Top  Club

Playing Essex County  on a neutral  green at Ipswich in the National  Top Club Championship  was  a  good challenge. Sheila Stacey  won her singles 21-17 and Jenny Ramsbottom, Barbara Meeks, Barney Wymer  and Simon Elliott  won the fours 31-10. Graham Punchards triple lost 15-20 and Mark Elliott  lost the Mens Singles 15-21. Jenny  Kirby with George Tubby  were the last to finish  in the pairs and what looked like  the impossible shot  was  needed  to win. Needing 2  to draw  George pulled it off to finish 21 each  and win the game by shots difference.

Away to the Dell the  Acle Ladies A  were  looking for another win in the county league  despite Captain Barbara being  unable to play. Lynne Cannell, Gwyn Xuereb and Geraldine Reeve  soared into a 11-0 lead after just 5 ends,   by 10 ends it was 13-10  but  a determined  trio won 15-12. Sandra Faircloth, Jenny Ramsbottom  and Jenny Kirby went from 4-5  down to 13-6 up  and finished 15-12. Sheila Stacey, Jude Ward and Elaine Cole were 6-4 up scored a 5 on the 9th  and went on to a convincing win 19-11. Gwen Fletton , Lillian Barber, Marie Morton were 9-1 at  5 then 9-7 at 9, and went on to win 16-10.

Result  65 – 45 and all 8 pts.

Yetton Exit  in Final 3 ends

Playing Bowling  Club in the Yetton Trophy was not going to be easy for Acle Ladies . at home  Mel Haylett’s rink came back from 4-8 after dropping a 6  to 15 each at 15 but dropped a 4 on the final to lose 18-26. Barbara Meek’s rink were 12-11 at 10, 17 each at 18 and lost 18-19 .Away Geraldine reeves rink were  in top form going 16-4 at 10 ends , 24-7 at 18 and won 26-12. Jenny Kirby’s rink found the opposition too  strong  as they went from 6-14 at 10  and 12-24 at 18  and lost 15-24. At  18 ends Acle were 69-67 up  but over the final 3 ends scored 8 shots to Bowling Clubs 14 and lost.

Result 77-81.

At home to Roundwood  Acle A Ladies  were  intent of keeping at the top of the table with a good  win. Sheila Stacey, Jessica Murison and Mel  Haylett were  9-1 up when they dropped   a 5  but the next end Scored a 5  and   won 21-9. Sandra Faircloth , Judith Ward  and Barbara Meeks Scored a 5 on the 3rd and were 12-8 at going on to win 19-8. Gwen Fletton, Jenny Ramsbottom  and Elaine Cole were 12-2 up after just 5  ends , 14-6 at 10  and won 24-7. Edna Land, Sue Moore  and Jenny Kirby scored a 6 on the 7th to go 11-5  and finished with a 5 to win 18-10.

Result  82-34 and all 8  pts

On  Saturday  the Ladies A  were at home  to second in the table  County Arts and  it went to the final ends. Lynne Cannell , Sue Moore and Barbara Meeks scored a super 7  on the 2nd  and were 12-1 at 5 , 18-3 at and won 21-11. Brenda Cole,  Marie Morton and  Jenny Kirby werte 7-2 at 5, then a 5 on the 9th  made it 12-5 and won 17 – 6. Geraldine Reeves block  were  10-3 up at 8 but  failed  to score any more losing 10-13. Mel Hayletts  block had a  knightmare as they lost 8-31.

Result   56 – 61  and 2-6 pts.

Yetton  Yo-Yo

Acle  Ladies playing County Arts in the Yetton Trophy realised it was always going to be a close game and needed to be on form to progress into the next round. At  home  Sandra Faircloth,Gwyn Xureb, Elaine Cole  and Barbara Meeks found themselves 4-12  down at 11 ends but then scored a 6  and by 17 were 14 each, now in the ascendency  they  turned their game round and  won 20-16.  Lynne Cannell, Sue Moore,  Judith Ward and Mel Haylett were  0-10  down at 5 ends then 8-18 at 15 and finished 14-21. Away  Sheila Stacey, Edna Land, Marie Morton  and Jenny Kirby  went 9-1 up at 5 ends, 20 – 15 at 15, a  magical 5 on the 19th helped them to a 28-17 win.   Joy Pearson, Jenny Ramsbottom, Andrea  Morton  and Geraldine Reeve  went 12-3 up at 10  ends , 12-11 at 15 and finished 16-18. The game  had swung up and down but the final 3 ends were vital scoring a total of 17 shots  to Arts 4 and securing a deserved win.

