2015
ECBA RINKS
This year's championships were hosted by
Suffolk at Needham Market on Sunday, 26th April.
There were a total of 35 teams competing for the title, divided
up into 7 groups of 5, with the group winners and the best runner-up
qualifying for the knockout stages.
Group 1
Although it was one of the day's tougher groups it produced one
of only two teams to win all their group games. Barking B took
4 wins out of 4 to head the group, with second place going to
Burstall who finished on 5 points.
Group 2
Reepham Robins won the group with 3 wins out of 4, finishing
a point ahead of Littleport VH, despite losing to them.
Group 3
Witnesham headed the group and although they were unbeaten they
only won 2 games, while drawing the other 2. Occold finished
second on 5 points.
Group 4
Three narrow wins and one narrow loss gave Kenninghall the group
win with 6 points with Occold B finishing a point behind.
Group 5
The closest fought group of the day saw Claydon going into their
final game knowing that they needed a win and 7 shots to qualify.
In the end they just did it, beating Over into second place by
a single shot.
Group 6
The other team to take 4 wins out of 4 were group winners Knodishall
A, while second placed Kelsale A took 3 wins but also managed
to accumulate 37 shots which was good enough to seem them through
the the Knockout Stages as the best runner-up.
Group 7
The final game in the group would decide which one of 3 ways
the group win would go. If either Kelsale B and Tollgate won
they would take the group, while a draw would see That's All
Folkes through on their superior shots. But it was Kelsale that
took the win, giving them 6 points with That's All Folkes runners-up
on 5.
Quarter Finals
Barking B v Reepham Robins
Reepham were off to the best start and led 4-0 after 2 ends,
but Barking clawed their way back to draw level at 5-5, going
into the last end. However despite Barking's momentum it was
Reepham that came back to take the game 6-5.
Witnesham v Kenninghall
A four shot haul on the first end in Kenninghall's favour set
the tone for the game. Witnesham were never closer than 2 shots
behind as Kenninghall came home 9-5 winners.
Claydon v Knodishall A
Claydon made the best start and were 4-0 up in 2 ends, but Knodishall
squared the game on the next. Two more for Claydon were negated
over the next 2 ends and it was all square with one end to go.
But having twice drawn level Knodishall could never get their
noses in front, they lost the last end, and the game went to
Claydon 7-6.
Kelsale B v Kelsale A
'B' were off to the best start, taking 2 shots on each of the
first 2 ends. 'A' took the next 2, but only with a shot apiece,
and that was as close as they got. The next 2 ends went to 'B',
giving them a 4 shot lead with an end to go and they were able
to take the win despite dropping the last end. The final score
6-3 to 'B'.
Semi-Finals
Claydon v Kelsale B
A 'to and fro' game saw Kelsale
go 2 up after 2 and Claydon 3-2 ahead after another 2. Kelsale
took 2 shots on the fifth end to retake the lead, but the 6th
end was the killer for Claydon as took 4 to take a 3 shot lead
into the last. And with the jack pushed back Kelsale could do
no better than one shot as Claydon took the game 7-5.
Reepham Robins v Kenninghall
All all Norfolk affair saw the first 2 ends shared and the game
level at 2-2. But the next 2 were decisive for the outcome of
the game as Reepham took first 2 shots on the third and then
4 on the fourth end to 8-2. However Kenninghall got 3 back on
the next and 1 more on the penultimate end to get within 2 shots.
But that was where the comeback ended. Reepham took 2 on the
last to finish 10-6 winners.
Final
Reepham Robins (Stephen, Peter,
Matt & Doris Frost) v Claydon (Jim & Sally Goodrich
and Sue & Steve Isles)
End 1 Claydon opened better, with their early woods finishing
just short and proving impossible to beat, Claydon were off to
a great start with 4 shots.
End 2 Another good start for Claydon is negated by Reepham's
No.2, but Claydon's No.3 draws shot, the skip plays Reepham's
best wood away and Claydon take 2 to lead 6-0
End 3 Again a better start for Claydon and although the
jack gets pushed back it stays with them, with Reepham lacking
any back woods and neither skip able to get anywhere close, it's
another 3 to Claydon who are now 9-0 up.
End 4 Reepham really need something to happen, but again
Claydon make the early running. However the Reepham skip's final
shot to take out shot wood finally gets them on the scoreboard
with 2. Claydon lead 9-2
End 5 This time Claydon are short. The jack is back and
surrounded by 4 Reepham woods, but a running shot from Claydon's
No.3 breaks the head up and although the wood goes off they lose
only 2 shots. Claydon now lead 9-4.
End 6 Now it's Reepham that need to break up the head
as Claydon pile their woods in just behind the jack. They fail
to do so and Claydon punish them with repeated draws to the jack,
finally ending up with a 6 shot haul to give them an unassailable
15-4 lead, and taking an emphatic win with an end to spare.

Winners
Claydon |

Runners-Up
Reepham Robins |

Semi Finalists
Kenninghall |

Semi Finalists
Kelsale |
updated 27/04/14 |