Bowls

ROYALS' Stella Crittle had battled her way through to the area final of the Ladies National Singles where she met Jean Jordana from Bromley.

Stella bowled extremely well, drawing almost faultlessly but her opponent was in the middle of a purple patch and drew just fractionally better than Stella.

The result could have gone either way right to the end, but at the death, Jean shaded the result and now goes through to the National finals.

Stella was also on the Hawkenbury green with her new partner, Ellen Harwood to play a first round County Pairs game against Mandy Brooker and Sam Allcorn from the Angel.

After a remarkable match that went one way and then the next, Royals edged it at the end.

Sue McClintock skipped a county triple to a thrilling victory over an Angel team under Joan Campbell in a match that went the whole distance, and some.

After the excitement of the triples game, Sue McClintock's line up would have been excused for failing to the same level of excellence shown when they travelled to the neutral venue of the Angel for a National Triples area final against Bromley.

However, the contest was really over within a few ends as Bromley just could not find a way to stop the rampant Royals and an early resignation with the total 23-5 to the Wells team.

Royals have qualified for the last 32 of the tournament – a fine achievement.

Representing the Royals men, Bill Crittle came up against old friend and one time Royals member, David Banfield, now playing out of White Oak in the area final of the National Senior singles.

Bill had a real opportunity to win this contest, but eventually failed by the narrowest of margins, a single shot, 21-20.

Angel bowler, Duncan Hanmore travelled to High Woods Lane to play Brian Martin in an area semi final of the National Mens singles.

At first, Brian established a slender lead until Duncan started to put his game together, after which Brian found it much harder to garner shots.

Duncan caught, and then over took the Royals man, going on to his 21 shot target for the win. Brian carded a very creditable 16 shots.