Euro Cup Round 1 Victory for Norwich Pétanque Club

Match: Norwich P.C. vs Bob Carter Spitfires

Date: 19th October 2025

Venue: Bob Carter Centre

Norwich Pétanque Club got their Euro Cup campaign off to a thrilling start with a dramatic comeback victory over the Bob Carter Spitfires in Round 1 at the Bob Carter Centre.

Norwich Line-Up:

Sharon Thorndyke (Captain)

Mark Bell

Richard Jeffery

Gavin Seymour

Tom Ralph

Mervyn Bell

Early Setback in the Triples

The tie began with two triple games – one open and one mixed. Both matches were closely contested but ultimately went the way of the home side:

Open Triple (Gavin Seymour, Tom Ralph, Mervyn Bell) were edged out 13-11

Mixed Triple (Sharon Thorndyke, Mark Bell, Richard Jeffery) lost 13-9

This left Norwich trailing 0-2 and needing a clean sweep in the doubles to progress.

Doubles Drama and a Nail-Biting Finish

The pressure was on as we moved into the three doubles matches:

Open Double 1: Mervyn Bell & Richard Jeffery

Open Double 2: Gavin Seymour & Tom Ralph

Mixed Double: Sharon Thorndyke & Mark Bell

Sharon and Mark were the first to put a point on the board for Norwich, securing a solid 13-8 win in the mixed doubles. That was followed by a gritty 13-12 victory for Gavin and Tom, bringing the match level at 2-2.

All eyes then turned to Mervyn and Richard in the final deciding game. Holding a narrow lead and just one point from victory, they were pegged back with a 4-point end from the Spitfires, shifting momentum back to the home side.

But in a moment of calm under pressure, a well-placed point behind the jack proved decisive. The Bob Carter side couldn’t outpoint it, handing Norwich a dramatic 13-10 win and sealing their place in the next round.

Looking Ahead

Norwich P.C. now move on to face Bob Carter Hurricanes in Round 2 – date and venue to be confirmed.

Want to Get Involved?

If you’d like the chance to represent Norwich P.C. in future competitions, it’s not too late! Please speak to Sharon Thorndyke or Mark Bell to express your interest.