CHRISTIE MILLER just missed out in their bid to win a title at the national indoor bowls championships at Northampton IBC, writes DAVE EATON.

The trio of Chris Easton, Nigel Price and skip Andy Moore were beaten yesterday (Saturday) evening 18-16 in the final of the Men’s Over 50 Triples by Folkstone’s Chris Elson, Roger Herridge and Gordon Charlton, who won the national competition three years ago and were runners-up in 2011.

Moore’s men could not have made a worse start in the final dropping a five on the first end, a three on the fourth to trail 9-3 at five ends and were always playing catch-up. And at seven ends were 12-3 down.

But they collected a five of their own on the eighth end and had cut the gap to 13-9 after ten ends.

They continued to claw back shots but then conceded a count of four, however, they had got back to only 17-14 down after 15 ends with still three ends to play.

Despite winning two of the last three ends they finally missed-out by two shots going down 18-16 to the Kent side.

“It was obviously disappointing to lose the final,” said Christie Miller skip Andy Moore, “but we had a very good run in the competition.

“We were holding four on the last end for game but their skip managed to get two shots in.

“I then had the chance for a three though, got one of the wicks I was looking for but nothing else - we just needed a few breaks.

“It was hard after a bad start but we did get it back to only 12-8 down after picking-up a five of our own.

“However, it was a cracking game of bowls in the final and we certainly surprised a few people by reaching the final which we are very proud of.

“Now the three of us are looking forward in the triples and in the fours championship with Paul Macdonald to reaching Nottingham at the end of the month and going one better,” added Moore.

Christie Miller had reached Northampton by winning the Area 30 Men’s Over 50 Triples champions and then beating Taunton Deane (Area 29 winners) in the inter-area final.

At Northampton in the last 16 they beat Beccles 24-13 and in the quarter-finals had another comfortable 25-13 win over Risbygate.

However, they were taken to the wire in the semi-final drawing 12-12 with Slade (Buckingham), but picked up a shot on the extra end to win 13-12, the only time they led in the whole match to book their place in the final against Folkstone.

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