Super Suffolk gained their first success of the 2017 National EBF Championships with a victory over Northumberland by 179 shots to 135, in the Adams Trophy final.

But the margin of victory does not tell the true story of a wonderful match in which Suffolk’s opponents played some excellent bowls and kept their opponents on the back foot for the first 20 ends of the encounter.

The rink of Robbie Felgate, Robert Kerry and Paul Utting could do little to stop their opponents during the opening third of the game and consequently found themselves down by six shots to 23 shots.

A change of playing order for the rink seemed to work the magic though as they played themselves back into the game.

The whole of the Suffolk team surged to the front after being just a few shots down after 24 ends.

The support from the travelling bowls lovers gave the Suffolk team a lift that propelled them to new levels of accuracy and belief as they gave a wonderful exhibition of bowls on all rinks.

Suffolk did well retaining their title they won last season in such thrilling fashion,

However, a word of sympathy must be sent to opponents Northumberland, who against a less-inspired team would surely have been worthy victors, having played well without gaining the result they would have desired.

The Suffolk under 25s team were defeated by a vastly more experienced Lincolnshire team in the final of the Reg Wright Trophy on Saturday afternoon.

However, ut the final score of 65-78 was a small margin, considering that Suffolk fielded three players under 15.

This team will be all the better for this brilliant experience and will hopefully come back next season to win the trophy.

M.Smith, C.Moss, M.Payne. 33-25

C.Parfitt, R.Claxton, M.Cole. 27-19

S.Szarcos, J.Powley, D.Cattermole 28-19

D.Moss, A.Brunton, C.Chick 32-24

P.Utting, R.Kerry, R.Felgate 29-27

S.Ayers, I.Page, D.Brown 30-19. (Spoons) Player of the day was Marcus Payne.