Norfolk Ladies marched into the second round of the Atherley Trophy with a 137-91 win over Leicestershire.

They began tentatively – one up after the first end, seven down after the second – but grew in confidence from then on and never looked like losing.

Jackie Andrews, Anne Read, Joyce Webster and Carol Pollington started off slowly as they found the green and were 5-3 up at eight ends.

But from then on their opponents, skipped by M Toseland, were only allowed to score two singles, as the Norfolk quartet swept to a 31-5 victory in an exceptionally fine display of bowling

Rebecca Carter, Sue Mobbs, Barbara Meeks and Melanie Haylett were never behind as they, too, turned on the pressure and won 15 of the 21 ends to return a 31-11 card.

Rebecca Field, Pat Last and Pat Baker, ably skipped by Marion Himpleman, always had the edge on their opponents, led by P Stevenson.

They played a steady game against some tough opponents and did very well to take the game 20-12.

Carole Baker's rink of Brenda Mark, Pearl Wilson and Mary Johnson had a tough fight against K Fudger's rink, but held on to take their game 18-16.

In Jayne Roylance's enforced absence Geraldine Reeve led Louise Knights, Beverley Masters and Maureen Emmentt in an uphill struggle against S Sharpe and were 6-5 up at eight ends.

Their opponents bowled superbly, however, to take the next eight ends, but a seven on the penultimate end enabled the Norfolk four to lose by only four shots – 19-23.

Ann Leverett, Eve Crisp, Pat Fountain, Louise Hannant battled all the way to be level at 20 ends against B Lewis, but were unlucky to drop a six to go down 18-24.