EXIT ON AN HISTORIC DAY

STORRINGTON Bowls Club's Bottlegreen National mixed fours finalists fell at the first hurdle at Beach House Park on Saturday morning. Lead David Bain, second Edna Streater, three Pauline Bain and skip Ron Bishop were beaten 21-13 by a Cheam four from Surrey, the eventual semi-finalists, comprising Shirley Gibbs with Diana, Gareth and Mike McDonagh.

Most of Storrington's 130 members turned up to support and enjoy the spirit in which the match was played, on a day when history was made in the 101st EBA championships at Worthing. It was the first time any competition involving women had been included.

Storrington had won through six rounds and finally defeated Sidley Martlets to become Sussex champions and to reach this stage '” in which more teams than previously, 16, contested the first round of the mixed fours finals.

David Bain and Ron Bishop came to Beach House Park in the year of receiving their county badges. And Bishop drew a perfect last delivery to give Storrington a two-shot lead on the first end.

Cheam won the next six ends but on an exciting eighth, Storrington trimmed a shot off the deficit to trail 7-4 when, despite two fine deliveries by David Bain, Bishop had to fire to disperse a three-down lie.

Another three ends passed with Cheam having the better of it. After 11 ends the score was 10-5. On the 12th end the shot changed hands bowl after bowl. In the end it was a measure, which Cheam won by a 16th of an inch.

On the 14th end, Storrington thought their luck was to change. Bishop drew the shot followed by opposing skip Mike McDonagh knocking a Storrington bowl into the count to make it 14-7.

The following end the sheepdogs were called (the bowls in the head were all over the place) but it resulted in Cheam getting 3 shots. The 18th end was a good one for Storrington. Pauline Bain played with weight to remove two Cheam bowls, Mike McDonagh fired twice and missed, to leave it 18-12.

But two shots on the 20th took Cheam 20-13 up and sealed Storrington's fate. On the last, Storrington held five shots and were hoping to make the score look more presentable, when with their last bowl, Cheam drew the shot.

l Members of Worthing, Homefield Park and Beach Park clubs are to meet in concern over their loss of council home playing facilities and relative pricing of season tickets owing to the annual presence of the EBA National Finals.