points, 52-51 on shots.  
Bure League
It was a massive week with all four title chasing sides in action and Hevingham without a doubt emerging with the widest smiles! At home to East Tuddenham they amassed 72 shots against just 33 for a maximum 10-0 win. Gill Bunn, John Richardson & Vic Woods stormed to a 21-4 win against Russell Harris while Maurice Kemp's triple beat Owen Secker 17-6. At home to league leaders Kirby Bedon a close first half saw Hevingham's Pat Bunn, Pat Williamson & Maurice Kemp defeat Phil Watson's triple 14-12 but Shirley Brown, Teresa Goldsmith & Selwyn Goldsmith hit back for Kirby beating George Clarke's triple 11-8 in a tense battle. The second half belonged to Hevingham with David Sharpe's triple winning 16-6 and Vic Woods' triple winning 19-12. Kirby did win 8-2 at Horsford with Jill Watson, Shirley Brown & Phil Watson winning 19-3 and Peter Johnson, Jimmy Dye & Bob Pattison winning 18-10 while Bob Burrage's triple scored the home sides only win. Coltishall's title hopes took a knock with an 8-2 defeat at Anglian Windows where Diane Halford, Keith Halford & Mike Boswell won 17-8. Coltishall's away game at East Tuddenham resulted in the home side winning 6-4 with Geraldine Potter, Denny Cross & Russell Harris winning 23-13 against Peter Barnett. Woodbastwick kept their faint title hopes alive with an 8-2 home win against Horsford with Michael Fox, Trevor Howard & Tony Wright winning 27-4 while Bob Burrage's triple again secured Horsford's only points beating Peter Jablonowski's triple 16-13.
Breckland League
Wymondham continue on to what is looking like their first ever Breckland title despite slipping up at Banham. Defending champions Yaxham appear to have too much ground to make up after losing 6-4 at home to Wymondham. Three Wymondham triples, skipped by Steve Phillips, Chris Mann & Debbie Phillips, all won but a big win by Owen Secker's triple claimed the two match points for Yaxham. Wymondham's great home form continued as they beat Connaught "B" 10-0 with Debbie Phillips winning 26-10. Banham are always dangerous on their own mats as Wymondham found to their cost losing only their second league game of the season. Val Footer, Derek Gray & John Williamson beat Debbie Phillips' triple 29-10 as they picked up an excellent 8-2 win. Mike Parsons, Ty Musk & Sheila Bragg of Connaught "A" won 25-9 but Watton gave the home side a headache on the other three mats. Margaret Hunter's triple drew 15-15 with Ollie Allen, Maggie Dibble's triple beat Derek Lyles 17-16 and Terry Crockett lost by just two shots to Sylvia Parsons in a 7-3 home win for Connaught. 


                                                                                                 Posted 1-3-10

                                  
                                                                                             
                                                                                                     Posted 1-3-10                                                           Latest News Updated 1-3-10
Bure League
Defending champions Kirby Bedon entertained Hevingham in a clash between two title contenders. The first half was shared as Kirby's Carol Johnson, Teresa Goldsmith & Selwyn Goldsmith beat David Sharpe's Hevingham triple 23-7 and visiting triple Gill Bunn, John Richardson & Vic "Quiet Man" Woods beat Phil Watson's triple 17-12. After the break Kirby wrapped up a solid 8-2 home win with Peter Johnson, Jimmy Dye & Alistair Hunter winning 20-5 against Pat Williamson's triple and Shirley Brown, Joe Brown & Gerald Chilvers beating former Kirby player George Clarke by 12-11. Hevingham picked up a useful 8-2 win at Anglian Windows where Gordon Crowe, John Richardson & Vic Woods won 20-5 and Pat Bunn, Pat Williamson & Maurice Kemp won 20-10. A close match at Coltishall saw East Tuddenham finish just four shots down but the home side picked up a 7-3 points win. Carol Aggas, Jean Barnett & John Aggas scored Coltishall's biggest win beating Russell Harris' triple 16-5 but a big 17-6 win for Albert Palgrave, Chrissie Turner & John Turner kept the visitors in the hunt. Coltishall captain Willie Jefferies skipped his triple to an 11-7 win while Peter Barnett & Robin Amos drew 10-10.
Breckland League
Connaught "A" visited lowly Harling hoping for a big win to boost their title push but instead were involved in a terrific match that they won by just two shots for a 6-4 points win. For Harling Brian Knappett's triple won 24-11 and Roy Buffery's triple won 18-8 as the visitors were put under intense pressure. Connaught hit back to snatch the bonus points with Derek Liles' triple winning 21-12 & Sheila Bragg's triple winning 25-9. Watton's good home form continued with a 10-0 win against Forncett as David Quadling, Diane Quadling & Ron Harvey won 30-8. Watton lost 10-0 at Connaught "B" in an entertaining match. A good final six ends gave Connaught's Philomena King, Ron Madden & Alison Rush a 17-10 win while Joyce Hazell's triple came back from 16-9 down to win 19-17.
Tens League
Leaders Hempnall had a mixed week winning at home to Bob Carter but losing at Kirby Bedon. Bernie Cudden & Jon Sparham romped to a 27-3 win against J & M Woods so despite the other games being tight all four match points went Hempnall's way. At Kirby Bedon Leonora Chilman, Peter Johnson & Gerald Chilvers beat Sid Harman, Neil Davidson & Roger Parker 24-9 as Hempnall lost 4-0, only their second defeat this season. Coltishall won 2-0 at Woodbastwick in a strange game that saw both teams produce big wins in the pairs. Coltishall's Eddie Edridge & Willie Jefferies won 21-7 against D Lamb & Trevor Hallett but this was cancelled out as Norma & Peter Jablonowski beat their pld County team mates Carol & John Aggas 21-6. Jim Couling's triple edged a 16-15 win against Peter Barnett but the game was won for Coltishall as Margaret Harman's triple beat Derek Sheldrake's triple 14-9. 

