White Rockers clinch bowls title

The triumph was the third in the Hastings club's history with the last win coming in 1997.

Team manager Steve Jeapes said: "I knew we would win because we selected the right players experience-wise. When picking teams I think of myself as a behavioural scientist. I want to take the BS out of behavioural sciences and make what we know about people come alive so it can be useful to the whole team."

On a deceptive rink, the team of Keith Cheetham, John Dixon, John Hooker Jnr and Jeapes scored a five on the second end against Mark Jones only to be pegged back to 10-all at 10 ends. With Dixon in outstanding form the game was always tight and the Rockers did very well to hold a strong Lindfield quartet to a 17-17 draw at the finish.

On the next rink, Charles Wright, Steve Sands, Phil Baker and Graham Lavender struggled at the start on long lengths but were only 8-6 adrift at seven ends. On the 10th end skip Lavender made an astute decision to play minimum length jacks and the Rockers scored nine shots without reply over the next five ends.

In his first county final, Baker rose to the occasion and played some brilliant deliveries which helped his team record a decisive 22-18 victory against the team led by Terry Hughes.

Jeapes went on: "I was delighted with the result as White Rock deserves success for their approach to competitive bowls. We showed real character out there in very hot and difficult conditions. You can't put backbone into a jellyfish and we certainly showed we had the right men for the job out there. It was great to see Dixon and Baker play so well when winning their first county titles."

Simon Moore made it a double by lifting the Unbadged Singles with a superb 21-14 victory over former jockey Marc Duson of Hove & Kingsway. The Rocker exchanged shots in an edgy start but from 10-all stormed clear to lead 17-10 and from then on he was never in any danger.

Moore also played brilliantly in the Bexhill Open where he reached the final after claiming several notable scalps including Lee Dickson (South London) and club-mate Wright. His run came to an end with a 21-11 defeat at the hands of Roger Butler from Uxbridge. Moore was presented with his county badge and will retain the Richfield Cup for a year.