Park rink qualifies for national fours

They booked their place with a scintillating victory over the favourites from Falaise in the Sussex area final at Denton Island.

On paper the Hastings-based quartet were more experienced and had greater depth in quality, and after 15 ends they had opened up a seemingly commanding 15-5 advantage.

To make matters worse, both Wright and Holland were suffering the effects of a 'flu bug, although 15-year-old Holland had an excellent game and helped stem the flow of Falaise shots early on.

Starting on the 11th end, there was a remarkable turnaround and a drawn five on the 14th left the locals only one shot adrift at 14-15. At this point Wright and Colin Carrie produced some excellent deliveries to exert pressure on their opponents and the Falaise skip Steve Jeapes was faced with some difficult shots to play end after end.

Then it was the turn of Kevin Carrie to excel, showing the form that earned him a place in the Sussex Liberty Trophy team earlier in the season and Park took control of the game.

They went into the last end 20-18 ahead and Wright managed to draw a front toucher to kill off the contest. Although another excellent bowl from Jeapes took the shot, he was unable to count two and Park chalked up an historic 20-19 victory.

Wright said: "The Falaise team had a much tougher draw throughout the competition and were easily the favourites. However, I always believe statistics are like a lamppost to a drunken man - more for leaning on than illumination! Egerton Park is such a well run club; it deserves to be represented at national finals and now we have two teams through in the men's fours and the mixed fours."

The national fours final is at Melton Mowbray on March 27.

Wright has also advanced into the quarter-finals of the Sussex Champion of Champions singles after an exciting see-saw 21-18 win over Ricky Hobbs (Arun). Wright will travel to play Alex Parsons (Wealden) or Tom Campbell (Field Place, Worthing) in the last eight.

An easier way to the quarter-finals was found by Kevin Carrie in the Sussex Under-25 singles when he won 21-0 at home to Dave Anderson of King Alfred. Holland is also through to the same stage and a home tie with old adversary Adrian Finnie of Preston BC.