Suffolk fell to an overall 19-17 defeat at Cleveland in the British Inter County Championship Division Two at the weekend, having let slip a seemingly impregnable overnight lead.

The weekend started well with a fine 5-1 win for Suffolk in the Women’s B match – Stowmarket’s Leesa Woollard (16.23) winning the Lady of the Match award.

Andrew Gilding (Walsham – 33.40) was Man of the Match in the Men’s B match with a remarkable performance in the opening game, which inspired his team-mates to a 7-5 win.

Further wins left Suffolk with a six game overall advantage going into Sunday’s A team matches.

But Suffolk Women’s A went down 4-2 to a strong home line-up, leaving Suffolk with a 14-10 lead before the Men’s A match.

And a superb display by Cleveland saw them overturn their deficit by winning the Men’s A match 9-3, with Walsham’s Nick Bloom (27.96) the Suffolk Man of the Match.