Denise Collins proved the Hoxne hero with two wins to help the hosts to a 2-2 draw against Walberswick Bell in the Suffolk Coastal League on Sunday.
Collins and Steven Penny won the opening pairs 13-2 in quick time before she paired up with Jackie Johnson for a 13-12 victory in the final game. Johnson had lost her opening game 13-5 with Clive Baxter, while Penny went down 13-5 in his second match, partnering Chris Johnson.
A lack of big-match experience proved crucial as Le Diss Sportif slumped to a 4-1 defeat in the Knights Rosettes Knockout Plate at Drayton last Thursday. The Diss team held their own against Division Two side Bob Carter Sports and led in all five games. But the hosts held their nerve and gradually overhauled their Division Three visitors.
Lindsay, Adam and Steven Penny won ten of their 16 ends but saw an 11-1 lead turn into a 13-12 defeat, while Dave Smith, Liz Rudling and Mick Clarke pulled back from four points adrift to lead 9-8 before going down 13-10.
The doubles all proved close affairs but Sportif's only celebrations came in the final end of the last game when Clarke cleared the holding boule before pointing in for a 13-12 victory.
Darby Rosettes Norfolk LeagueKnights Rosettes Knockout Plate First Round: Drayton Bob Carter Sports 4 Le Diss Sportif 1 (aggregate 64-53)
Triples (Diss names first): L, A & S Penny lost
12-13 to A & P Hardy, A Bardwell; D Smith, L Rudling, M Clarke lost 10-13 to J & R Brown, T Bradley.
Doubles: L & S Penny lost 10-13 to A & P Hardy; A Penny, D Smith lost 8-13 to H Bradley, A Bardwell; L Rudling. M Clarke beat T Bradley , P Amos 13-12.
Second round draw: (includes) Eccles Les Garnier v Diss Vikings (tie to be played July 10).
Suffolk Coastal League Blyth Division:Hoxne PC 2 Walberswick Bell 2 (aggregate 36-40)
Hoxne names first: D Collins, S Penny beat N Hunt, K Goodchild 13-2; C Baxter, J Johnson lost 5-13 to D & K Goodchild; C Johnson, S Penny lost 5-13 to W Webb, M Aldrich; J Johnson, D Collins beat J & T Kohn 13-12.
Bury LeagueAC Leigh Ltd Division Two:Coney Weston Swan B 2 Coney Weston Swan A 3.
The full article contains 407 words and appears in Diss Express newspaper.