BEDFORDSHIRE v SUFFOLK

On Sunday 28 November 2010 the Suffolk team travelled to Barton-le-Clay to face Bedfordshire in their first ECCBA league match of the 2010/11 season.

Suffolk's 2010/11 squad included some new faces. From Walpole & Cookley, Jon Jordan, James Rous and Ryan Willoughby were all playing their first match.

It was Suffolk's first visit to Barton-le-Clay for a few years and Bedfordshire are always a difficult team to beat on their carpets. It would be a tricky match for Suffolk and a good start would be essential.

The day did get off to a great start for Suffolk when their first three rinks picked up the lines on the carpets quickly and all took early leads. Two of the games finished with comfortable wins of 14-4 and 13-3. Then maximum points were secured when the other game just went Suffolk's way 10-9.

The second session followed a similar pattern to the first with the other Suffolk rinks again adjusting to the carpets well. Again two games saw Suffolk rinks controlling from the start and well deserved wins were earned 11-3 and a convincing 19-2. The other game went to the final end, with the Suffolk rink edging it 6-5.

The third session again reflected the previous two, with Suffolk rinks taking early advantages and holding on to them in two of the games. Those games concluded with 10-3 and 13-1 wins. In the other game the Suffolk rink were always playing catch-up, but in winning the last end they salvaged a valuable point with an 8-8 draw.

So at the half way stage Suffolk held an overall 17-1 lead. However they would need to maintain their performance level, as Bedfordshire were showing enough to suggest that they could win games in the second part of the day.

The fourth session saw Suffolk's first defeat of the day. The rink were behind from the start and were unable to close the gap, losing 11-7. However there was better news from the other carpets with Suffolk rinks winning 11-3 and 10-3.

The fifth session proved to be Suffolk's worst of the day, but that was mostly down to improved bowling by the home team. Two games drifted away from Suffolk rinks, finding themselves behind early on resulted in 12-7 and 9-4 defeats. However two points were gained in the other game, with an 11-3 Suffolk win.

The Suffolk rinks needed to bounce back in the final session to ensure there were no more costly dropped points. The team responded superbly, all the rinks took early leads and didn't look back. Three excellent Suffolk wins of 11-3, 10-6 and 9-6 rounded the day off well.

Suffolk had won the match 29 - 7 (shots 184 - 94).

It had been a good all round team performance by the Suffolk bowlers, with every rink gelling and playing well. Crucially they had got off to great start and despite a "mini-wobble" in the middle of the day, it was a fantastic final result.

Suffolk will be looking to continue their winning start in their next match, at home against Norfolk at Bildeston on Sunday 12 December.

Neil Jolly (County Captain)

SUFFOLK COUNTY TEAM TRIALS 2010

The trials for this season's Suffolk Squad were held at Bildeston on Sunday 10 October.

Entries were up on last year and included the majority of last season's squad and more importantly a number of bowlers who were at the trials for the first time. This would certainly improve competition for places in the squad.

Initially all the bowlers were tested on their ability to play drawing bowls. Across three mats each bowler was asked to bowl three bowls at first a middle jack, then a long jack and a short jack. Every bowl was scored on its accuracy relative to how close it finished to the jack.

Then three other shots were set up. Firstly the spring shot, bowling a wood on to another which was touching the jack to spring it to a designated spot on the mat. The second shot was bowling to designated spots in the corners of the mat. Lastly the take-out shot, bowls placed on the end of a mat had to be taken off with the wood bowled remaining on the mat. Again all bowls were scored relative to how close they came to achieving the shot needed.

After a lunch break all bowlers were then placed into rinks (fours) and each rink played two nine end games on different mats. As before every bowl was scored on its accuracy relative to how close it finished to the shot they were asked to play.

During the day there was a good standard of bowling with impressive scores from many bowlers. The day was also played in an excellent spirit.

The Selection Committee were grateful for the assistance of Keith Armes, Rita Daniels, Andy Gilder, Keith Jolly, Jane and Richard Sago who were the markers all day.

After the trials the Selection Committee of Sally Goodrich, Steven Cain and Neil Jolly met to choose the Suffolk Squad for the 2010/11 season. This proved to be a difficult task given the standard of bowls played at the trials.

Everyone's performance was discussed before a final squad of 26 bowlers was selected. The squad in full is:

Neil Jolly (Brockley) - Captain	Sue Jones (Brockley)
Sally Goodrich (Claydon) - Selector	Jon Jordan (Walpole & Cookley)
Steven Cain (Great Blakenham) - Selector	David Mittel (Great Blakenham)
Don Allum (Great Blakenham)	Andy Pooley (Great Blakenham)
Trevor Bean (Stanningfield)	James Rous (Walpole & Cookley)
Andrew Cooper (Hundon)	Peter Runnacles (Great Blakenham)
Paul Daniels (Kelsale)	Sam Runnacles (Great Blakenham)
Sue Davey (Cockfield)	Tom Runnacles (Great Blakenham)
Colin Fellingham (Cockfield)	Ralph Sadgrove (Hundon)
Sue Gilder (Barking)	John Varden (Old Felixstowe)
Jim Goodrich (Claydon)	Mick Watkins (Barking)
Ellen Grube (Hundon)	Shirley Watkins (Barking)
Ann Hathaway (Hundon)	Ryan Willoughby (Walpole & Cookley)

The squad is now looking forward to their first Eastern Counties league match, away against Bedfordshire on Sunday 28 November.

Neil Jolly (County Captain)