VIVIENNE Mansell did herself and Dorset proud by reaching the final of the English Women's Indoor BA's Champion of Champions event at Nottingham.
It was the first national final for the Isle of Purbeck bowler who looked as though she would capture the trophy when building a 12-3 lead after eight ends against Carole Baker.
However, the complexion of the game changed when Baker lengthened the jack which helped the international from Diss, Norfolk, to take seven ends on the trot and go 19-12 ahead.
Mansell fought back tenaciously cutting the gap to 20-18 before Baker clinched the honours 21-18 on the 21st end.
Mansell said: "I knew she was going to be lethal on long jacks, so I kept her to short ones to begin with after I won the toss but when she had the jack it put me under pressure.
"But I had a marvellous time and my
form was really good throughout the two
days."
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Following her excellent performance to reach the semi-finals of the blue riband singles, when losing to eventual champion Carol Ashby at Basingstoke last season, Mansell must have done her chances of an England recall a power of good at Nottingham having made her international debut three years ago.
Mansell thought her best technical display came in the semi-final where she swept through 21-12 after racing 15-3 in front on nine ends against Sharon Hall (Desborough, Northamptonshire).
Earlier the Dorset Atherley Trophy skip had shown her battling qualities when coming from 15-12 behind to beat Zoe Eagles (York) 21-17 before outgunning Sylvia Bloomfield (Tye Green, Essex) 21-17 in the quarter-finals.
n Bournemouth (Linda Johnson, Brenda Streater and Joan Halliwell) took an instant exit from the over-50 two-wood triples going down 21-13 to Diss (Norfolk) who went on to be champions.
n No joy for Moonfleet 2000 from either the fours or the pairs in the English Indoor BA Championships at Nottingham which hosted unified finals following the amalgamation of the two indoor associations.
Dave Smith, John Crabb, Neil Burroughs and Barry Patterson bowed out 16-13 in the first round to a Whiteknights rink from Reading, Berkshire, skipped by England regular Rob Newman while Martin Puckett and Mike Gale buckled 24-13 to Beccles, Suffolk, also at the first hurdle.
n Area 19 (Dorset/Somerset) winner Graham Shadwell (Clarrie Dunbar) - England singles runner-up last year - and Dorset Liberty Trophy skip Peter Ward (Bournemouth) were both first-round casualties in the singles.
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