THE English Bowling Association fours championship has gone back to Banbury after a lapse of 87 years.

Alan Prew, father and son George and Greg Moon, and skip Les Gillett of Banbury Borough won the title at Worthing yesterday when they beat Summerhill's Keith Woods, Mike Bennett, Mike McGreevy and Richard Train 20-13 in the final.

Gillett received the cup from the EBA president John Ades and the players collected cheques for £300 each.

Becoming champions was an outstanding achievement by all four players with Gillett deserving the honour of being in the prestigious position of skip.

After 14 ends they had led 16-6 and although the Northumberland team hit back, Gillett's men kept their cool and ran out deserved 20-13 victors.

It is the fifth time Oxfordshire has won the national fours. Banbury were successful in 1911, Oxford City & County in 1948 and '51 and Summertown in 1988.

In their morning semi-final, the Borough players took a long time to find their touch against Bolton.

After nine ends, they trailed 12-5. But they recovered in style to win the next nine and go through 24-15.

Martin Crellin, Dave Wedge and Norman Wallace of Summertown are through in the preliminary round of the triples after a 19-12 victory over Boscombe Cliff.

The first nine ends were tough with Summertown 9-7 down but they rallied to lead 17-10 after 15 ends and were never in trouble again.

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