Euro Cup Round 2 – Norwich Edge Past Bob Carter Hurricanes in Thrilling 3–2 Victory

7:00pm – The Cottage, Thorpe St Andrew

Norwich Pétanque Club returned to Euro Cup action on home soil on Tuesday evening, hosting Bob Carter Hurricanes in Round 2 of the competition. With a place in Round 3 at stake, both sides arrived ready for a competitive encounter — and the match certainly delivered.

Norwich Pétanque Club Team

• Sharon Thorndyke (Captain)

• Mark Bell

• Mervyn Bell

• Richard Jeffery

• Gavin Seymour

• Tom Ralph

Strong Start in the Triples

Norwich set the tone early in the triples phase with two commanding performances.

Open Triple: Gavin Seymour, Tom Ralph & Mervyn Bell

✅ 13–4 Win

The open triple found their rhythm quickly, building a steady lead and applying pressure throughout to secure a convincing 13–4 victory.

Mixed Triple: Sharon Thorndyke, Mark Bell & Richard Jeffery

✅ 13–5 Win

The mixed triple followed suit with another assured display. Controlled pointing and well-timed shooting saw Norwich take control of the head early, closing out the game 13–5.

With both triples secured, Norwich moved into the doubles needing just one more win to claim the match.

Doubles Drama all 3 games go to the Wire

The doubles phase proved far more dramatic.

Open Double 1: Mervyn Bell & Richard Jeffery

✅ 13–10 Win

Double 1 finished first, grinding out a hard-fought 13–10 victory. Their win ultimately proved decisive on the night.

Open Double 2: Gavin Seymour & Tom Ralph

❌ 12–13 Loss

In one of the tightest games of the evening, Double 2 battled all the way to the final end but narrowly lost 12–13 in a match that could have gone either way.

Mixed Double: Sharon Thorndyke & Mark Bell

❌ 11–13 Loss

As the last match to finish, all eyes turned to the mixed doubles. In a tense and closely contested battle, Norwich came up just short, losing 11–13 after a game that kept spectators on edge until the final boule.

Norwich Through to Round 3

Despite the two narrow doubles losses, Norwich’s earlier triples victories — combined with the crucial win from Open Double 1 — meant the club secured a 3–2 overall victory on the night.

Norwich Pétanque Club now progress to Round 3, where they will face a strong side from neighbouring region Suffolk Coastal.

Thanks and Acknowledgements

We would like to thank Bob Carter Hurricanes for a highly competitive match played in a friendly and sporting spirit throughout.

A special thank you goes to Gavin Seymour for preparing the terrain ahead of the game — much appreciated.

Finally, a big thank you to everyone who came along to support the team. Your encouragement from the side-lines genuinely makes a difference and gives the players that extra lift when it matters most.

Onwards to Round 3!