13 February 2022
As this year’s ICC competition entered the knockout stages, Hertfordshire were drawn against Worcestershire in the Quarter Final. The home match was played at Elm court and the away match was played at Solihull, as Worcestershire were unable to book their usual home venue.
Home Match at Elm Court
Session 1
Jeff Branch played on mat one. First blood went to Worcestershire for a single. Jeff then got into his stride taking a single, two doubles and two triples to go 11 – 1 up after six ends. Worcestershire then got another single but with Jeff taking a further triple and a double he was 16 – 2 up after nine ends. Although Worcestershire took three more ends for singles, Jeff took another two doubles and a single and a good win for Hertfordshire at 22 – 5.
Martin Nash played on mat two. Martin took the first end for a double. Worcestershire then got a hotshot four followed by a double. Martin then came back for another double. However, Worcestershire took a further double and two singles to go 10 – 4 up after seven ends. Martin then took end eight for a double but Worcestershire came straight back for a triple, a double and a single to gain a 16 – 6 lead after eleven ends. Martin then started to reduce the deficient by taking a single, a double and a triple. However, Worcestershire took the last end for a double and the win at 18 – 12.
Winning one mat and having a sufficient shot difference to hold on to the bonus points, Hertfordshire had the lead at 4 – 2.
Session 2
Jan Rogers, Tony Gayler and Darren Stanford got the triples under way on mat one. Although Worcestershire took the first end for a single, our three stormed in taking end two for five shots. Worcester now started to claw our lead back taking three singles. However, we still had the lead at 5 – 4 after five ends. Our three then took a double, with Worcestershire following this with a double and a single to level the match at 7 all after eight ends. Jan, Tony and Darren took ends nine and ten for three each and gained a useful lead of 13 – 7. Worcestershire came back strongly taking a four but the last end saw our three take it for a single and the win at 14 – 11
Julia Bruce, Trevor Knight and Neil Rixon played on mat two. They started well taking the first end for three shots. Worcestershire then got going taking a double, a single and a four to go 7 – 3 up after four ends. With both teams taking a double it was 9 – 5 to Worcestershire after six ends. Our three then took a single but with Worcestershire replied by taking a two, increasing their lead to 11 – 6 after eight ends. Julia, Trevor and Neil now took a three to narrow the gap but Worcester replied taking a single and a double to have a five shot lead with one end to play. At this point it was interesting. Mat one had finished with a shot difference of plus three. Currently at five down, we were going to lose not only the mat but also the bonus points. In a tightly fought end our three had two bowls in the count with one bowl to come. This would have drawn the shot difference and given 1 bonus point each. Neil’s last bowl came down the mat perfectly and landed on the jack to give us the end for three shots. Although they didn’t win the game, they had ensured we took the bonus points.
Winning one mat and taking the bonus points. Hertfordshire had increased their lead to 8 - 4
Session 3
Jan Rogers, Jeff Branch, Jeanette Gayler and Darren Stanford played fours on mat one. Notice the revised format with the pairs now being played last. Our four started well taking a single and a three. Worcestershire then got started taking three singles. Jan, Jeff, Jeanette and Darren now took a single and a double and followed this by taking two further singles to go 9 – 3 up with two ends to play. Worcestershire however, came back strongly taking a three. The last end was tightly fought with Worcestershire holding on for a double and a much improved score, although our four had held on for the win at 9 – 8.
Julia Bruce, Trevor Knight, Neil Rixon and Martin Nash played on mat two. Starting well our four took the first three ends to be six in front with a single, a triple and a double. Worcestershire replied by taking a five and reducing our lead to 6 – 5 after four ends. However, Julia, Trevor, Neil and Martin came straight back, taking a four and an improved lead. Worcestershire then came in for a double. With the score at 10 – 7 in our favour, Worcestershire had now won their only two ends of this match. Taking a double and three singles our four went into the last end with an eight shot lead. The last end was declared a dead end with two bowls actually sitting on the Jack. Our four had a good win at 15 – 7.
Winning both mats and taking the bonus points, Hertfordshire increased their lead to 14 - 4
Session 4
The last session of the day saw the pairs being played. Michael West and Neil Rixon played on mat one. This was Michael’s first match for Hertfordshire this season. Worcestershire took the first two ends for a single and a double. Michael and Neil now levelled the match taking a triple and followed this by taking three singles. Worcestershire now got in and took end seven for a three and followed this with a single and the lead at 7 – 6 after eight ends. End nine saw our pair take a double. With Worcestershire taking end ten for a single, the score was back level at eight all after ten ends. Michael and Neil now took four successive ends for singles. Worcestershire held the last end for a single but Michael and Neil had the win at 12 – 9
Jeanette Gayler and Darren Stanford played on mat two. Starting well they took the first end for a hotshot four and followed this with a single. Worcestershire’s pair then took three ends for singles. Jeanette and Darren followed this with two singles to go 7 – 3 up after seven ends. Ends eight and nine saw each pair take a double. Worcestershire then took a single but our pair replied taking a three and a single to take a 13 – 6 lead after twelve ends. End thirteen and Worcestershire got some revenge by taking their own hotshot four and reducing our lead to three shots. The last two ends saw each pair taking a single. Jeanette and Neil had the win at 14 – 11.
Winning both mats and taking the bonus points. Hertfordshire had the match win at 20 - 4.