                                 Inter-County Championships
                                                             Played 27-2-10
Norfolk "A" 17 (170) Bucks 23 (182)

Norfolk "A" fought hard against Bucks in their I.C.C Consolation Semi-Final clash in Northants but slipped to a 23-17 defeat. Peter Adcock, Colin Coman, David Dewing & Les Chadwick finished with maximum points in the rinks while Peter Smart won 20-9 in his opening singles game and drew his second. Sheila Bragg won her second game 21-8 to finish on a high but a wipe-out in the triples, where Bucks took all ten points, shattered their hopes.


                           Peter Smart                                                        David Dewing

                                                        
                                                               Mick Mortimer
                                                                                                                     Posted 26-02-10
               ESMBA CRISIS - INFORMATION FOR NORFOLK MEMBERS

                                                                                               

                                                                                        

                                      Inter-County Championships
                                                                Played 20-02-10
Norfolk Premier 7 Wiltshire 21

Defending champions Kirby Bedon defeated Horsford BC 10-0 despite a spirited performance from some of the visitors especially Paul Isgate. Peter Johnson, Jimmy Dye & Alistair Hunter romped to an easy 30-1 win and a late surge by Gerald Chilver's triple saw them win 23-9. A great match at Woodbastwick saw the home side defeat Hevingham 8-2 with only four shots separating the teams. Home skips Norma Jablonowski, Tony Wright & Peter Jablonowski all won narrowly with Maurice Kemp's 13-9 win against Jim Couling the only Hevingham victory. Woodbastwick did less well at title chasing East Tuddenham where the home side won 8-2. Rita Secker, Madge Meachen & Owen Secker won 19-10, Geraldine Potter, Denny Cross & Peter Smart won 18-12 and John Turner's triple won 13-7. The biggest win of the night was by Woodbastwick's Arthur Foster, Derek Oakes & Peter Jablonowski who beat Robin Amos 21-7. St Faiths suffered a massive 10-0 on points, 112-19 on shots, defeat at Coltishall where John Aggas won 33-5, Willie Jefferies won 34-3 and Peter Barnett won 29-2. Kirby Bedon had to settle for an 8-2 home win against St Faiths with the absence of key players affecting the side. The biggest win was a 19-6 result for Carol Johnson, Shirley Brown & Joe Brown.


Tens League
Hevingham won a hard earned two points at Woodbastwick with Pat Williamson's triple winning 13-10 & David Sharpe's triple winning 11-7. Woodbastwick's Michael Fox & Trevor Hallett won their pairs game 13-11 while the other pairs game was drawn.
Breckland League
Wymondham are setting a hot pace after two more good wins. E Barker, Peter King & Chris Mann led the way at Hingham "A" with a 25-15 win as they won 8-2. They also produced another massive 10-0 home win at the expense of Carleton Rode. Pat Saunders, Peter King & Steve Phillips won 33-6 and Mary Fisher, Shirley Foster & Debbie Phillips won 28-4 as Carleton Rode were crushed 103-33 on shots. Carleton Rode fared much better at home with a 10-0 win against Harling & an 8-2 win against Hingham "A". M Newby, J Davidson & R Davidson won their game by 28-13 against Hingham while R Lorn, M Baker & R Baker scored a 33-12 win against Harling. Forncett's Andrew Coleman, Joan Rumsby & Dennis Rumsby helped their side to a tight 6-4 home win against Hingham "B" with a 21-6 win. 

                          Geoff Payne lifts City League Singles Crown

                   
                                 Inter-County Championships
                                                          Played 13-02-10

Norfolk "A" 29 v Shropshire "A" 11

Norfolk "A" are through to the I.C.C Consolation semi-final stage after a solid win against Shropshire. Maximum points were earned in the pairs as Jenny & Peter Walker won their games by 19-5 & 14-11 while Chris Musk & Elaine Cole won 19-7 & 11-8. The singles picked up eight points as Peter Smart won twice and Sheila Bragg once. Les Chadwick's rink won their games by 19-2 & 13-4 while Ty Musk's rink won once. Ray Lamb's triple  won their second game while Alison Rush's triple drew their second game. Norfolk "A" now meet Bucks in the semi-finals.

