The first Brunswick Team England tournament of 2008 was held at Bowlplex Blackburn, Jan. 19-20, and was a lesson in never giving up on a seemingly lost cause. Rob Kendall finished 35th in qualifying with 1195 – two places off making the second round.

However a no-show from the two players ahead of him allowed him to play an extra four games. At this point 10th place was 116 pins away and that's just to make the final. Kendall rolled in games of 254-235-267-288 (1044 total, 261 average) to make 7th place, 13 pins above the cut and 96 pins behind leader Adam Scott.

In the final he won every match, including a final round 172 game, shooting 2050 for nine matches (227 ave) to blow away the field and claim victory by 113 pins. Richard Teece, younger of the two bothers was second, while Ray finished 8th. Third place went to veteran Nick Froggatt.

Zara Glover was the ladies leader through rounds 1 and 2, closely followed by Jo Allsebrook, Fiona Banks and Jo Cundy.

However it was Banks that won the title, winning her first four matches 248, 227, 219, 247. A final round blip saw her throw 180 against Cundy's 225, while Allsebrook beat Glover 243-207.

Not quite enough for Allsebrook, Banks winning by six pins.