And Finally: - We would all like to give thanks to our umpire for these matches Derek Lewison, whose services were well used at this Quarter Final. Umpires for the Semi Finals and Finals are supplied by the ESMBA so Derek can take a well-earned rest. But Derek make sure you are ready for next season.
Away Match at Solihull Indoor Bowls Club
Session 1
Bill Gearing played singles on mat one. Bill started by taking a single. Worcestershire replied taking two singles and the lead. Bill now got motoring taking a hotshot four followed by a single, a triple and two doubles and a further single on end nine to take a 14 – 2 lead. Worcestershire held on for a single on end ten. Bill replied with two further doubles taking his score to 18 – 3 after twelve ends. Ends thirteen and fourteen went for a single each. The last end saw Worcestershire take a double. However, Hertfordshire had a good win at 19 – 6.
Darren Brown played on mat two. Worcestershire started by taking the first end for a double. Darren came straight back for his first hotshot four, followed by a double and two singles. Ends six and seven went Worcestershire’s way taking a single and a double. Darren now took his second hotshot followed by a triple, a double and two singles to go 19 – 5 up after twelve ends. End thirteen saw Worcestershire take their last single of the match. With Darren taking the last two ends for a triple and a single, Hertfordshire had another good win at 23 - 6
Winning both mats and taking the bonus points. Hertfordshire had the lead at 6 – 0
Session 2
Alan Spicer, Toni Gearing and Brian McGivern played triples on mat one. Our three started well by taking a double. They followed this with a triple and a single to go 6 – 0 up after three ends. Worcestershire then took a run of four ends taking a double and three singles. Alan, Toni and Brian took end eight for a single and retained their lead at 7 – 5. Ends nine and ten saw each team take a single. End eleven saw Worcestershire take a double and the match level at eight shots all with one end to play. Worcestershire held the last end for a single and won this match 9 – 8
Alan Hare, Margaret Hare and Dennis Mack played on mat two. Worcestershire started well taking three doubles and a triple. Our three replied taking a four reducing Worcestershire’s lead to five shots. The next two ends saw Worcestershire take a further single and a double. Alan, Margaret and Dennis then held ends eight and nine for a double and a single, reducing Worcestershire’s lead to five shots. End ten saw Worcestershire take a double, with our three taking end eleven for a single. The last end and Worcestershire took a four and a good win at 18 – 8.
Winning both mats and taking the bonus points, Worcestershire had levelled the match at 6 all.
Session 3.
Alan Hare, Margaret Hare, Dennis Mack and Darren Brown played fours on mat one. Worcester got on the scorecard first taking two doubles. Our four replied taking a triple followed by a single to level the match at four all after four ends. Worcestershire then took a double and a triple. Ends seven and eight saw our four also take a triple and a double so we were back level at nine all after eight ends. Worcestershire took end nine for a single and had regained the lead at 10 – 9 with two ends to play. Alan, Margaret, Dennis and Darren took end ten for a triple and followed this with a double and the win at 14 – 10.
Alan Spicer, Toni Gearing, Bill Gearing and Brian McGivern played on mat two. In a tight game Hertfordshire got a single on the first end. Worcestershire replied taking the second end for a double. Our four came back for another single to level the match after three ends. Ends four and five saw the close game go for a single apiece, followed by our four gaining another single and the lead at 4 – 3 after six ends. Worcestershire now stormed in, taking a four and a three shot lead. Alan, Toni, Bill and Brian then took a double and a single. So we were all level again at seven all with two ends to play. End ten saw Worcestershire take the lead with a single. The last end and our four pulled off a single and achieved a draw at eight all in this close match.
Winning one mat and drawing the other meant we had all the bonus points and gained the lead at 11 – 7.
Session 4
Alan Spicer and Ken Murray played pairs on mat one. Worcestershire started well taking a single and a double. Our pair then took the following three ends for a single each to come level at three all after five ends. Worcestershire now came back taking three singles followed by a hotshot four giving them a 10 – 3 lead after nine ends. Alan and Ken replied taking three ends all for singles, so at end twelve they had reduced Worcestershire’s lead to 10 – 6. Worcestershire followed this by taking a single and a triple to go 14 – 6 up with one end to play. Our pair took the last end for a triple. However, Worcestershire had the win at 14 – 9.
Alan Hare and Dennis Mack played on mat two. Worcestershire started by taking two singles. Our pair then held a triple and a small lead. Worcestershire then got a hotshot four followed by a double to go 8 – 3 up after five ends. Alan and Dennis now took two doubles and a single to level the match at eight all after eight ends. The next two ends went for a single apiece so we were still level at nine all after ten ends. End eleven saw Worcestershire take a single and regain the lead. Our pair then took a triple and a 12 – 10 lead with three ends to play. Worcestershire then held on for a double to level the match and a single to go in the lead with one end to play. The last end saw Alan and Dennis hold on to three shots and the win at 15 - 13
Winning one and losing one unfortunately we also lost the bonus points. However, Hertfordshire had the win at 13 – 11.
So the combined total for the two matches saw Hertfordshire gain the Quarter Final win at 33 – 15. With combined shot totals of 214 for, 167 against.
Hertfordshire will now play the winners of the match between Somerset and Kent. Their game is being played on Sunday the 20th February.
This Semi-Final will be played on Sunday the 13th March at Solihull. Your reporter will be there and the Match report will be available when he has finished celebrating the result.