                                                Latest News updated 17-02-10
Bure League
The title race looks wide open with no team able to yet claim the title favourites role. East Tuddenham won 9-1 at home to Anglian Windows with Geraldine Potter, Denny Cross & Russell Harris winning 19-9 but all the other three games were tight and Windows will feel unlucky not to have earned more from this match. Kirby Bedon completed a league double against East Tuddenham winning 8-2 at home, the same result as they achieved at Tuddenham. Kirby's Peter Johnson, Jimmy Dye & Alistair Hunter recovered from 9-6 down after eleven ends to beat Robin Amos 17-9 while Phil Watson's & Selwyn Goldsmith's triples both won. John Turner earned Tuddenham their two points with the last wood of his game against Gerald Chilvers. St Faiths tend to struggle against the top teams in the league but came close to a shock result at home to Hevingham where they went down by just one shot in a 7-3 points defeat. Rita Minter, David Guyton & John Pye of St Faiths beat Vic "Quiet Man" Woods 20-7 while Richard Hart's triple earned a 12-12 draw. Janet Kemp, Lesley Crowe & George Clarke did most to rescue Hevingham from defeat as they beat M Mack's triple 18-7. In their next game Hevingham returned to form with a 10-0 home win against Horsford BC with Vic Woods' triple winning 27-6 and Maurice Kemp's triple winning 28-2. Coltishall's Carol Aggas, Brian Bunting & John Aggas spearheaded an 8-2 away win at Horsford as they won 21-9 against Mick Dale's triple.


Breckland League
Title favourites Wymondham romped to a 10-0 victory against Hingham "B" scoring 137 shots against just 27. Hingham, rooted to the bottom with thirteen straight defeats, had no answer as Wymondham ripped them apart on all four mats. Melvyn Barker, Mark Linsdell & Brian Saunders won 32-6, Mary Fisher, Peter King & Chris Mann won 37-8, Enid Barker, Pat Saunders & Steve Phillips won 37-6 and Sylvia Archer, Shirley Foster & Debbie Phillips won 31-7 in a one-sided encounter. Defending champions Yaxham suffered a 6-4 defeat at Watton where the home triple of Roger Kerrison, M Seagar & Jim Delaney won 26-11. Yaxham won 8-2 at home to struggling Harling but visitors Betty Murphy, Terence Murphy & Terry Hewitson scored a surprise 26-11 win. It was local derby time at Connaught where the "A" team beat the "B" team 10-0 with Lee Fallows, Bob Oatway & Ollie Allen winning 29-10. Hingham "A" beat Forncett 8-2 with Jenny Potton, Colin Harris & Mike White winning 28-10. 
South Norfolk League
Hempnall are now in pole position to retain the title after a resounding 10-0 win at title rivals Saxlingham. They also won 8-2 at home to Horsford despite a shock 14-12 defeat for Paul Baker's triple against David Woodrow. Saxlingham's title hopes took another knock at Horsford where they lost 8-2 as Keith Chapman's triple won 25-6. The only win for Saxlingham was delivered by Pat Meale, making a debut in the South Norfolk League, Peter Cook & Geoff Briggs. Third placed Connaught beat bottom club Watton 8-2 with Ty Musk, Chris Musk & Sheila Bragg winning 26-4. Wreningham beat Thurton 6-4 with J Bond's triple winning 23-5 against Ann Rix.
Coastal League
Woodbastwick Eagles have been confirmed as Coastal League champions finishing six points clear of local rivals Woodbastwick Owls. Bradwell Blue finished ten points back in third place.
Coastal Cup
Woodbastwick Eagles have started off their Coastal Cup campaign with five straight wins including a 13-5 home win against Bradwell reds and a 10-8 local derby win against Woodbastwick Owls. Second placed Bradwell Blue slammed Hemsby 16-2 but Hemsby fared better at home to the Owls beating them 12-6.
Tens League
Despite the heroics of Horsford's David Davitt & Keith Chapman, who beat Chris Musk & Ollie Allen 25-12 in the pairs, Connaught snatched a 2-0 home win. Ty Musk, Bill Adcock & Ray Wells won their triples game 18-8 to ensure a home win.

  SENSATIONAL DEVELOPMENTS IN ESMBA CRISIS

Former ESMBA President Roy Grapes entered the debate this week describing events surrounding the ESMBA as the "worst crisis in its 25 year history."


     Babs Morokutti           George Clarke          Peter Winter               Roy Grapes             Keith Hawkins
    Minute Secretary              President            Vice-President           Past President           Admin Support


                                                            Simon Willies                                                             Craig Burgess                                                            Vice-Chairman                                                       Essex & England Star                                                                                                         
                                                                                                     This item posted 8-2-10

                                                         Latest News posted 9-2-10
Norfolk Cup
Cup holders Kirby Bedon are through to this season's semi-finals after defeating South Norfolk League giants Hempnall 6-2. In the first half Kirby's Jill Watson, Janice Hewitt & Phil Watson were 8-1 up after five ends against Russell Davidson, Roger Parker & Neil Davidson and led throughout winning 17-8. Hempnall's Ruth Penn, Bernie Cudden & Paul Baker started well against Carol Johnson, Peter Johnson & Selwyn Goldsmith and were 5-0 up after three ends but the Kirby triple turned up the heat to win all but one of the remaining twelve ends to win 15-6. After the break Alistair Hunter's triple sealed victory for Kirby Bedon with a big 22-6 win to earn them an away tie against Hevingham in the semi-finals.Thurton will face a difficult trip to Coltishall in the other semi-final.


