Smithers is quick on the draw for Worthing

NATIONAL FOURS: With 75-year-old Bill Smithers displaying quality drawing he and Worthing colleagues Steve Hawkes, Eric Pidgeon and Keith Cruise had a 24-10 win at 18 ends away to Dave Bligh of Palmerston and they now play club colleagues Sam Ives, Gordon Jones, John Schools and Bob Austin.

After a nightmare journey through the floods in the Chichester area, Worthing's Gordon Archibald, Mervyn Hilton, Brian Dunne and John Dicker were sunk 30-6 at 17 ends by John Norman's Victory squad.

NATIONAL PAIRS: Faced with a possible six home games in order to reach the area final, Worthing's Peter Tandy and Chris Rolph cleared the third of those hurdles when they sent Steve Prior and Bruce Marks back to the Isle of Wight beaten 26-5 after 18 ends. Rolph produced several conversions which made the match that much easier for the home pair.

Arun's Robin Armstrong and Antony Bull had to take their home tie against Worthing's John Schools and Brian Dunne to Victory. The match was close for 15 ends after Bull drew two shots within an inch of the jack when five bowls, all within 18 inches, were down on the end. The Arun pair eventually won 23-15 at 20 ends.

Brothers Roger and Colin Taylor were 15-10 down after 15 ends at Eastbourne against G. Cooper and W. Taylor, from Horsham, but turned the game round with 3,4,1,1 and won 19-18. They now visit Eric South and Basil Holding.

Peter Wood and Pat Flood got through 22-20 on an extra end at home to D. Roberts and R. Tappenden and now go to Adur to play Mike Patching and Phil Hillsden.

Martin Biggleston and Derek Dyer had a 26-12 home win over Don Kent and Tony Bacon and now visit Adrian Finnie and Dave Ovett.

Chris Reynolds and Mike Harris had a 19-14 home win over Alan Ridington and Stan Aris and now play club colleagues John Durrant and Dave Hesketh who were 21-11 winners away to John Chubb and George Shaw.