BOWLS: Warwickshire Bears continued their Midlands Counties League campaign with an away fixture against New Lount BC to take on neighbours Leicestershire.
While Warwickshire lost the game 114-131, three rinks went down to the wire but fortune favoured the hosts.
Martin Hammond (Three Spires), Steve Taylor (Avenue Coventry), Neil Hancock (Little Compton) and Colin Jacox (Avenue Coventry) held a midway nine shot lead and built upon that to lead by twelve with six ends to play.
The Foxes mounted a fightback but Jacox and co held them off to complete a 24-17 victory.
Darren Ward (Rugby), Paul Finch (Kings Heath), Rob Robinson and Richard Brittan (both Erdington Court) saw their narrow five end advantage turn into a four shot deficit going into the final six.
Eight shots in three ends took Brittan’s rink in front but their opponents shut them out, though couldn’t stop the Bears winning 22-21.
Andy Prickett (Little Compton), Brian Boardman (Rugby), Chris Barton (Kings Heath) and Dan Box (Little Compton) saw their early lead turn into trailing by five at the midway point.
Box and co doubled their tally to hold a three shot advantage with three ends to play.
The Foxes scored four shots with none in reply to steal the game 20-21.
Adam Smith (Avenue Leamington), Jordan Merrett (Avenue Coventry), Neil Brereton (Welford) and Andy Smith (Avenue Leamington) trailed by a shot after ten ends and then were shut out as the Foxes extended their lead to 16-9.
Smith’s rink finished strong, hitting seven shots but unfortunately dropping one to end up losing 20-21.
Andy Manning (Nuneaton), Russ Merrett (Avenue Coventry), Matt Wells (Rugby) and Steve Merrett (Avenue Coventry) held a midway lead but trailed by three with six ends to play.
The Foxes had the better of the remaining ends to take a 25-15 win.
The all Rugby rink of Liam Pearcey, Keith Mason, Craig Carter and Calvin Wells got hit by a scoring spree from the host to trail by fourteen after ten ends.
The second half of the game was much tighter with neither side able to get away from the other, final score 30-17 to Leicestershire.
