Observer bowls glory for Mann

GWENN Mann avenged last year's defeat in the final of the Observer Cup ladies' singles with a commanding victory over defending champion Mary Bray at the Sidley Martlets greens.
By The Newsroom
Published 26th Aug 2004, 15:50 BST
Updated 7th Jun 2018, 20:09 BST

The Bexhill Women bowler played some good bowls to see off her Polegrove Ladies opponent 22-8 and erase the memory of the previous year's agonising 21-20 reverse.

Nigel Hooper came within a whisker of clinching a double double. The Martlets ace, who won both competitions last time out, took the men's singles by scoring 13 unanswered shots to run out a 21-7 winner against Phil Saunders, but just missed out on repeating his success in the Stan Howe Men's Pairs despite a thrilling fightback.

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Holders Hooper and Terry Hodd seemed well out of the running when they trailed 13-3 at nine ends against John Orchard and Gordon Moore but some impressive bowling saw them cut the deficit to 20-18 by the 19th end. Orchard and Moore were not to be denied though and hung on to triumph 23-20.

Denise Hodd retained the Ladies' Stan Howe Pairs, this time in partnership with daughter Lyndsey, who won 19-15 against Bexhill Women duo Marion Boswell and Lorraine Kemp who also finished runners-up last year.

The trophies and prize money were presented by Jean Howe, and the annual event was organised by Orchard.