TWENTY-eight pairs of bowlers took part in the John Groom Catering and Carriages-sponsored four-wood pairs competition for the Captain's Cup at Bungay Bowls Club recently.

TWENTY-eight pairs of bowlers took part in the John Groom Catering and Carriages-sponsored four-wood pairs competition for the Captain's Cup at Bungay Bowls Club recently.

In the first of two qualifying groups the likely group winners would be the victors of the match between last year's runners-up from Bungay, Colin and Jack Powley and the Alan Buck (Oulton Broad) and Roger Clarke (Sole Bay) pairing who were third in 2006.

The father and son Powley duo got off to a bad start and were 4-0 down after three of the 12 ends, then 10-2 down. By winning the four ends the deficit was reduced to three on the last end, but Colin was unable to achieve the desired result.

Alan and Roger went through to the grand final with an impressive shot difference of 27.

Despite being fourth in the group with one game to play the Wortham husband and wife duo of Jim and Janet Bromley had a convincing 15-6 win to leap-frog the Pat Skelly (Waveney) and April Nunn (Bungay) duo to second in the group to reach the third-place final.

In the other group, Blundeston brother and sister duo Kim Dyer and Mel Cole were the only pair to win all three matches for a place in the grand final.

The third-place final position went to Grenville Wright (Leiston) and Jack Newnham (Laxfield) who, despite losing 14-12 in their final game, took second place in the group by a shot difference.

In the third place final Grenville and Jack returned to form to beat Jim and Janet 15-5 with an end to spare.

In the lower-scoring final Kim and Mel were always ahead, but never by much. Alan and Roger tried to hard to get the six shots on the final end to force an extra end but lost 9-4.

Bungay member Roma Went presented the finalists with their prizes and Bungay chairman Dominic Belisario thanked everyone who had made the day a great success.

Bungay BC's excellent run the Suffolk EBF Senior Cup came to an enthralling end in the area final against Thurlton at the Beccles Conservatives' green.

Thurlton took an early lead, but Bungay fought back and both teams held narrow leads of the last six of 21 ends across the four rinks.

With just one rink to complete and Bungay holding shot and last wood, the team decided to force a draw and invoke the extra end across all rinks. After the extra ends had been counted Thurlton won by three shots to go through to the semi-finals on July 9.

The following day Bungay's chances of reaching a cup final improved as they beat Halesworth 77-44 to progress to the last eight of the Suffolk, Bowls England, Edwards Cup competition where they will play Margaret Catchpole on July 10.

On Sunday Bungay host the Suffolk EBF ladies' area finals.

Bowling is expected to commence between 9-10am and finish in the late afternoon. Spectators are welcome.