Surrey were pipped 127-124 by Northamptonshire in the final of the National over-60s Inter-County League at Kempton IBC in Bedford.

In a close an exciting match, both teams won on three rinks.

Surrey, managed by Croydon IBC’s John Gale alongside selectors Harry Craig and Deric Homes, had not lost a match in their section against Kent, Berkshire, Hampshire and Oxfordshire, before beating Essex in the semi-final.

Rink 1: Surrey: T Barlow, T Hill, M Lambert, A Hawes 35 Northants: Terry James 16. 2: D Scrace, D Mabey, E Austin & B Bass 18 Mick Worthington 17. 3: L Lopes, H Craig, M Tuck, J Gale 12 Mick Sharpe 30. 4: PJ Smith, R Belcher, J Kenton, I Ross 21 Carl Haines 25. 5: A Lewis, R Charland, J Scott, J Cook 12 Roger Tansley 29. 6: B Paramour, D Francis, D Clark, Paul Vamvacopolous 26 Jim McKee 10.

Meanwhile, Surrey made it eight wins out of nine with a 163-90 victory over Leicestershire IBA in a county match. D Homes, M Mayes, R Belcher and M Lambert won their rink 25-12.