Gap closes at top of bowls league

Once again, IBCs skip Ted Bourne - ably assisted by Steve Shaw and Richard Toy - won two points where they least expected to. They held the upper hand throughout the game to win 21-11 while the Road picked up the balance of the points thanks to Les Feary, who won the aggregate by the closest of margins (11-23).

Eastenders closed the margin at the top to just four points when they defeated Swineshead. Skips Paul Flatters and Andrew Reeson won 31-6 and 29-9.

Royal Mail put out possibly their strongest team against Jolly Farmers, but all the points went to the Farmers. Tom Richardson won 23-12 and Sue Hoyles picked up a last end count of five to succeed 22-16.

The bottom teams were matched against each other and it finished with Patriarchs moving out of the bottom berth, pushing Norprint beneath them. For the Printers, Jeff Nicholson tied 14-14 with Alan Bristow, but Colin Baxter led from the very first end for Patriarchs to win 23-15 for five points.

Holland Fen, in third spot, were matched against Invaders in sixth. The Invaders came out on top thanks to Nathan Dunnington, Sandra Tebbs and Scott Whyers, who won 25-10. Mick Tomlin was always up against it but won 15-23, short of the aggregate points.

A40, who have had a rough ride most of the season, have now finally consolidated fourth spot.

Matched against Punchbowlers they secured rink wins of 26-8 and 20-14.

In the T&B Containers Division Two, the top places saw some very surprising results.

Leaders Strollers fell on both rinks to the Golfers, Norman Ablard (17-12) and Dave Gill (14-13) victorious.

Second-place Feathers fell on both rinks against the Burtons, Phil Markham winning 12-16 and Dave Bailey successful 10-12.

Boston Park moved themselves into second place with a win against Amateurs. Ron Thacker, Ken Cook and Clare Britchford won 18-16 and Nigel Taylor, Jack Taylor Cook and Gordon Harris triumphed 22-13.

Parthians, in the top five, also fell. Matched against bottom team Crowns, Dale Sowter, Rob McDonald and Sandra McDonald fell to Peter Copeland 18-17 and Keith Nix fell 15-10 to John Adcock.

Red 5 picked up a good win against the Breakaways. Bob Lody, for Red 5, won the aggregate points with a win of 26-18.Replying for the Breakaways, Ivan Dilley won 13-16.

Central had a good result against mid-table Poachers as Phyl Rickett, Marion Epton and Fred Epton secured a win of 18-9. Replying for Poachers was John Riches (14-16).

In the Cammacks Division Three, leaders Autos failed to negotiate a tough game against third-placed Sibsey, falling on both rinks. Sibseys skips Alan Dunnett and Pete Sharman won 18-17 and 18-16.

Second team Cosmos, on a bye week, are now only three points adrift and a game in hand.

Bottom team Nomads gave Highflyers a really tough game. Barrie Trigg tied 13-13 and Anthony Tabor was grateful to pick up account of three on the penultimate end which eased him home 18-14.

Shipmates versus Traders saw the former win five of the six points. Ray Robinson, Brian Truepenny and Walter Parker tied 16-16 and Betty Taylor, John Balderson and Stan Smalley won 25-3.

Dynamics picked up maximum points when matched against U3. Alan West won 19-9 and Graham Wilkinson also won 19-9.

Vikings had the edge over Fairways. For Vikings, Janet Loughran, Ray Loughran and Keith Stones won 21-9 for the aggregate points. Replying for the Fairways, Chris Gill, Hazel Smith and Heather Scarboro came from 8-0 down to win 12-19.