                 Kirby Bedon's Jill Watson                                    Hempnall's Jon Sparham
Breckland League
Leaders Banham won 10-0 at Hingham "B" scoring 102 shots against just 26 as the bottom club were simply outgunned. Tony Blackburn's triple won 25-5 and Jim Delaney's triple won 32-6 as Banham had a field day. The following evening Banham were brought down to earth as they lost 8-2 at mid-table Forncett where P Lock's triple inflicted a 23-9 defeat on the table toppers. The big match was the clash between title chasing Connaught "A" and defending champs Yaxham. Owen Secker's triple got the visitors off to a flying start beating Derek Lyles' triple 22-7 but Sylvia Parsons' triple beat Russell Harris 16-15 to keep the match level on points at the break. Connaught's all County triple of Lee Fallows, Bob Oatway & Ollie Allen beat Yaxham star John Turner 15-9 in the second half while Sheila Bragg's triple beat Robin Amos 15-13 to give Connaught "A" a 6-4 points win. Yaxham collected a valuable 8-2 home win against Hingham "A" with Russell Flint, Denny Cross & Russell Harris winning 23-7. Wymondham are now handily placed in third place with games in hand on all their rivals after a maximum 10-0 home win against Harling. Peter King's triple won 34-4, Debbie Phillips' triple won 29-4 and Steve Phillips' triple won 25-11 while Chris Mann's triple sneaked in with a 15-13 win to confirm Wymondham as title favourites.


                            Wymondham's Debbie Phillips skipped her triple to a big 29-4 win

Bure League
Defending champions Kirby Bedon were well beaten by 8-2 at Woodbastwick. Peter Jablonowski's triple beat Phil Watson 22-3 and Jim Couling and Tony Wright both won. Kirby's only points came from Selwyn Goldsmith's triple who fought back from 9-1 down to beat Norma Jablonowski's triple 14-13. East Tuddenham beat St Faiths 10-0 with Robin Amos winning 27-2.
Norwich Cup Draw
The Norwich Cup semi-final draw was conducted at Lakeside Country Club at Lyng.
Sprowston will face Bob Carter while Woodbastwick will play Cromer. Both games are over two legs. 

                                          Inter-County Championships
                                     CONSOLATION PRELIMINARY ROUND
                                                                    Played 31-1-10
Norfolk Premier 25 v Avon 15
Norfolk "A" 25 v Hertfordshire 15
                                                 ESMBA CRISIS

                                      Inter-County Championships
                                                         PLAYED AT LAKESIDE 23-1-10

Norfolk Premier 11 (140) Essex Premier 29 (188)
A home defeat brought to an end Norfolk Premier's group games in what has proved a disappointing season with one draw and five defeats to show for their efforts. With the result of this game meaningless to a Norfolk side, adrift at the foot of their group, an unfamiliar side took to the mats. Two England players were released for an England weekend that was on and then off as the political battle raged between the England Management and the ESMBA. Norfolk manager Brian Saunders also released four Wymondham players to take part in a  Breckland League match after the league committee turned down a request from Norfolk for the match to be re-arranged following the Inter-County fixture changes caused by the recent snow and ice. This meant a return to county action for John & Carol Aggas, Bill & Diane Adcock and Teresa & Selwyn Goldsmith in a revamped side. The first session saw a 13-9 win for Teresa & Selwyn Goldsmith in the pairs but Colin Stevenson & Lee Fallows were beaten 16-5. Essex won both singles games as David Sharpe lost 15-11 and young Ollie Allen of Connaught lost 16-14 to England international Craig Burgess. The vastly experienced Burgess shot into an early lead but Ollie Allen gradually clawed his way back into the game to give the Essex star a big fright. In the second session Jill Watson, Paul Baker & Phil Watson won 8-6 but Carol Aggas, Eddie Edridge & John Aggas went down 13-5 in the other triples game. Pat Saunders, Paul Ralph, Peter Barnett & Mike Boswell won their rinks game 7-5 but Diane Adcock, Jean Barnett, Bill Adcock & Bob Oatway lost 11-9. After the break the pairs & singles returned to the mat with this time Colin Stevenson & Lee Fallows winning 13-12 while the Goldsmiths went down 15-13. Craig Burgess was far too strong for David Sharpe beating the Hevingham player 19-5 but Ollie Allen produced an inspired last end to draw 13-13 with A Jones. Despite gaining just one point this impressive young Connaught player can be well satisfied with his performance in the difficult singles spot. Phil Watson's triple then added their second win of the day by an 11-4 margin but John Aggas' triple went down 18-4 against Ian Arthur's triple and the rinks skipped by Bob Oatway & Mike Boswell both lost. Essex Premier finish top of the group with Northants Premier second, Warwickshire third and Norfolk fourth. Norfolk now face Avon in the Consolation competition on Sunday 31st January at Caroline Chisholm in Northants. 

Norfolk "A" 17 (169) Essex "A" 23 (176)
Norfolk "A" needed a massive win to snatch the runner-up spot in their group from Essex "A" and this was never realistic. The singles have provided a huge points haul for the "A" side this season and so it was again as Sheila Bragg won by 11-8 & 19-8 and Peter Smart won by 20-7 in his second game after losing his opening game 15-8. The pairs also performed well with Christine Musk & Peter Walker winning 12-11 & 13-12 while Roger Green & Roy Grapes won their second game 14-10 after a 16-8 loss in their opener. A miserable points tally of one point was gained out of a possible 20 in the triples & rinks and this is where Essex won the match. Gerald Chilvers, David Dewing & Ray Lamb drew 9-9 in their second triples match to stop an Essex whitewash in these disciplines. Norfolk "A" finish third in their group behind Cambridgeshire & Essex while Suffolk finish bottom. Norfolk now face Hertfordshire in the Consolation competition on Sunday 31st January at Caroline Chisholm in Northants.

