Hertfordshire had a comfortable win over Oxfordshire in the Inter County Championship.
In the first session of play, Herts won 3 out of 4 games. Both Michael West and Bill Gearing won their singles games. Each of them took 4 ends to establish leads which neither relinquished. Michael won 16-10 and Bill 20-8. Audrey and Brian Fowler had a big win in the pairs at 22-6. Dennis Mack and Jeanette Gayler were behind for most of their game but clawed backed the shots to go ahead 11-10 with 2 ends to go. The Oxfordshire pair won the last 2 ends and the game finished 11-13.
Session 1 result: Herts 6pts Oxfordshire 2 pts
The points in the second session were shared. Pauline Taylor, Alan Spicer and Brian McGivern were 1-9 behind after 7 ends but picked up a maximum 6 shots to give themselves a chance. They took their chance and finished 13-10 ahead. Margaret Hare, Jill Quarterman and Tony Gayler were behind for all of their game but the 3 they scored on their last end meant they finished at 11-14 and the aggregate triples score was tied. In the fours Adrianne West, Jeff Branch, Toni Gearing (playing her first county game) and Barry Thorogood lost 4-11 whilst Julia Bruce, Carol Still, Martin Nash (both debutants) and Alan Hare led all the way to a 10-7 win.
Session 2 result: Herts 4 pts Oxfordshire 4 pts
In the third session, Michael West dominated from the start, winning 11 of 15 ends and winning 18-6. Bill Gearing was also untroubled on the way to a 14-6 win. Audrey and Brian Fowler dropped a 4 early on and this proved decisive in their 10-12 loss. Meanwhile Dennis Mack and Jeanette Gayler bounced back from their earlier defeat, notching two 4s and four 3 s on their way to a 25-8 result.
Session 3 result: Herts 6 pts (+ 4 bonus pts) Oxfordshire 2 pts
With 20 points already in the bag, Herts finished the match off with a clean sweep in the final session of play. Pauline Taylor, Alan Spicer and Brian McGivern were involved in a very close encounter decided by the last bowl and a 10-9 win. Eileen Prior came into Tony Gayler's triple and with Jill Quarterman they came from behind, winning the last 4 ends and finishing 17-11 ahead. Adrianne West, Jeff Branch, Toni Gearing and Barry Thorogood were behind at the halfway stage of their game before a 5 shot count took them ahead and they went on to win 13-6. In the final fours game, Julia Bruce, Carol Still, Martin Nash and Alan Hare steamrollered their way to a 15-1 lead with 3 ends to play. They finished at 16-6 ahead.
Session 4 result: Herts 8pts (+4 bonus pts) Oxfordshire 0 pts
With Buckinghamshire making a very strong start to their campaign, Hertfordshire needed a big win to ensure that the qualifying group remained competitive and they got it. Our next 2 group fixtures are home and away against Buckinghamshire and these will be key in deciding the playoff positioning of both counties.