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In an epic game, Maldon bowler Andrew Squire has again won the prestigious Essex County Bowling Association singles competition, with a victory over Derek Wheeler of Colchester West End BC.

Squire, two times a winner in 2000 and 2002, had probably his toughest game of the season in this competition, during a match that enthralled the large crowd for more than two and a half hours, with both players equally determined to be crowned champion.

This was a match that went to 29 ends, with the lead changing hands throughout. Both players executing the draw shot with consistent accuracy - illustrated by the fact that at 12 ends, the score was only 7-7.

Squire did manage to gain the upper hand and at one point had a five-shot advantage - only to see that slowly eroded away by Wheeler, who then continued the pressure until he held a slender two-shot lead.

The game continued with the same nerve-racking tension until Wheeler led 20-19 and the end of the game was near - the first player to 21 shots claims the victory.

At the 28th end, Squire held the two shots he needed but, with Wheeler's last bowl, he moved the jack to reduce the count to just one for a score line of 20-20.

Squire had to dig deep for this last end and produced a perfect bowl that rested just on the front of the jack. Despite Wheeler's best attempts to dislodge this shot, he could not do so and Squire won by the narrowest of margins, 21-20.

Squire's name is one of only a handful in the elite band of "three-times county single winners" and this victory was even more fitting, occurring in the centenary year of both Maldon BC and Essex County Bowling Association.

Squire now returns to Worthing to represent Essex in the defence of his national singles title won in 2007.

7:18am Thursday 7th August 2008

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