They defeated Suffolk 46-39 at Cambridge Chesterton thanks to a resounding 32-15 victory for the newly-crowned British fours champions from Peterborough & District, Sarah Newson, Julie Masters, Val Newson and Catherine Popple.

The other rink of Tina Webb (Papworth), Jane Baldwin (St Ives) and Whittlesey Manor pair Wendy Lutkin and Pat Reynolds were beaten 14-24.

The county championship semi-finals are being staged at Somersham tomorrow, with the winners of the mainstream events qualifying for the national finals at Leamington starting later this month.

Lutkin faces a hectic schedule having qualified in four events, with club-mate Pat Reynolds and St Ives’ Jane Baldwin in three.

The county finals are being hosted by Whittlesey Manor next Saturday.

It was rather fitting that county president Joan Meadows (Perkins) should win the county’s Patrons Cup, defeating Sheila Craig (Conservatives) in the final.

n HUNTS’ first qualifiers for the Bowls England men’s national championships at Worthing next month have been decided.

The Belvedere trio of Tristan Morton, Martin Durber and Trevor Collins were comfortable 21-9 winners over Lindsey Swannell’s White Hart rink in one semi-final of the triples, while White Hart’s Simon Leader, Jamie Reynolds and Nicky Brett defeated Cliff Watson’s Peterborough trio of Jeff Clipston and Brian Bassam 18-12 in the other.

n HUNTS men face the big Middleton Cup showdown against section leaders Norfolk at Whittlesey Manor today.

Hunts have to win to keep alive their hopes of reaching the quarter-finals, but even then they could be overhauled by Essex, who take on Suffolk.

Hunts rinks:

Barry Deller, Brian Brett, Ian McWhinney, Ean Morton (all White Hart).

Nigel Eagle, James Price (both Parkway), Simon Law, Stuart Popple (both Belvedere).

Mark Campbell (Sawtry), James Harford (Parkway), Trevor Collins (Belvedere), Nicky Brett (White Hart).

David Hare (Somersham), Kevin Warwick, Ryan O'Flanagan, Barry Kitto (all Eynesbury).

Simon Leader (White Hart), Alex Walton (Eynesbury), Tristan Morton, Martin Durber (both Belvedere).

Neil & Lyndsey Swannell, Wayne Bailey (all White Hart), Robbie Coleman (Eynesbury).

n SIX of Hunts’ Middleton Cup team – Ean and Tristan Morton, Simon Law, James Price, Alex Walton and James Harford – are included in the Hunts Under 30’s team to play Bedfordshire at Maulden tomorrow.

The squad is completed by Lee Welsford, Gavin Jinks, Scott Wilson, James Bowers, James Warwick and Joseph Stevens.

n HUNTS were pipped by three shots (116-119) by Bedfordshire in last weekend’s Eastern Counties League match at Somersham.

Results

Hunts 116, Beds 119 (Hunts rinks only):

Executive rink – Brian Worthington, Len Shaw, Graham Clark, Geoff Barlow lost 12-24.

Ivor Carter, David Pond, Liam Whelen, Bob Price lost 17-19.

Andy Walton, Kevin Warwick, Robbie Coleman, Barry Kitto lost 20-21.