A mixture of cloud and sunshine greeted 16 teams at Bungay Bowls Club for the Chairman’s Shield, once again sponsored by Chris Payne’s property maintenance company.

After two games in the first qualifying group the only two triples that had won both games met in the third and final qualification game.

The Bungay triple of Richard Tuthill, Peter Taylor and Terry Buck led 4-0 after two ends, but then lost 12 shots to four over the next five ends to the Connaught team of Kevin Noble, Roy Taylor and Graham Benefer who went on to claim victory.

It was a similar story in the other qualifying group as the Leiston/Lowestoft Railway trio of Grenville Wright, Mick Battle and Jack Newnham faced the Bungay/Shotford trio of John East, David Sheppard and Richard Brinded. By the halfway stage John’s triple had yet to score while Grenville’s triple had reached 13. Despite winning by six shots to five over the remaining five ends John team had to accept defeat to a better team on the day. The result was good news for another Bungay triple as Roger Bullen, Keith Patrick and James Gosling won their last game 18-7 to secure an appearance in the third place final.

The all Bungay final for third place saw the Terry Buck triple leading 7-5 at the halfway stage. Over the next three ends each triple scored four shots. On the penultimate end Roger’s wood played with weight removed the opposition’s shot wood to hold six. Terry was unable to save any shots and by adding another with his last wood Roger’s triple scored a seven on their way to a 17-11 win.

The final was an engrossing match with both triples on six shots apiece after eight of the 10 ends. Grenville’s triple eked out singles on the last two ends to take first place.

In the last 16 of the County Millennium Trophy Bungay achieved an excellent result at Lowestoft Railway. Despite Terry Buck losing the two wood singles on the last end, James Gosling came from behind to win the four wood singles while Roger Bullen, Keith Patrick and Dominic Belisario won the triples. In the pairs Mike Wilson promoted Richard Allen’s bowl for shot with the last wood to take a one shot win. The fours of David Sheppard, Richard Tuttle, Colin and Jack Powley were also winning when the result was decided.