Beccles Bowls Club's Denny Plate run ended in the quarter-finals at Chelmsford on Saturday when they lost by 11 shots to Folkestone in a match enjoyed by the many supporters from both sides who travelled to watch.

Beccles Bowls Club's Denny Plate run ended in the quarter-finals at Chelmsford on Saturday when they lost by 11 shots to Folkestone in a match enjoyed by the many supporters from both sides who travelled to watch.

Although Beccles trailed in the early ends, they fought back to briefly take the lead before Folkestone opened up a gap of about 10 shots which Beccles were never able to close. Folkestone ran out winners by 89 shots to 78.

The four Beccles rinks went through highs and lows during the match. Mark Cole's rink made a dream start, leading 9-0 after just two ends.

However, the experienced Gordon Charlton, who had skipped a Folkestone four to the runners-up

spot in last season's national championships, played extremely well. Although Cole's rink held the lead until the 18th end, two brilliant bowls from Charlton picked up five shots. The Beccles rink was unable to regain the advantage and lost by five shots.

John Catchpole's rink made a poor start and were 14-0 down after five ends. They fought back to cut the deficit to eight by halfway, but their opponents again gained the upper hand and finally ran out 19-shot winners.

David Todd's rink also started slowly and were 11-1 down at the five end stage. They made a great recovery, helped by a six on the ninth end and eventually won by five shots against a rink which contained the other three members of Folkestone's national fours runners-up rink.

David Wood's four held the lead throughout in a fine performance which saw them win by eight shots.

Although very disappointed to lose, there were some very good performances by the Beccles players at a superb venue where the host club made it a day to remember for the players and their supporters.

The club thanks Margaret Ashford-Hull for stepping in at the last minute to umpire when the EIBA official failed to arrive.

Rink scores: M Todd, B Harber, G Ramsbottom and M Cole 18. G Charlton 23. L Winterton, C Moore, S Cook and J Catchpole 14. R Herridge 33. G Catchpole, D Meadows, I Catchpole and D Todd 24. S Wells 19. J Nixon, J Knights, G Mulcairn and D Wood 22. J Vane 14.