Things didn't go quite to plan for Hertfordshire in the InterCounty (A) Rinks qualifying competition today at Guilford. Herts lost both their matches against Surrey and Essex to finish bottom of the table and were  eliminated from the Competition.

Herts 41 Surrey 42

Herts lost a very close opening match against a strong Surrey side playing at home by just a single shot! All four games were close and could have gone either way.

Team A, Julia Bruce, Audrey Fowler, Dennis Mack and, skip, Brian Fowler were 6 - 3 down after 5 ends but fought back to take the lead 10 - 8 on end ten; although Surrey drew level on the penultimate end, Herts  took the last end to win by 11 shots to 10!

In another closely fought game Team B, Jeff Branch, Margaret Hare, Robin Quarterman, and their Skip, Bill Gearing were all square after 8 ends, they then dropped a 3 and although they fought back they couldn't close the gap and went down  9 - 8.

Team C, Toni Gearing, Mick Thrush, Alan Spicer and, Skip. Michael West fought  hard for their single shot victory! 9 - 3 down after 8 ends they scored a 5 to pull back to 9 - 8; they then went behind 12 - 9, only to pick up a 4 and draw level with one end to play which they won to take the game by 13 shots to 12!

Team D, Cherry Nolan, Trevor Knight, Alan Hare and Martin Nash were 6 - 5 in the lead at the half-way stage, However, Surrey got the best of the last six ends to win the game by two shots and the overall match by a single shot!

Herts 32 Essex 49

Although all the Herts players continued to play well, their second match against Essex got away from them losing on three rinks and drawing the fourth. Essex won overall 49 - 32.

Team A had another very close game. They were in the lead by a single shot after seven ends, but Essex got the better of the remaining ends to win by 10 shots to 9!

Ringing  the changes with Adrienne West coming in for Margaret Hare, Herts B had yet another close game. Leading 4 -1 after four ends, they let Essex back into the game and Essex  went on to win by 3 shots, 10 -7.

Team C managed a draw in their second game. Taking a 5 on the first end, Herts were leading 11 -7 after eight ends; however, Essex fought back in the remaining 4 ends to force the draw!

Mary Chadd replaced Alan Hare for Team D's second game. Unfortunately they were out-played by a better team and lost by 17 shots to  4!