Result  78-72 and into the next round.

Yetton Delight

Playing Beccles in the Yetton Trophy the Acle  girls were expecting a tough game so needed to be on top  form. At  Acle  Sandra Faircloth, Gwyn Xuereb, Elaine Cole  and Barbara Meeks  cruised to a 16-4 lead at 10  ends and went on to an emphatic win  29-12. Lynne Cannell, Sue Moore, Lillian  Barber  and Mel Haylett were 11 each at 10, 16 each at 15  and  drew 20 each.Away  Sheila Stacey, Edna Land, Marie Morton  and Jenny Kirby went 14-4 at  10 , 23-9 at 15  and won 28-12. Joy Pearson , Jenny Ramsbottom, andrea Morton  and Geraldine Reeve were 13-5 at 10, 19-11 at 15 and won 27-18.

Result 104 – 62 and into next round.

The  internal  fight between the  ladies A  and B was  a good humoured affair but  it was the  A Team  who had the last  laugh.  Sheila  Stacey, Gwyn Xuereb  and  Mel Haylett were in relentless mode as they scored three  4’s   and two  5’s  on their way   to a  32-3 win against Jackie Smiths block.  Lynne Cannell, Elaine Cole and Jenny Kirby were  close at 6 each after 8  ends  playing Elaine Donavan ‘s block but the A team  Trio then dominated and won 17-8. Jenny Ramsbottom , Geraldine Reeve  and Barbara Meeks  played Rose Yaxley’s block and found themselves 4-7  down with 3 ends to play but turned the tables scoring 10 shots and won 14-7.  The final game was a nail biter  with Caroline Goodhand, Anne Tickner  and  Julia Crosby for the B Team playing Marie Morton’s  block and it went 6 each, 9 each and 14 each playing the final end but here the B team won 15-14.

Result  Acle A 77  - Acle B  33   and 7-1 pts

 At home  to Bowling Club  A the Ladies A  were  intent  on starting the season at  home  well and in a  close encounter the  Acle Girls finished  with a smile. Joy  Pearson, Sue Moore  and captain Barbara Meeks went 6 – 2 up at 5  ends and  went on to,  only lose 4 ends and won 13-6. Sheila Stacey, Lillian Barber  and Jenny Kirby went from 5 each at 5 to 12-8 at 10, then 12 each playing the final end, Jenny  drew shot bowl to win 13-12. Gwen Fletton, Edna Land and Mel Haylett were  7-6 up then 10 each  playing the final end  and  2 shots gave them a 12-10 win. Geraldine Reeve’s block fought back  from 1-10 to finish  8-14.

Result  46-42  and  7-1  pts.

At home  to Gallows the Ladies A  Team  were  intent on starting the season with a win and it turned out to be an emphatic  victory .Lynne Cannell, Jess Ward and Barbara Meeks went from 3-6 down to 12-6 up and won 20-7.Sandra Faircloth, Brenda Cole and Mel Haylett  started  well  going 9-0 up and went on to win 16-7. Joy Pearson, Gwyn Xuereb  and Jenny Kirby were 9-7  at 8  ends then stormed home finishing with a 5 to win 22-7. Jenny Ramsbottom, Andrea  Morton, and Elaine Cole were 9 each at 9  ends but here also a 5 changed the game as they won 19-11.

Result  79- 34  and 8-0 pts

At  home to   top of table Woodlands the  Mens B wanted   to produce a    good win.    Alan Jones, David Brawn, John Harris  and Wyn Willimott were 10-0 up then  14-3 at 10 ends by 15 it was 18-6  and all on form won 27-9.  Malcom French, Roy Turner, Vic Moore  and Peter Hurren  went 12-7 up at 11  then scored a 6 , by 16 ends were 22-8  and  coasted home  25-15.  Arthur Jolliffe, Alan Benson-Nutt  , Matthew Sparrow and  John Sparrow  were 6-10 down at 10 , 12 each at 15 and in a  tight final end drew  16  each.  Brian Grint’s rink  scored a 6 on the 7th to go 11-5  but by 13 were 14 each , 18 each at 16 and 20 each at 18 but lost    21-23 .

