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Six Counties Champions Suffolk 25
Six Counties Champions Suffolk

The Suffolk team selected was:S1: Paul Leach (single), Pete & Rita Runnacles (pair), Jim
Goodrich, Ellen Grube & Neil Jolly (triple); S2: Mick Watkins (single), Don Allum & Colin Felling-
ham (pair), Sue Isles, Graham Davey & Clint Watling (triple); S3: Paul Daniels (single), Sue
Davey & Peter Fellingham (pair), Steve Isles, Adam Hubbard & Tom Runnacles (triple); S4: Andy
Pooley (single), Sally Goodrich & Sam Runnacles (pair), Nick Wood, John Varden & Steven
Cain (triple)
Suffolk’s first opponents were Essex and four tough singles games were expected. It was
Andy who made the best start of the Suffolk singles, a win never looked in doubt as he eased
to a 12-1 win. The other three games were far closer, but it was a dream start as Paul L (8-5),
Mick (6-5) and Paul D (7-6) all held their nerve during the latter ends to record wins. Next on
were the pairs and four tight games followed. Pete/Rita secured the first Suffolk points with a 9-
7 win and that was quickly followed by Sue/Peter with a 7-4 win. Some last end magic from Sam
then added another win,
with Sally/Sam winning 5-3. Unfortunately, another clean sweep was not to be as Don/Colin
lost 3-8. Finally, the triples and after four good games, those points were fairly shared. The Suf-
folk wins were comfortable ones for S1 (10-2) and S3 (8-2). The other two triples losing close
encounters, S2 by 4-6, and S4 by 3-6. Suffolk were pleased with their eighteen points against
Essex, which took them straight to top spot overall, Cambridgeshire just behind on 16 points.
Next up, it was first versus second with Cambridgeshire the opposition. Four confident Suf-
folk singles took to the mats after their first games. This time it was Mick who made the best
start and he didn’t give his opponent a look in, seven perfect ends and a convincing 15-0 win.
The other three games were tight though, all went to the final bowls and again the Suffolk singles
held their nerve. Paul L in particular played well for his 7-4 win, Andy won 6-4 and Paul secured
a valuable point with a 4-4 draw.
In the pairs, it was Pete/ Rita who made the better start and they quickly had control of
their game, easing to a 9-1 win. Just like the singles before, the other three games would go to
the wire. Don/Colin bounced back well from their first game loss to record a 7-5 win and
Sue/Peter played well again for their 9-6 win. Unfortunately, Sally/Sam couldn’t add a fourth win,
going down 2-5 in a low scoring game.
The triples games were a mixed bag, the high points were a convincing win for S2 by 13-
3 and another win (6-2) for S3. S1 lost a final end shoot-out to lose 5-6 and S4 simply didn’t get
a foothold in their game, losing 1-11. However, Suffolk were more than happy with seventeen
points from Cambridgeshire, which maintained their leader’s overall position.