Norfolk duo Mervyn King and Jamie Chestney gave everything to England's bid to retain the British indoor bowls team title in Swansea at the weekend – and were gutted when the Scots stole it from the proud holders.

But the atmosphere soured when one of the English skips refused to shake hands with his opponents after the Scottish team invaded the green to celebrate before the etiquette of the situation had been observed.

Playing third, King turned in his usual sound performance throughout the series, helping Nick Brett to record two fine wins in three matches, their only defeat coming against Ireland.

Brett's quartet opened with a 26-9 win over a Welsh rink skipped by Commonwealth Games champion Rob Weale, lost 19-12 to Brendan Thompson, who had BBC commentator David Corkill at third man. They finished the series in style with a 21-9 victory over five-times world champion Alex Marshall.

King's young Gallow clubmate Chestney, who recently moved to Devon, skipped his rink to two victories, piling up the shots against Wales and Ireland but slipping up against Scotland.

Chestney, supported by Geordie Brett Arkley, Paul Simpson, and Northants ace Neil McKee, beat Wales, 30-15, and Ireland, 24-9, before losing to Scotland, 23-10.

England, who demolished the host country in the opening match, 137-108, struggled a bit against Ireland, but still won 105-94, and embarked on the final session unbeaten – then proceeded to establish what looked like a winning lead against Scotland.

In a close encounter, England finished strongly, and led by seven shots with four ends to play, but unaccountably dropped eight shots, lost 105-106, and said goodbye to the Hilton Trophy.

'It was hard to bear,' said Chestney, whose rink conceded four shots on the last end.