Derby clash for Connaught

Connaught Bowls Club, Attleborough, saw two weeks of short mat bowls marked by convincing wins for the A side against the B side in two Breckland League competitions.

In the Breckland League Five Pairs semi-final, played at Banham, Connaught A beat Connaught B by 49 shots to 32 over the 50 ends.

Connaught B tried hard, drawing one match and winning another, but Connaught A had a better balance to their side and a better tactical approach for two-wood pairs.

The A side deservedly go through to the final where they will meet Wymondham, narrow winners by 4 shots in a good match against Watton on the adjoining mat. The Banham club hosted the semi-finals superbly on behalf of the Breckland League. The date and venue for the final are still to be decided.

In the Breckland League itself Connaught A beat Connaught B by 96-50 and 10-0: S Parsons 22, J Hazell 9; D Liles 21, A Rush16; S Bragg 24, A Marshall 15; O Allen 29, R Ramm 10.

At 16-16 after 16 ends and 15-15 after 15 ends respectively Alison Rush and Alan Marshall had good chances for Connaught B but it was not the junior side's night. Connaught A kept title hopes alive but need to win matches on this scale from now on.

In the South Norfolk League Connaught beat Mulbarton at home by 77-42 and 8-2: P King 18-12, S Bragg 14-17, O Allen 26-6, D Liles 19-7. Proving that age is no barrier Mulbarton's 93-year old captain and lead, Mary Walden, featured in their winning triple.

Also in the South Norfolk League Connaught lost 39-65 and 4-6 at Thurton: P King 13-12, A Marshall 4-25, S Bragg 13-12, O Allen 9-16. A relieved Connaught side held on for two single-shot wins but otherwise struggled on very fast mats against a useful side.

In the Tens League Connaught beat Kirby Bedon at home by 58-41 and 3-0: Pairs: R Oatway 17-9 and O Allen 13-14. Triples: A Rush 13-9 and R Wells 15-9.

This was a good win for Connaught who had been hammered at Kirby Bedon two weeks previously.