                                      Inter-County Championships 
                                                         PLAYED AT LAKESIDE 16-1-10

Norfolk Premier 20 Northants Premier 20
The re-arranged match against Northants, abandoned when Chris Hopkins suffered a severe heart attack earlier in the season at Lakeside, ended in a 20-20 draw as Norfolk once again failed to make home advantage count. Despite looking far from 100% fit Chris Hopkins skipped his pair with distinction earning two vital wins as the visitors won three out of four pairs games. The singles produced a similar result with only a 16-10 win for Wymondham's Chris Mann against Leigh Hall going Norfolk's way. Norfolk dominated the rinks with Bob Oatway back to his best skipping Roy Grapes, Jean Woods and David Lamb to wins of 7-5 & 8-5 while Pat Saunders, Mark Linsdell, Peter Barnett & Steve Phillips won by 8-7 and a resounding 19-4. In the triples Jill Watson, Paul Baker & Phil Watson won 11-4 and 15-7 which also earned the bonus points in this discipline.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       
                                       DAVID LAMB, BOB OATWAY & ROY GRAPES

                                                 Latest News posted 17-1-10
The four Bure League Singles heats saw three of the four seeded players crash out at the first hurdle. At Horsford BC Vic "Quiet Man" Woods of Hevingham qualified with a maximum eight points and will be joined on finals night by runner-up Trevor Hallett of Woodbastwick whose only defeat was against Woods. The seeded player George Clarke of Hevingham managed just one win on the night. The Woodbastwick heat also saw seed Robin Amos of East Tuddenham win just once as Eddie Edridge of Coltishall went through unbeaten with Alan Williamson of Anglian Windows second. Williamson finished on identical points and shot difference with Kirby Bedon's Phil Watson but a higher "shots for" total earned him a finals night place. At Kirby Bedon seeded player Mike Boswell of Anglian Windows paid the ultimate price for two early defeats and wins in his last two games were in vain. John Turner of East Tuddenham gained maximum points while Coltishall's Peter Barnett finished second on five points. The Anglian Windows heat saw three players all finishing on six points apiece. Woodbastwick's Roger Green finished with a +15 shot difference to win the heat while East Tuddenham's Denny Cross finished second with a +10 to become the only seeded player to make the finals night. Tuddenham's Russell Harris finished third with a 12-4 defeat against Roger Green in his opening game proving fatal to his chances as he finished with a -2 shots difference despite winning all his other games. Bure League action saw Woodbastwick win 8-2 at Anglian Windows with Damian Lamb, Brian Frost and Derek Sheldrake winning 23-6.

                        ESMBA CRISIS DEEPENS
                         TEN COUNTIES BACK CALL FOR EGM

A call for an Emergency General Meeting of the ESMBA has been made by ten member counties to discuss the motion "That the members of the ESMBA do not consider that the current committee are organising the Association and its finances in the best interest of its members and the members have no confidence in the committee." Babs Morokutti, Minute Secretary of the ESMBA and an experienced England international, was instrumental in the move which was sparked by a decision to provide administrative support at a cost of £1,000 a month. The ten counties who have so far supported the call for a meeting are Norfolk, North Yorkshire, Derbyshire, Devon, West Yorkshire, Hertfordshire, London, Staffordshire, Merseyside and Warwickshire although it is believed others are likely to join them. Under the ESMBA Constitution once ten counties have requested a meeting it must take place within 56 days.
                                                                                                            THIS ITEM POSTED 12-01-10

                                     
                                            Babs Morokutti ESMBA Minute Secretary

                                                      THE FANTASTIC FOUR
                            Frank Edy, Margaret Poyner, John Poynter & Frank Davey

                                                                                                 

  Congratulations to David & Donna Lamb on the birth of your daughter          Rose who arrived at 6.53am weighing 8lb 1oz on Wednesday 6th Jan

Rose Lamb

 

                                Norfolk County Singles
                                               PLAYED AT LAKESIDE 3-1-10
John Turner of East Tuddenham celebrated a perfect start to the New Year as he clinched the Norfolk County Singles Championship title for the fourth time. In the final he met Connaught's Lee Fallows where Turner's greater experience at this level was evident as he only lost two ends on his way to a 14-4 victory. On the first end Turner opened with a three but this was immediately canceled out as Fallows leveled the game on the second end. After that it was one-way traffic and there was no way back for the talented Connaught ace. The play-off for third place was contested by two of Norfolk's young guns with Wymondham's Chris Mann beating Connaught's Ollie Allen 11-8 in an entertaining game. In the semi-finals John Turner had defeated Chris Mann by 7-6 while Lee Fallows had beaten his Connaught team-mate Ollie Allen by 13-4.

