MARLOW hosted a competitive squad of players from the Friends of English Bowling in the last of their Centenary match series last week.

The match soon warmed up and leading the charge for Marlow was Peter Jennings, Sue Burden, Doug Pounds and skip Peter Barltrop who had a super start.

The quartet were 8-1 up after four ends and continued in that vein to control affairs and take the game 29-11 for the top rink award.

Close behind was Elizabeth Bamford, Martin Timberell, Alex Hamill and Bob Broad who were level at 4-4 after six ends but pushed ahead, helped by a six in the 14th end to gain a fine 24-10 victory.

Skip Mags Shelley, John Battersby, Sue Moore and Peter Butler were being beaten early on, 9-1 down after six ends, but then came a big rally by the home side. A total of 14 shots in seven ends saw them power back to win with plenty to spare 21-14.

The closest match was taking place on the rink of Jean Barltrop, Don Isaacs, Pam Butler and Alan Burden. The game turned tail several times and eventually ended up 20-20 in the 19th end, but Marlow edged ahead with a single shot in each of the last two ends to help finish the day with a winning sore of 129-97.

The attention now turns to Finals Day at Marlow which takes place this weekend.

A trip for Marlow ladies to rivals Bassetsbury proved a successful one as they won on all three rinks in a triples encounter.

The top rink went to Sue Moore, Lesley Burgess and Jean Barltrop. The trio were ahead early on an took an 8-3 lead in the fourth end but got caught in the eighth at 10-10, before kicking on towards the close for a 19-13 success.

Lesley Brown, Sue Burden and skip Lynda Taplin were behind after seven ends but turned the game on its head and completed a 15-10 victory.

Geraldine Perrin skipped Elizabeth Bamford and Angela Moss to a smart 15-13 win despite being behind after 14 ends to give the ladies a useful 49-36 victory overall.