Connaught hopes are dashed

CONNAUGHT Bowls Club, Attleborough, had hopes of winning the short mat Norwich Cup final but these were shattered by a storming Hempnall performance in the return leg.

CONNAUGHT Bowls Club, Attleborough, had hopes of winning the short mat Norwich Cup final but these were shattered by a storming Hempnall performance in the return leg.

Connaught A took a lead of 15 points to 9 with them to Hempnall for the return leg but went down by 5-19 and lost the final on aggregate by 20-28.

Connaught scores at Hempnall: R Wells, D Adcock and A Parsons 1-8, 4-4 and 1-10; S Bragg, C Musk and G Wilcox 5-6, 8-2 and 2-5; L Fallows, O Allen and W Adcock 3-12, 4-13 and 6-2; K Beavers, P Hambling and J Winup 3-8, 5-10 and 1-10.

Sheila Bragg, Christine Musk and Gordon Wilcox played very well in three close matches but generally, hard as they tried, Connaught's players could not match a strong Hempnall side in rampant form.

There are times when 'very well done' is all that can be said and this was one of them.

Despite the disappointment, Connaught could reflect on a good season. Connaught A were runners-up in the Breckland League as well as the Norwich Cup and won the Breckland League five pairs.

Mixed-strength sides had reasonable seasons in the South Norfolk and Tens Leagues. Connaught remains the only club in Norfolk to run a regular B side, which played in the Breckland League. At county level, 12 players represented Norfolk during the season.

Connaught's club championships are being played this week and some end of season competitions are still to come.

Most Connaught players will now give up short mat for the summer and concentrate on the outdoor season.