Result  89-63  and  5 ½   - 1 ½  pts

Top Ten League

The ‘A’ team Played Pentney in the Top Ten League.  Brian Kirby won the singles 21-19. Johnathan High and John Sparrow  won  the pairs 32-13.  In the Triples Sid Siely, Alan Jones and Wyn Willimott won 20-8 and Robert Brooks, Ian Anderson, Bill Downie  and Matty Sparrow   won the Fours  35-15.   

All 7 points to Acle ‘A’

At  Home  to County  Arts B  the Mens B needed to bounce back from their disappointing result from last week. Jim Malcolm, David Brawn, John Harris  and Wyn Willimott went  from 12-3 at  5 ends to 24-5 at 10, they  got a wake up call when they dropped a 7 on the 12th but dominated as they won 37-13. Malcolm French, Roy Turner, Vic Moore and Peter Hurren  were 9-2 up at 5,  18-6 at 15 and  cruised home 31-10. Arthur Jolliffe, Alan Benson-Nutt, Matthew Sparrow  and John Sparrow were  15-3 at 10 ends and 19-9 at 15 and won 25-15. Ken Squire,Chris Brister, Bill Downie  and Brian Grint went from 4-12 down  at 8 to     16-12 up at 11 , and went on to win 28-19.

Result   121 – 57  and all 7 pts

At  home to old adversaries Shotford A  the Mens B were  hoping for a good start to the season. Ken Squire, Alan Jones , Bill Downie  and Brian Grint started well  going 9-2 up at 5 ends then 16-3 at 10 all  playing well they  swamped the opposition 33 – 8.       Wyn Wilimott’s rink   went  3-13 down at 10,  6 – 17 at 15  recovered  to finish 13-19. Matthew Sparrow’s rink  were 11-5 up  at 10 ends then 12 each at 15 but finished losing  13-25.  Peter Hurren’s rink suffered early on going 1-20 down at 10 ends, 3-24 at 15 and succumbed to a comprehensive defeat 11-28.

Result  70- 80  and  1 – 6 pts.

Top  Ten

In the county Top Ten League Acle A  played Acle B  and  it went with the form book. In the Singles Brian Kirby beat Eddie  Mc Donald 21-7  and Sid Siely with Alan Jones  won 26-14 playing John Spooner and John Stanton in the Pairs. Ken Squires, Ian Anderson, Bill Downie  and  Matty Sparrow  won 22-16  playing Terry Batchelor, Geoff Webb, David Airey  and Colin Starkings. The Triples  was however  a victory  for the B Team as Peter Evans, David Crosby and Colin Minns  won 18-16  playing Kenny Taylor, Alan Benson-Nutt   and Wyn Willimott.

Away  to Diss the Ladies B Team were looking for their first  win in the top flight and it went down to the final bowl of the game. Pam Spooner, Barbara Stanton  and Jackie Smith went 8-1 up at 5 ends then 12-5 at 10  going on to win 15-7. Caroline Hines, Anne Tickner   and  captain Julia Crosby were 5 each at 5 , 11-7  at 10 and were pleased with a 14-8 win. Jean Claxton, Pat Ellis and Carol King  were 0-6 down then 8-12  but playing the final end were 8-14 but  a sensational 6  gave them a 14 each draw. Elaine Donovan ‘s block found themselves 0-12 down at 7 ends and never recovered losing 6-21.

Result   49-50  and 2 ½  - 5 ½ pts

Away to Gallows the Ladies B Team  only had one winning block, Lily Westgate, Pat Ellis  and Carol King  went from 3-5 down at 5  ends to only losing one more end as  they cruised home 22-7. Julia Crosby lost 7-16, Elaine Donavan 6-15  and Rose Yaxley 5-24.

On Thursday,  the Ladies B travelled to play County Arts A  and the journey did not go well , however Pam Spooner, Barbara Stanton  and Jackie Smith scored a 5 on the 9th to go 14-8 up, playing the final end were 14-15 down but 2 shots  gave them a 16-15 win. Sandra Edmonds block lost 3-27, Rose Yaxley 3-22  and Elaine Donovan 3-32

Result 25 – 96  and 1 – 7 pts

The  internal  fight between the  ladies A  and B was  a good humoured affair but  it was the  A Team  who had the last  laugh.  Sheila  Stacey, Gwyn Xuereb  and  Mel Haylett were in relentless mode as they scored three  4’s   and two  5’s  on their way   to a  32-3 win against Jackie Smiths block.  Lynne Cannell, Elaine Cole and Jenny Kirby were  close at 6 each after 8  ends  playing Elaine Donavan ‘s block but the A team  Trio then dominated and won 17-8. Jenny Ramsbottom , Geraldine Reeve  and Barbara Meeks  played Rose Yaxley’s block and found themselves 4-7  down with 3 ends to play but turned the tables scoring 10 shots and won 14-7.  The final game was a nail biter  with Caroline Goodhand, Anne Tickner  and  Julia Crosby for the B Team playing Marie Morton’s  block and it went 6 each, 9 each and 14 each playing the final end but here the B team won 15-14.

