After winning their two opening games, Suffolk bowls team were knocked out of the Middleton Cup at the weekend.

Calvern Kemp’s side faced an all-or-nothing clash against Essex at Westcliff-on-Sea on Saturday, with the winners progressing through to the quarter-finals.

Suffolk went down 131 (5) to 91 (1) as their near rivals booked a game with Cambridgshire in the last eight.

Suffolk ended the competition having won their opening two games, against Norfolk and Leicestershire, before Saturday’s defeat and the recent home loss against Northamptonshire.

They last reached the final in 1995.