           JOHN TURNER OF EAST TUDDENHAM  WINS NORFOLK SINGLES CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE

     LEE FALLOWS RUNNER-UP                 CHRIS MANN THIRD                     OLLIE ALLEN FOURTH

                          Latest League & Cup Update 29-12-09
Bure League
East Tuddenham grabbed the top spot over Xmas after defeating Anglian Windows 6-4 away. Albert Palgrave, Chrissie Turner & John Turner led the charge with a resounding 22-4 win against Maureen Dease's triple while Rita Secker, Madge Meachen and Owen Secker beat Alan Williamson's triple 20-9. Anglian Window's triples, skipped by David Walker & Mike Boswell, both won by smaller margins leaving Tuddenham 23 shots up. Windows also lost 8-2 at Woodbastwick where Damian Lamb, Derek Sheldrake & Jim Couling won 21-7 but still remain in second place. Coltishall moved up to third place with a solid 9-1 away win at St Faiths where Mally Catchpole, Sid Harman & Peter Barnett beat Ted Redwood's triple 20-10 and Carol Aggas, Brian Bunting & John Aggas beat John Pye's triple 18-8.
Tens League
Hevingham maintained their unbeaten run with an easy 4-0 home win against Horsford Heroes. Lesley Crowe & Vic Woods delivered a 23-3 win in the pairs while David Sharpe's triple won 22-10 and Maurice Kemp's triple won 22-12.
Norfolk County Cup
Coltishall were on unfamiliar territory but emerged with a 6-2 win at Bradwell earning them a home match against East Tuddenham in the quarter-finals.
Breckland League
Banham hammered struggling Hingham "B" 10-0 to move top of the table. All their triples pulled off big wins with Valerie Hambling, Joyce Goodey & Julia Blackburn winning by the biggest margin of 29-7. Connaught "A" won at Watton by 6-4 in a tight match where just five shots separated the teams. Connaught's top triple was Mike Parsons, Bob Oatway & Ollie Allen whose 20-13 win clinched the match points.
Coastal League
Woodbastwick Eagles top the table after ten wins and just one defeat and already look hot favourites.
Thurne League
Halvergate are still unbeaten.   
                        
                          Inter-County Championship Games
                                                PLAYED AT LAKESIDE 13-12-09

Norfolk Premier 19 (192) v Warwickshire 21 (167)
Under the old scoring rules this would have provided a healthy win for Norfolk but under the new bonus points system an inability to keep scorelines tight cost Norfolk dearly and Warks clinched a tight victory. The highlights for Norfolk included two wins for Chris Mann in the singles including a 19-7 win against Jon Pitcher but Melvin Woods again struggled in his singles role losing 19-7 & 13-9. Ollie Allen & Mike Boswell had a good day winning their pairs games 15-8 & 19-9. With the late withdrawal of Lee Fallows through illness reserve Joe Brown was brought in to skip his triple with Jean Woods & Paul Baker and produced wins of 20-3 & 18-4 to leave manager Brian Saunders with a selection headache for the next match.


                                   Super-sub Joe Brown - Man of the Match

Norfolk "A" 24 (184) v Suffolk 16 (133)
This was a game Norfolk won by dominating the singles & pairs taking 18 of the 20 points on offer against a county side who were in the Premier section up to the end of last season. Another good day for Peter Smart who won by 20-5 & 15-8 in the singles. Jenny & Peter Walker won 19-8 & 17-9 and Colin Stevenson & Neil Davidson won 15-8 & 16-6 for a clean sweep in the pairs. In the rinks Chris Musk, Elaine Oatway, Colin Coman & Les Chadwick won by 12-3 & 8-4. The triples were a disaster for Norfolk as Suffolk won all four games to give their score a respectable look about it. 


                      Haddiscoe's Peter & Jenny Walker on song for Norfolk "A"

                        Latest League & Cup News updated 14-12-09
Bure Pairs
Bure Pairs week with preliminary rounds at four venues saw just one pair qualify with maximum points and that was Shirley Brown & Gerald Chilvers of Kirby Bedon at Horsford. Diane Boswell & Brenda Sizer of Anglian Windows qualified for finals night in second place. At Hevingham another Kirby pair came out on top as Jimmy Dye & Joe Brown won with another Windows pair, Alan Williamson & Mike Boswell, in second place. A close heat at Woodbastwick saw Coltishall's Martin & Eddie Edridge winning with six points ahead of East Tuddenham's John Turner & Robin Amos on four points. The list of eight finalists was completed by Elsie Couling & Derek Sheldrake of Woodbastwick and Russell Harris & Denny Cross of East Tuddenham who qualified from the St Faiths heat.
Tens League
Hempnall made it four wins on the bounce with a 4-0 victory at Connaught, winning on all four mats. Colin Stevenson & Chris Mann won 17-8 and Bernie Cudden & Paul Baker won 15-9 as their pairs proved too hot to handle! In the triples Neil Davidson skipped his triple to a 15-7 win while Jon Sparham won 18-10. In their previous match Connaught edged to victory at Horsford Heroes with a 19-7 win for Elaine Oatway, P King & Bob Oatway earning the narrow 2-0 win.
South Norfolk League
Defending champs Hempnall reeled off their fourth straight win blowing away Mulbarton 10-0. Thurton did just enough to hang on to third place winning a close match by 6-4 at home to Horsford thanks to a 20-7 win for Peter Walker and a 23-7 win for J Pidgin.
Bure Cup
A great 5 point display by Hevingham's Ian MacLean, Lesley Crowe & George Clarke at Kirby Bedon restricted the home side to a 13-11 win in their first leg clash. For the home side Jill Watson, Bob Pattison & Phil Watson won twice and drew once as did Leonora Chilman, Teresa Goldsmith & Selwyn Goldsmith but Alistair Hunter's triple had a bad night picking up just one point and Gerald Chilver's triple only scored two points leaving Kirby with a tough task in the second leg.
Breckland League
Banham will be delighted with an 8-2 win at Connaught "A" to move up to fourth place level on points with Wymondham. In a rare home defeat for Connaught, three visiting triples won with Bill Francis beating Bill Adcock 19-15, Julia Blackburn beating Ollie Allen 17-15 and John Williamson winning 15-12 against Ray Wells. Only Sheila Bragg won for the home team beating Jim Delaney 18-13. Hingham celebrated only their second win from eight games but they did it in style as Alan Marshall, Bob Lister & Michael White won 30-13 and Pat Groombridge, Bridget Woods & John Higgs won 22-6 in an 8-2 win against struggling Harling.
Norwich Cup
Cromer are through to the next round after a decisive 14-2 home win against Costessey. Cromer were quick out of the blocks with skips A Haynes, J James, J Andreae and R Airs winning the first four games. By the halfway stage it was 10-2 in Cromer's favour and after John Andreae won 13-5 and R Airs won 15-0 in the next two games Costessey conceded with the game now out of reach. The quarter-final draw has handed Cromer another home tie, this time against City League giants First Bus. Bob Carter entertain South Norfolk champs Hempnall while an all City League clash sees Sprowston entertain Felthorpe. The remaining tie is an all Bure League clash with Coltishall visiting old rivals Woodbastwick.
City League
Things are still tight in the City of Norwich League with Horsford Heroes just 6 points ahead of Sprowston hotly pursued by both Costessey & First Bus.
  
