Norfolk met old rivals Lincolnshire in the Norfolk County Women's Indoor Bowling Association quarter-final and sheer grit and determination saw them through to a 106-100 victory.

Norfolk met old rivals Lincolnshire in the Norfolk County Women's Indoor Bowling Association

quarter-final and sheer grit and determination saw them through to a 106-100 victory.

Norfolk were comfortably in front for the first half of the game, 15 shots up at seven ends, and still 10 up at nine ends. They did not score on any rink on the 12th end and Lincs leapt to a 12-shot lead and kept the lead until the 16th end, when Norfolk just edged ahead.

From then on it was very close, level at 19 ends and one down at 20 ends. With three ends to be played and four rinks finished, the score was level again. Marion Himpleman's four took two on their 20th end, while Louise Hannant and her ladies finished with another two, putting Norfolk four up. Himpleman held shot, when the opposing skip fired and killed the end.

On the replayed end Norfolk held two, the Lincs skip fired and was just a whisker wide. With her second bowl, she played weight again, this time being a touch narrow, and Norfolk took two shots to seal the victory.

Norfolk now play Yorkshire at Newark on Saturday, February 20, at 2pm.

Rink scores: Norfolk first - Brenda Mark, Geraldine Reeve, Mary Johnson, Carole Baker 21; Cath Smith 13. Wendy Bryant, Mary Watson, Sue Mobbs, Melanie Haylett 16; Olive Wells 11. Pat Clarke, Linda Bennett, Christine Webb, Jayne Roylance 17; Pennt Strong 13. Ann Leverett, Shirley Chapman, Pat Fountain, Louise Hannant 18; Sheila King 19. Anne Read, Beryl Whitehouse, pat Baker, Marion Himpleman 20; Gloria Haney 23. Esther Withers, Mary Watson, Liz McMillan, Sue Batchelor 14; Amy Monkhouse 21.

t In the singles zone finals of national competitions, North Walsham's Jayne Roylance won a one sided affair against Carole Baker, of Diss, 21-8.

t Ros Sutherland and Carol Pollington, Norfolk IBC, played Betty Brown and Melanie Haylett, Acle and had quite a tight game for the first 10 ends, but a six from the Norfolk pair saw them take command of the game and they finished 25-8.

t Brenda Mark, Maureen Gulliver and Pam Barrett-Ward (Diss) met Lavinia Rudd, Shirley Freezer and Sheila Kenny (Pentney) in a triples match.

The Pentney triples' normal lead was unavailable for this round and was certainly missed. Pentney won the first two ends, but the Diss three settled and bowled extremely well to take the match 23-15.

t Anne Read, Kay Carrick, Laurie Millbank and Joyce Webster, Norfolk IBC played Joy Pearson, Gwyn Xuereh, Geraldine Reeve and Marion Himpleman (Acle) and had a very competitive game for the first 17 ends, with Acle just in front or level for 14 ends.

Norfolk took four over the next two ends, Acle replied with a three, but Norfolk took the last four ends to take the game 21-15.

t In their latest county friendly against Northamptonshire played at Desborough IBC, Norfolk won 135-105.

Rink scores (Norfolk names first): P Earnshaw, B A Smith, W Pattee, R Cutting 20 L Harrison 19; B Sayer, G Middleton, M Cushing, V Moore 22 R Somerton 13; D Cole, G Hobart, J Wines, J Hardy 18 T Nunn 25; M Green, J Lacey, D Riches, P Hurren 21 N Gibb 21; M Shreeve, D Boswell, A Cude, R Brinded 30 G Hunt 13; B

Pratt, R Rudling, E Frost, S Allcock 24 G Warren 14.