Top level bowls is back in Bristol, where the inaugural bwin.com Bowls Super Series was staged successfully over the last six months of 2008 – but this time, the competition has been re-branded the Super Eight Series.

And the event got off to terrific start with the shock defeat of David Gourlay, who won the inaugural title in December, but just could not cope with the consistency of Nicky Brett and Ian Bond.

Bond went on to beat Brett, 3-8, 6-5, 2-0, in the last group game, then repeated his victory, 5-5, 6-5, in the final.

Cotswold's Steve Knight finished fourth, and managed to salvage only one point after tying a set with Simon Skelton.

In Northampton, Richard Billington, Barrie Smith and Don Fowkes of Bridgwater BCL opened their bid for the national over 50 triples title with a fine 19-5 win over a Stanley trio from County Durham.

Mike Humphries, Gerry Coffield and John Horsted, from Thornbury, beat Wymondham Dell, 24-15, but Moonfleet trio Ron McCarthy, John Crabb and Barry Patterson lost 23-10 to Avon Valley.