                    ESMBA IN CRISIS AS CALLS FOR EMERGENCY                                                                            MEETING GROW
Rumours are sweeping like wildfire through the sport that several counties are preparing to put their names to a call for an Emergency Meeting of the ESMBA to discuss a vote of "No Confidence" in the ESMBA Management Committee. Speculation is rife following reports that the national committee has procurred one of its own committee members as a paid administrator at a cost of £1,000 a month. It is believed that at the same meeting an offer from England and Essex star Craig Burgess to voluntarily fill the vacant General Secretary post was deferred until February and an offer to help out by former Secretary Herbie Bowden was rebuffed. The meeting was chaired by Vice-Chairman Simon Willies in the absence of the Chairman, Chris Hopkins, who is still recovering from a serious heart attack suffered during the recent Norfolk v Northants Inter-County Championship clash. ESMBA Treasurer John Jackson was unable to attend as he continues to recover from a serious illness. At the last ESMBA AGM the Treasurer reported a deficit on the year of over £12,000 in his annual report. Only two of the committee opposed the controversial creation of a paid administrator post, Babs Morokutti of Essex and Elizabeth Carter of Hampshire, with the vote going 9-2 in favour. A letter from one of the committee members furious at the decision is believed to be dropping through the letter boxes of county secretaries throughout the country while Short Mat International is expected to comment on the situation in their forthcoming issue. 


                                                 ESMBA Vice-Chairman Simon Willies

                               Norfolk County Mixed Fours
                                                 PLAYED AT LAKESIDE 6-12-09
One of the best county finals in recent years saw Jenny Walker of Haddiscoe, Jean Woods of Bob Carter, David Lamb of Halvergate & Jon Sparham of Hempnall pick up their first ever Norfolk County Mixed Fours title when they defeated Wymondham's Pat Saunders, Brian Saunders, Debbie Phillips & Steve Phillips by 8-7. On the first end two good woods from Pat Saunders at lead gave Wymondham a good start but a great attacking wood by England's David Lamb left his rink holding two shots. Their joy was short-lived as Debbie immediately despatched the jack into the ditch and Wymondham took two shots. With both leads, Pat Saunders & Jenny Walker, putting down some great woods a tight head quickly built up but when the jack was pushed through it was to Wymondham's advantage and they held three shots. Jon Sparham attempted to attack the head with his final wood but hit the block and Wymondham were 5-0 up. Sparham's rink badly needed to get into this match and were helped as Jeannie Woods took shot with a toucher and a Jenny Walker toucher was put in the ditch as insurance. Debbie Phillips then produced a great forehand to spoil their chance of a big end but Sparham's rink still scored their first shot to make it 5-1. By now Sparham had moved to number three with David Lamb at skip and on the fourth end they held another two before Steve Phillips played a superb wood to extend Wymondham's lead to 6-1 and they looked hot favourites. The fifth end was a cracker and Jon Sparham & David Lamb played four superb woods between them as their rink took a massive six to turn the game on its head and give them a 7-6 lead. The Wymondham rink were shell-shocked by this unexpected turn of events in a game that they had dominated up to this point and on the next end Lamb's rink suddenly seemed far more confident as they played their woods. Two great woods by Jenny Walker gave them an early advantage and Jean Woods consolidated as Wymondham were put in trouble again but Brian Saunders opened up the head with an attacking bowl. First Debbie Phillips drew shot and then David Lamb as the tension grew on the penultimate end. Steve Phillips had the last wood and he was one down but he was not quite accurate enough and Lamb's rink were 8-6 up with an end to play. Again two great lead woods by Jenny Walker gave her rink a great start and Jean Woods covered Wymondham's two back bowls. Again Brian Saunders opened up the head with an attacking wood  but Jean Woods drew shot with her second wood. Saunders again kept Wymondham's hopes alive taking the jack back so that they held two shots. Sparham took one Wymondham bowl out with a backhand shot and this was followed by a firing wood from Debbie Phillips that touched the jack aside but went through into the ditch. Sparham was asked to push one of their bowls through to the back which he did perfectly and Debbie Phillips again played a weight wood that was so close but not close enough. Lamb then put in a short blocker to try and hamper Steve Phillips effort. Phillips elected to fire but hit another short wood and Lamb's rink were still holding. With his last wood Lamb put in another short blocker. A super forehand attack shot by Phillips evaded Lamb's blocker and took the jack into the ditch for shot but, to the dismay of Wymondham, Lamb's rink held second wood and had held on for an 8-7 victory and the Norfolk Mixed Fours Championship title. All eight players can be more than happy with their performance although Wymondham will have nightmares about the fifth end. In the play-off for third place Pam Crockett of Watton, Eric Frary of Hingham, Jane Frary of Hingham & Terry Crockett of Watton beat Lynn Frank, Peter Fox, Sue Fox & Roger Frank of Horsford Heroes by 7-5.  

