On another super day of short mat bowls at Hingham Sports Centre the Norfolk Over 60’s team played Friends of Essex in the second leg of their annual challenge match. Starting the day six points up from the first leg played in Essex the Norfolk Over 60’s made a slow start losing six of the opening eight triples games to trail on aggregate by two points. The second session saw the pairs take to the mats and Norfolk retook the lead winning on five mats and losing on three. Norfolk’s triples enjoyed a much better third session with five wins and a draw and just two defeats. The fourth session saw Norfolk turn up the heat on Essex winning all eight pairs games scoring 115 shots against 50. A 9-7 points win by the triples on the fifth session was followed by a 14-2 points win by the pairs on session six. Essex held their own on session seven which finished in an 8-8 points draw before Norfolk’s pairs won the final session 10-6. This left the days score 82-46 in favour of Norfolk who scored 653 shots against 445. Two Norfolk pairs won all their four games. Pat Hall & David Aldous won by 10-9, 13-10, 16-3 & 21-5 and Billie & Melvyn Barker won their games 23-2, 17-1, 15-3 & 14-4. Before the match Norfolk Over 60’s Organiser Teresa Goldsmith presented Norfolk Over 60’s captain Steve Easter with his 10 Year medal. Teresa also thanked Carol Taylor of Friends of Essex for all the work she has done to keep the Friends of Essex team together and playing following the sudden death of Tony Ealham who had organised all their matches previously. Next Saturday sees the visit of Kent Invicta to Hingham to play Norfolk Over 60’s which is the third weekend in a row Norfolk have received visiting teams.
Carol Taylor of Friends of Essex with Norfolk's Teresa Goldsmith & Steve Easter
Teresa Goldsmith presents Steve Easter with his 10 Year Over 60's medal.
Line-up time before Norfolk Over 60's play the Friends of Essex team at Hingham
Norfolk Over 60's bowler David Chadwick of Wymondham SMBC in action
More action from the match