Bowls duo celebrate stunning win

The duo, who only came together through the unavailability of their respective partners, claimed the prize scalp of last year's British Pairs champions Pat Baines and Carol Ashby on their own mat.

Ashby, in particular, has a proven pedigree at the highest level and is the current national singles champion but the Bexhill pair, both of whom are former winners of the club's indoor singles event, pulled off a stunning 18-13 victory at Hampden Park Indoor Bowls Club on Tuesday, last week.

Noble said: "Too true it came as a surprise because they were unbeatable in everybody's eyes. We knew they were the tops and we were the underdogs so we said all we would try to do is keep with them and not let them get too many shots. And in actual fact we were in front up to nine or 10 ends. They drew level with us once but we took the lead again and never looked back. I would say it's my best result in pairs definitely, we were so thrilled."

Boswell, a badged English player, and Noble, who has represented Sussex both indoors and out, have now negotiated four rounds and a further two wins would complete an odyssey to the national finals.

Their next assignment sees them travel to a Langney Sports pair in the Sussex semi-finals on Saturday January 17.