Herts lost their ICC first knockout round match against Cheshire at Solihull. The final score being 11 – 29. Herts managed to win four games and drew one against a very strong Cheshire team that included many England players. Although Herts lost they should be proud of their performance against a very strong team. As we are at the knockout stage, Herts are now out of this competition and are looking forward to next season’s competition.
Session 1
Session one was an eye opener to Herts and showed the quality of the team we were playing. Michael West played Cheshire’s top singles player, after losing the first three ends Michael managed to win his first end by 2 points. Michael also managed to win the last end by a single shot. Score Cheshire 34 Herts 3. Dennis Mack took the second end to go 3 – 1 up. Dennis then took five more ends and by end ten was winning 10 – 6. Despite his best efforts Cheshire just seemed to ramp up the game and won the final five ends. Score Cheshire 15 Herts 10. Brian Fowler and Audrey Fowler lost the first three ends but then came back with a two. Although they did manage to win three more singles the final score was Cheshire 16 Herts 5. Jeanette Gayler and Julia Bruce took the first end to go 1 – 0 up. They then took the third end to go 2 – 1 up. At this point Cheshire started to pull ahead. Jeanette and Julia managed to take one more end for a three. Score Cheshire 26 Herts 3.
Cheshire 8 Hertfordshire 0.
Session 2
Session 2 was slightly better for Hertfordshire. Jeff Branch, Alan Spicer and Brian McGivern took the first end for three shots. Cheshire took the next two ends buts Herts came straight back with another three to go 6 – 3 up. Cheshire took five of the next six ends and with three ends to go were 12 – 7 in the lead. Herts then started to make a comeback taking the last three ends for one each. Score Cheshire 12 Herts 10. Pauline Taylor, Robin Quarterman and Bill Gearing took the first two ends to go 5 – 0 up. Cheshire started a comeback taking two singles however, Herts also took two singles. The next two ends went to three shots each. Herts were now 10 – 5 up. In the final five ends Cheshire took three singles and Herts took a two and a three to win an exciting game. Score Cheshire 8 Herts 15. Carol Still, Margaret Hare, Martin Nash and Alan Hare lost the first three ends before managing to win an end with a single. Unfortunately, Cheshire immediately replied with a six to go 13 – 1 up. Although Herts managed to take one more single and a two they lost. Score Cheshire 22 Herts 4. Adrianne West, Trevor Knight, Ken Murray and Tony Gayler Took the first three ends for a single each to go 3 up. Cheshire only managed to win three ends, two singles and a three, with Herts taking a two at end seven it was 5 all. In an exciting game Hertfordshire took the last four ends to win. Score Cheshire 5 Herts 10.
Cheshire 12 Hertfordshire 4
Session 3
Michael lost the first end for a four but immediately replied taking a three and a two going 5 – 4 up. Cheshire came straight back taking the following four ends to go 11 – 5 up. Michael manged to take two singles and two 2’s but Cheshire managed to hold onto their lead finally winning 18 – 11. Dennis had a close fought game, at end three it was 3 all, four ends later it was tied again at 7 all. Cheshire then took two ends in a row to go 12 – 7 up. Dennis fought back taking the next two ends, the score now Cheshire 12 Herts 11. Two ends later it was Cheshire 14 Herts 13. With two ends to go Cheshire managed to take a 2, Dennis replying with a single. In an exciting, closely fought game, the Score was Cheshire 16 Herts 14. Brian and Audrey’s game started with each side taking two singles. Brian then took a three to go 5 – 2 up. The next seven ends went back and forth a single a side, then Cheshire took a two. On end thirteen with two ends to go the scores were level at 8 all. Brian and Audrey took the last two ends for three apiece to win. Score Cheshire 8 Hertfordshire 14. Jeanette and Julia lost the first four ends to go 8 – 0 down. They then started a comeback winning the next four ends to bring the score to Cheshire 8 Herts 7. Cheshire then altered their game strategy and Jeanette and Julia only managed to take one more single. Score Cheshire 23 Herts 8.
Cheshire 22 Hertfordshire 6 (Including Bonus Points 4 – 0)
Session 4
Jeff, Alan and Brian lost the first two ends but then started to pull it back. At six ends it was level at 4 all. Jeff, Alan and Brian then won four of the next five ends and with two ends to go were winning 11 – 5. They then dropped a four and a two. Cheshire managed to pull back their lead to end up with a draw at 11 all. Pauline, Robin and Bill dropped the first end for a four. They then took the next two ends to draw level at four all. The next four ends were level pegging with the score on end seven being 7 all. Again, at end nine it was 9 all. After end eleven it was 10 all. Cheshire then took a two. On the final end, Bill’s team took a four to win 14 – 12. Carol, Margaret, Martin and Alan lost the first six ends to go 7 – 0 down. They then replied taking two singles. Cheshire came straight back to take the next two ends. Herts managed to take the last end for a single. Score Cheshire 10 Herts 3. Adriane, Trevor, Ken and Tony took the first two ends for singles. The next two ends went to Cheshire for 2 each. Cheshire 4 Herts 2. They only managed to take two more singles. Cheshire managed a couple of three’s and 3 further singles. Score Cheshire 13 Herts 4.
Cheshire 29 Hertfordshire 11 (Including Bonus Points 2 – 2)