BANBURY Central came agonisingly close to becoming the Bowls England Women’s National Top Club champions as they lost the final on shot difference.

Pam Shepherd and Caroline Campion won the pairs in the final at Leamington Spa and there was also success in the four of Melody Sykes, June Bone, Brenda Havard and Mary Tee.

But Egham, from Surrey, retained their title with big wins over Carole Galletely in the singles and in the triples against Gill Hunt, Sue Waring and Anne Norton.

Banbury, whose team was completed by reserves Gill Sharpe and Eloise Jones, beat clubs from Derbyshire and Leicestershire to reach the final.

Carterton, Oxfordshire’s representatives in the men’s competition, beat Norfolk to reach the last four, but Garston (Hertfordshire) proved too strong.

Gosforth, from Northumberland, won the final.

RESULTS

National Top Club

Women’s – quarter-final: Banbury Central bt Stute (Derbs) 3-1. Semi-final: Banbury Central bt Kingscroft (Leics) 3-1. Final: Egham BC (Surrey) bt Banbury Central 2-2. Rink scores – Singles: 8-21. Pairs: 20-14. Triples: 15-28. Fours: 28-18.

Men’s – quarter-final: Carterton bt Norfolk 3-2. Semi-final: Garston (Herts) bt Carterton 3-2.