Chris Mann of Wymondham SMBC won his first Norfolk county singles title after a string of fine performances over the weekend, which eventually saw him beat Simon Willies of East Tuddenham SMBC in the final 13-5 with an end to spare. Mann now joins an elite group of five players who have won all five county titles (Singles, Pairs, Triples, Fours and Mixed Fours), an acheivement that for many years had eluded him much to his frustration. The final against Willies saw Mann make a strong start with a three and two singles giving him a 5-0 lead after three ends. Willies, last years runner up also, was not to be beaten easily however and fought back with back to back braces to bring the score back to 6-5 with three ends remaining. Mann though returned to his best outdrawing Willies in the next two ends scoring a four then three to seize his first title. The third fourth playoff saw Bob Carter's Gary Best concede his match against Wymondham's Mark Linsdell giving him third place. The semi finals saw one of Mann's best performances to overcome two time champion Gary Best who was looking for his third straight singles title since moving to Norfolk but this time Mann got revenge for his 2016/17 season final defeat with some superb shots to deny Best with the final score a resounding 12-3. The other semi final saw Simon Willies edge out Wymondham's Mark Linsdell in a titanic battle which saw Willies secure a brace on the last end to win 11-10. Both players had picked fours up late on but Linsdell's last bowl of the match missed by millimeters giving Willies a chance for two which he claimed. Linsdell had bowled well all weekend and will have been gutted not to have made the final. The quarter final results were G. Best 8 M. Warnes 7, C. Mann 13 K. Cooke 4, M. Linsdell 8 J. Sparham 3, S. Willies, 12 S Warnes 5.
