Sunday saw the Over 60s Double Fours rinks from the Jacks Centre Latchingdon, play for the second time in three years in the finals of the County competitions at Chigwell Indoor Bowling Club.

In 1998, after a valiant struggle, they were beaten by Tye Green but the story on this occasion was a much different one and left the Jacks Centre squad with many happy memories following a 51-29 aggregate win over Clacton.

Both Latchingdon rinks got quickly into their stride and, by the halfway mark, a comfortable ten shot lead had been established.

Although the four skipped by Richard Murphy stuttered a little in the middle stages and went for five ends without scoring, this was countered by Bert Savage's quartet who stepped up a gear and did not let their opponent in for seven ends.

So far behind were Clacton, that one rink declined to play their last two ends as the arrears were too great to pull back.

The rink scores (Jacks names first) were: Jim Murray, John Miller, Denis Cooper, Bert Savage 23, Reg Anthony, Wally Lee, Ken Woods, Ron Marrable 12 (19 ends only played). John Lucy, Colin Flexman, Alan Pearce, Richard Murphy 28, Richard Roffe, Len Maton, John Gardner, Keith Baldwin 17.

n In the Champion of Champions Singles final, Falcon's David Gildersleve (England trialist and semi-finalist in the National Champion of Champions) defeated Len Goodman of Havering by 21 shots to seven.

Goodman was never really in contention and, even though he played well, he could not contain Gildersleve who was in the sort of sparkling form that has seen him take this title five times in the past eight years.

In the final matches of Division Two of the County League, wins for West Mersea and Turpins over Walton and the Jacks Centre respectively saw them promoted to Division One, replacing the relegated Havering and Tilbury clubs.

The County is now preparing for its first ever appearance in the Liberty Trophy final at Melton Mowbray this Sunday (April 9), where they will meet Lancashire, who are also making their first final appearance.

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