Hove Edge win Rose Bowl

Hove Edge were receiving 10 start from their opponents but their advantage had been reduced to four after the first four games.

Mark Barnett and Graham Halliday gave Hill Crest the start they needed with identical 21-11 victories against Tom Gasson and Richard Hopley.

Scott Haynes had a chance to boost Hill Crest’s chances even further when he turned an 11-4 deficit into a 15-11 lead against Jason Barker.

He was still ahead by 18-16 but could not hold on as Barker ran out to win by 21-18.

Alan Bray’s 21-10 success against Phil Chalkley ensured that Hove Edge still held the advantage after the first four,

Hove Edge won three of the next four games but still lost ground following Neil Conn’s 21-2 result against John Beverley, which gave Hill Crest a handsome 15 point lead.

Graham Jackson recovered some ground for Hove Edge with his 21-11 win against Alan Forrest and John Holden followed with a 21-14 victory over Paul Bridges.

In a closer game, Steve Rothwell led by 7-4 against Lyndon Harris but then fell behind by 10-15. After the scores were level at 15, Harris again led by 18-16 before Rothwell ran out, eating further into the Hill Crest lead.

With two games remaining Hill Crest held a four point lead. Their hopes were extinguished by John Butterworth, who after holding a narrow 7-5 lead over Mark Senior, then put together a break of 10 on his way to a 21-9 victory.

The final game between Hill Crest’s Gary Murphy and Nigel Firth was closely contested but had no further influence on the match.

The scores were tied at nine, 11 and 14 before Firth eventually claimed victory by 21-18.

Scores (Hill Crest first): S.Haynes 18 J.Barker 21; G.Halliday 21 R.Hopley 11; P.Chalkley 10 A.Bray 21; M.Barnett 21 T.Gasson 11; A.Forrest 11 G.Jackson 21; P.Bridges 14 J.Holden 21; L.Harris 18 S.Rothwell 21; N.Conn 21 J.Beverly 2; M.Senior 9 J.Butterworth 21; G.Murphy 18 N.Firth 21.