Louth bowls: Highgate boost title hopes as contenders falter

Highgate cruised to a 21-4 win against Two Plus One to establish a six-point lead over Yorkies as they beat In A Minute 16-8 to move into second spot, displacing The Jays who slipped a point behind.

The Jays were beaten by a Rustics trio of Roger Orme, Kathleen Kimpton and Isabelle Cook who produced an excellent 11-8 win, but are six points back in fourth.

Yorkies then lost ground on the leaders with a 22-8 defeat to an inspired Wasps team of Simon Reeson with John and Vera Readman.

* In Group A of the Australian Pairs, leaders Bernice Culham and Terry Cornwall lost for the second successive week, 17-6 to Pete and Gill Fletcher.

This cut their advantage to just one point ahead of Paul Smith and Mike Norton who beat Martin and Linda Oldfield 21-6.

Just a point further back are Dave Warren and Barrie Scott who saw off John and Vera Readman 18-9.

Moving up the table are new pairing Malcolm Pearce and Rachael Stanley who are catching up with outstanding games. 
They eventually overcame Pam Cowling and Wendy Porter 17-10, and then just got the better of the Readmans 15-9.

Group B leaders Paul Hayman and John Williams had little trouble in maintaining their 100 per cent record as they beat Marion Rose and Pam Thirde 36-4.

Second-placed pair Tony Powell and Liz Draper overwhelmed Bob and Christine Tice 27-1 to stay within four points, but third-placed Fred and Jean Bradley lost ground when beaten 11-8 by Derek Blow and June Brougham.

* With the top two duos not in action in the Evening Pairs, John Wiliams and Dave Stringer had a chance to move joint top, but were outgunned 26-17 by Neil Castle and Richard Tyrell in a high-scoring game.