The men's pairs, sponsored by Palace Bingo, got underway at the 62nd annual Great Yarmouth Bowls Festival yesterday - and produced some very interesting early games.

The men's pairs, sponsored by Palace Bingo, got underway at the 62nd annual Great Yarmouth Bowls Festival yesterday - and produced some very interesting early games.

P and K Rayner (Downham) led King's Lynn's G Todd-Hunter and D Camp 12-1 after five ends - only to be pegged back to 12-all at 11 ends.

The scores were still level at 15-all after 14 ends, when a two-one-one-two run put the Rayners in control again. The King's Lynn duo responded with a one-one-three but it wasn't quite enough as they went out 21-20.

The much fancied M Turner and T Jermy from Heartsease overpowered D Shurman and M Elliott (Lakeside and Acle) with two fives and three three's to win 28-15. They then played Browston's P Smith and M Parker, who won 15-14 with 15 singles.

Mixed Club pair J Tuttle and R Mitchell were trailing 16-15 to Yarmouth's N Green and M Cook before scoring two singles to win 17-16 while Acle's S Elliott and D Roswell eased through 19-10 over Lowestoft's P Kemp and I Platford.

M Nicholson and B Taylor went 17-9 down to Mundford's D Gaught and A Allan after 13 ends and trailed 18-13 after 15 ends - but then won the last six ends to win 23-18.

Their joy was short-lived, however, as they fell to a surprise 19-17 defeat to Caister's J Symonds and G Haylett at the next hurdle.

P Raspberry and G Roe (Wisbech and Wilford) won nine of the 17 ends played against Thetford's J Downie and P Scott - but were shell-shocked by an eight and a six to concede 24-11.

NBC's C Knights and T Prior won 12 of the 21 ends played against Diss' R Watkins and C Manning by dropping two fours but lost 15-14.

Chris and Wayne Willgress (NBC), fresh from their defeat in a thrilling men's fours final, eased through against Hemsby's J Carr and R Phillip 21-17 to play Lowestoft's S Smith and G Fellingham - who led 13-1 after eight ends then won the last four ends to win 25-13.

Last year's champions from Suffolk, R Denny and A Chambers, beat Reepham's Wilkinsons 17-11 and Blundeston's K Dyer and P Hurren 21-13 before continuing their run against S Smith and G Fellingham. They started strongly to lead 13-6 after 12 ends and never looked back, running out 18-13 winners.

Other scores: J Hunter 23, K Saward 13. J Cater 27, B Perrett 16. C Boon 23, C Hipperson 8. N Roberts 21, P Boldero 13. R Thacker 22, C Ward 13. R Allan 27, K Copeland 8. D Roswell 22, J Willgress 14. P Scott 19, P Crouch 15.