KIDDERMINSTER'S Grant Burgess experienced the thrills and spills of a seaside helter-skelter as England edged closer to retaining the Home International bowls title in Worthing last night.

The Gilt Edge ace, operating at number three to four times English Champion of Champions Danny Denison, dug in to see off top skip Will Thomas as England powered past Wales 123-112 in their first clash of the day.

England collected 18 of the 22 points on offer and went into a virtual title decider against Scotland just one point behind their arch-rivals.

Burgess and company raced 6-3 ahead of Alex Marshall after five ends, but Marshall piled up scores on nine of the next 11 ends to win 27-11.

However, Stephen Farish destroyed Scottish captain Graeme Archer 30-7 to help edge out the Scots 103-100, adding 16 points to their collection.