The most competitive Bure League title race for years saw Bob Carter win the title after a 6-4 away win at the home of defending champions Halvergate. Halvergate went into the last Bure League match of the season just one point ahead of Carter and with a gritty determination to seal their seventh title win in a row. But league new-boys Bob Carter, whose star-studded squad includes several current England internationals, were equally determined to ensure that did not happen. Bob Carter’s side was missing Jack Pye, who was unavailable, while Halvergate went into the match without regular Steve Hall who was also unavailable. The first half was always going to be vital and it was Bob Carter who were on the front foot with Gavin Gray, Jack Gray & Gary Best storming to an 18-4 win against home triple Donna Lamb, Ray Lamb & Robbie Lamb. On the other mat Halvergate’s Kerry Greenacre, Steve Lamb & Keith Cooke were locked in an incredibly tight encounter against England Under 21 bowler Alfie Woods and England internationals Morgan Warnes & AJ Brown. The game went down to the wire, and Keith Cooke’s triple looked set to score an important win until AJ Brown played a last bowl wonder wood to snatch a 13-10 win for the visitors. This bowl would prove to be vital in Bob Carter finishing the season as champions. The second half produced two tight games with Halvergate winning both. Jackie Smith, David Crosby & Ryan Fox beat Jean Woods, Nigel Willard & Jason Woods by 13-12 while Leo Cook, Lianne Mills & David Lamb beat Morgan Warnes, Simon Warnes & Melvin Woods by 15-12. This left Bob Carter earning the two match points, and a 6-4 away win, with a shots total of 55 against Halvergate’s 42. Halvergate will look back on AJ Brown’s last bowl winner as the moment this battle was lost, without that wonder wood they would have won that game and recorded a 6-4 home win which would have seen them retain the title. When Bob Carter were accepted into the Bure League last season, along with Chris Willies’ new team Watton Expendables, it became obvious that a terrific battle for the title was in prospect and so it proved to be. Despite Carter and Expendables teams both containing mainly England and Norfolk Squad players the defending champions Halvergate had the edge in the title race right up to the last match of the season before AJ Brown struck the killer blow. Chris Willies will be disappointed that his newly formed Expendables team saw their title hopes evaporate in the last week of the campaign, when they lost 8-2 at Halvergate and 8-2 at home to Hevingham. But they are sure to be a major force again next season as their talented young players Sid Burton, Chloe Suffolk & Kacy Suffolk learn from experienced internationals Simon & Chris Willies and their captain Jack Marshall who is also now an England international. Halvergate are sure to come back determined to recapture the title and with talented bowlers such as David Lamb, Keith Cooke, Ryan Fox, David Crosby and Kerry Greenacre etc are sure to be title contenders. Bob Carter, with their line-up containing the likes of Gary Best, Jack Pye, AJ Brown, Morgan Warnes and Jason Woods, can now look forward to being seen as the team to beat when next season comes around.
AJ Brown - produced a vital wonder wood in title decider
Position before AJ Brown produced his moment of magic