East Tuddenham are the new Bure League champions after a resounding 10-0 home win against last year's champions Halvergate.

A good result for the visitors would have made them odds on favourites to retain the title but they failed to match the home side in a match that decided what had become a two horse title race.

Jean Woods, Gerald Potter and Chris Mann opened for East Tuddenham with a 20-11 win against Nigel Willard, Jason Woods and Robbie Lamb and Elaine Willies, John Jeffery and Melvin Woods made it a perfect first half for the home side beating David Knights, Morgan Warnes and Simon Warnes 17-9.

After the break Halvergate saw their hopes of hanging on to the title disappear completely as Gillian Amos, Robin Amos and Simon Willies recorded a heavy 19-6 win against Mike Tate, Roy Walker and Keith Cooke while Albert Palgrave, Chris Turner and John Turner beat Ray Lamb, Jackie Smith and David Lamb 11-10. The result leaves Halvergate 22 points behind East Tuddenham and with just two games outstanding they cannot now catch the leaders but they are assured of finishing as runners-up.

Both teams are set to clash once again in the Bure Cup Final with the first leg scheduled for Tuesday, April 25 at East Tuddenham and the second leg on the following evening at Halvergate's Upton venue. East Tuddenham will start as favourites to complete the double but Halvergate will be determined to salvage something from a Bure League season that has seen both teams look a class above any other in the league.

Bob Carter's 4-0 home win against Connaught confirmed them as the new Tens League champions ahead of last year's winners Hempnall. In a league where total shots decide the league points Bob Carter were already out of sight of their visitors from Attleborough by the half way stage as Jason Woods and Simon Willies stormed to a 38-2 win against former county players Diana and Bill Adcock while Nigel Willard, Rob Howlett and John Turner added a 20-5 win against David Flatt's triple. In the second half Jamie Forster and Gary Best piled on the agony with a 21-5 win against Elaine and Bob Oatway but Mike Smail, Mike Minshull and Joe LiRocchi did well to beat Melvin Woods' Carter triple 13-12 but by then the maximum four points, and the league title, were safely in Bob Carter's hands.

The SMPT World Masters was played in Belfast at the weekend with Jack Pye Norfolk's only entry. After losing two of his first three games he recovered well with two big wins to qualify for the main competition knock-out rounds. That proved to be the end of the road for Pye though as he was beaten 8-4 by Ireland's Damian McAllister.

The Norfolk County Short Mat Bowls Association is saddened to learn of the death of Mick Murrell formerly of Bob Carter, Norfolk and England.

In 1995 Mick Murrell was part of the Norfolk rink that lifted the English National Fours Championship title with George Clarke, Carol Aggas and John Aggas and went on to become a regular England player winning a World Championship Fours title in 1998 with David Harris of West Mids, Phil Atkins of Devon and Angela Mortimer of East Tuddenham & Norfolk.

He was also a runner-up in the National Fours in 1996/97. Mick won many titles and cups with Bob Carter during their 'dream team' era before retiring from the sport.

Mick had a reputation as one of the bowls circuit's real nice guys and he will long be remembered by his team-mates and everyone who came into contact with him at club, county and national level.