On a tremendous night of competitive short mat bowls action Bure Cup holders Halvergate produced a stunning performance to progress through to the semi-finals. After losing the home leg by 14-10 on points Halvergate were faced with a big task if they were to avoid a first round exit and that job got even harder after Watton Expendables won three of the first four games to extend their lead to 20-12 on aggregate. Chris Willies’ star studded new team started brightly and looked to be on their way to victory in the early stages. Pix Hyam, George Hume and team captain Jack Marshall won 7-4 against David Lamb, Rob Howlett, Chloe Suffolk & Simon Willies won 6-3 against Ryan Fox and Elaine Willies, Sid Burton & Robin Amos won 9-4 against Keith Cooke with only Donna Lamb, Ray Lamb & new signing Trevor Brown replying for the visitors with an 8-3 win against Andy Rawnsley, Kacy Suffolk & Chris Willies. But as the classic Billy Ocean song goes “When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Get Going” and Halvergate certainly did as they proceeded to reel off six consecutive wins to turn the game on its head and lead 24-20 on points, 121-109 on shots, with just one session remaining. The comeback was spear headed by Holly Lamb, new signing Paul Baker and captain David Lamb as they beat Robin Amos’ triple 10-5 and Chris Willies’ triple 4-2 and Donna Lamb, Ray Lamb & Trevor Brown whose 6-4 win against Simon Willies and 6-2 win against Jack Marshall made it three wins from three games for them on the night. The perfect comeback was completed as Jacky Smith, Steve Hall & Ryan Fox beat Chris Willies’ triple 9-3 and Kerry Greenacre, Keith Baker & Keith Cooke beat Jack Marshall’s triple by 7-2. That left Watton Expendables needing to win both remaining games while turning around a twelve shot deficit and while they achieved the first part the second part proved beyond them as Halvergate kept both games tight. Robin Amos beat Ryan Fox 5-4 while Simon Willies beat Keith Cooke 6-3 leaving the teams level on aggregate points at 24-24 but with Halvergate winning on aggregate shots by 128-120. Halvergate will now meet Hevingham in the semi-finals while Bob Carter will play Thorpe Marriott.
David Lamb, whose Halvergate team won at Watton Expendables