                     David Lamb, Jeannie Woods, Jon Sparham & Jenny Walker
         Latest League & Cup News updated 7/12/09
Breckland League
All three of the teams likely to again contest the title race won their home games this week. Reigning champs Yaxham moved top after a 9-1 home win against Watton with Owen Secker's triple winning 21-12 and John Turner's triple winning 20-11. Connaught "A" took all ten points against Harling with Christine Musk, Lee Fallows & Ollie Allen winning 26-8 and Bill Adcock's triple winning 21-6. Wymondham won 8-2 at home to Hingham "A" with Debbie Phillip's triple romping to a 29-5 win and Chris Mann's triple winning 27-9. Jane Frary continues to impress in her first season for Hingham after her transfer from Wayland. Her triple denied Wymondham maximum points by beating Mark Linsdell's triple. Hingham "A" also slipped to a 6-4 home defeat against Carleton Rode as Michael Newby, Maisie Baker & Rodney Baker won 19-9 for the visitors. Best home triple were Jackie Baker, Eric Frary & Jane Frary who beat Terry Newby's triple 21-13. Two teams who look destined to spend the season mid-table met with Watton winning 8-2 at home to Connaught "B". Watton enjoyed two big wins with Bryan Dibble, Joan Bebee and Margaret Hunter winning 24-11 and Barbara Pointer, Ron Harvey & John Hunter winning 23-9. The experienced Connaught triple of Heather Winup, Ken Lurcock & Joyce Hazell replied with a 25-12 win.


Lee Fallows & Ollie Allen won 26-8 for Connaught "A" while Debbie Phillips won 29-5 for Wymondham
Bure League
A great game of bowls saw St Faiths and Horsford B.C draw 5-5. Peter Warnes, Christine Walsgrove & Jim Palmer gave the visitors a boost with a 24-8 win but St Faiths hit back with Ted Redwood's triple winning 16-7 and Pam Dayne's triple winning 19-11. A narrow 12-11 win for John Bateley's Horsford triple against John Pye ensured the game finished level on points and shots.
South Norfolk League
Saxlingham moved nine points clear after beating Connaught 8-2 although all four games were tight. A 16-12 win for T Stockwell's triple was the home sides biggest win. Connaught fared better at Watton where they won 10-0 with young Norfolk star Ollie Allen skipping his triple to a 23-7 win but went down 8-2 against defending champs Hempnall. Thurton are third after a 10-0 home win against Wreningham with J Pidgin's triple winning 36-2 and Ann Rix winning 22-6.
Tens League
Hempnall's pairs are formidable opposition and destroyed visitors Woodbastwick. Colin Stevenson and Chris Mann beat David Cole & Peter Jablonowski 27-5 and Bernie Cudden & Paul Baker beat Roger Green and Roy Grapes 21-5 to seal a 4-0 home win while Neil Davidson & Jon Sparham weighed in with wins in the triples. Connaught fought like tigers at Hevingham where they normally struggle and went down by just seven shots. Lesley Crowe & George Clarke secured the match points for Hevingham with a 17-7 win against Ollie Allen and veteran skip Bill Adcock. Clarke was put under intense pressure on the last three ends and responded well playing vital saving shots that kept Hevingham's unbeaten run intact. Ken Lurcock, Ty Musk & Sylvia Parsons had performed above expectations to hold Ian MacLean and Vic Woods to a 12-12 draw.


                         CHRIS MANN                                                         COLIN STEVENSON
Wensum League
Cromer lead the way after 10-0 wins against both Thorpe Marriott and Woodbastwick. Coltishall are second after beating Stalham 10-0.
Thurne League
Hemsby continue to top the league after an 8-2 home defeat against Stalham but only because they have played far more games than the rest. Bradwell won 8-2 at South Walsham after drawing their previous match 5-5 at Woodbastwick.
Norwich Cup
Hingham knew they faced a massive task away to Hempnall and it is no surprise that the home side brushed their visitors aside with consummate ease to win 21-3. Ruth Penn, Roger Parker & Neil Davidson won 6-1, 15-2 and 5-4 while Joan Cann, Bernie Cudden and Paul Baker wn 13-1, 5-3 and 13-1. Pat Roache, Bridgit Woods & Keith Thomas had a good night for Hingham picking up all their hard earned points with a 6-3 win against Richard Harrowing's triple and a 4-4 draw against Jon Sparham.
Norfolk Cup
Bob Carter won 6-2 at home to Cromer after Malcolm Reynold's triple won 25-5 and Melvin Woods' triple won 24-7. Former Coltishall bowler Jane James earned Cromer's only win beating Nigel Willard 14-8. Carter now visit Hevingham in the quarter-finals in what could be the tie of the round.