Result  Acle A 77  - Acle B  33   and 7-1 pts

In  their  first game back in the top  flight  the Ladies  B realised they needed to  raise their game to keep  up.     Playing N.Walsham  was not the ideal start  and on a weekday . Julia Crosby came back from 3-7 down to 10-7 up and in a traumatic final 4 ends  eventually lost 10-12.  Rose Yaxley’s block  were 5-14  down but  fought back well   but lost 14-16. Carol King ‘s block were 1-10  down  came back to 9-11  but lost 10-15  and  Jackie Smith’s block were 7-5 up then had a lean spell going 7-20  down and lost 12-21.

Result  46- 64  and  0-8 pts 

Away to Diss  the Ladies C Team  had to  be a player short but Daphne Harris, Eileen Airey  and  Wendy Triggs  won  7  ends  and deserved  their  8 each Draw. Sally Webb’s  block  lost 7-15, Leslie Hall’s  7-16  and  Shirley Lloyd‘s block 4-20.

Result 26 – 59  and ½  - 7 ½ pts

At home to the Dell the Ladies C Team looked like they headed for victory at 8 ends being 8 shots up, but it soon changed.  Linda Farrell, Jean Naylor and Lesley Hall were on form as they went from 9-3 up to 15 -3  and won 17-9.  Julie Granfield, Val Giles and Shirley Lloyd battled to a 9-4 lead and despite dropping a 5 on the final end won 13-11. Josie Tucker’s block were 9-3 up at 6ends then 10 each playing the final end and lost a measure to finish 10-11. Jenny Woolaston’s block dropped two 5’s and two 4’s as they lost 4-27.

Result  44-58 and 2-6 pts

Away  to Bowling Club the Ladies C did not travel well  but still came home with two points.Mollie Hayton, Margaret Hunt and Ruth  Kay picked up a 5 to go 5-7 at 5  ends then  went into a 13-7 lead before dropping a  5 but  went on to win 17-12. Daphne Harris, Ann Burnay  and Leslie Hall  enjoyed a good start going 10-4 up at 5  ends and  keeping the opposition poor went on to win  16-11. Wendy Triggs block dropped a 6 on the 10th end and lost 10-25  while Dawn Heatley ‘s block also struggled losing 5-30.

Result 48-78  and 2 – 6 pts  and

Away  to Lowestoft Railway the Ladies C realised it would be difficult  but  good experience  for some new players. Ann  Sanderson, Dawn Heatley  and Lesley Hall started well  going 8-3 up after 5 ends  and then 16-6 after  10  and  won 18-15. Daphne Harris Wendy Woolaston and Dahlia McDonald were  6 each at 5 ends and winning 6 consecutive ends went 13-8 up , stuck on 13 but  held on to win 13-12. Jenny Woolaston’s block kept close going 8 each  with 2  to play  but lost 8-13.  Jayne Greenacre’s block  lost 3-24. With 2 ends to play the game was close  but  dropped 18 shots in the final 2  ends.

Result  42 – 64   and 2-6 pts

The New  season  got  underway on  Friday  with the Ladies C Team playing at Home against Diss B and  a new look  Acle  Ladies  C Team  started  well.  Linda O-Farrell, Leslie Hall  and Jenny Woollaston sailed into a 10-0  lead after 5 ends and were 15-1 after 10 and only losing 2  ends won 18-5. Molly Newman , Jean Naylor and Ruth Kay went 6-4 up at 5 ends then  had a golden moment scoring a 7  followed by a 5 to go 18-4 up and went on to win 20-10. Ann Sanderson, Eileen Airey  and Jayne Greenacre went from 3-8 down to 13 each and  finished in style  winning 16-13. Dahlia Macdonald’s block recovering from a Thomas Cook holiday  delay lost 5-23.

Result  59-51  and 7-1 pts