A tremendous performance by Bob Carter’s Jack Pye clinched his side maximum points at Hevingham despite the home side winning two of the four games. Carter, chasing a Bure League and Cup double, included all five Norfolk bowlers named in the England team for the upcoming World Cup in Norway knowing that a win would see them move above Halvergate in the Bure Cup table. Carter started the first half strongly on both mats as Jean Woods, Gavin Gray & Jason Woods led Melvyn Barker’s triple 10-0 after four ends and Alfie Woods, Morgan Warnes & AJ Pye were 7-1 up after three ends against Pat Williamson, Pat Hall & Richard Moore. Barker’s triple, with Jenny Walker leading and Teresa Goldsmith at two, began to cut the deficit against Jason Woods and trailed 16-10 with one end remaining. But the last end saw Woods’ triple score five shots to record a 21-10 win. On mat one Richard Moore’s triple won five ends in a row to lead AJ Pye by 10-7 after eight ends but with one end remaining trailed again by 17-15. The last end though saw a remarkable recovery as Moore’s triple took four shots to win 19-17 and reduce Carter’s overall lead to 38-29 at the interval. The start of the second half mirrored that of the first half as Carter were out of the blocks much quicker than the home side. Melly Woods, Simon Warnes & Jack Pye led 12-0 after six ends against Brian Turner’s triple while Nigel Willard, Jack Gray & Gary Best led Jane James’ triple by 8-1 after five ends. Nigel James, Aleck Haynes & Jane James stuck to their task though and took twelve shots over four ends to lead Gary Best’s triple by 17-11 after thirteen ends. Despite Best’s triple winning the final two ends Jane James’ triple held on to win 17-16. Maximum points for the visitors were earned on mat one as Jack Pye produced a faultless performance His triple continued to add to their early lead eventually winning by 26-4 against Brian Turner’s triple to earn Carter an overall 80-50 victory on shots and a maximum 5-0 points win. Jack Pye was in the kind of form that has earned him his England place pulling off perfect bowls on the occasions when the home side seemed guaranteed to put shots on the board. The Bure Cup looks set to go down to the wire with Halvergate and Bob Carter still to play each other home and away at the end of the season.
Jack Pye was in superb form at Hevingham