Sunday the 08th January saw Hertfordshire’s ICC squad travel to Harold in Bedfordshire to play Northamptonshire in the forth round of the ICC competition.
Session one commenced with Jeff Branch playing singles on mat one. Jeff got the game started taking a single. Northampton replied by taking a hotshot four and the lead. Jeff came back taking a single followed by a double and it was all square at 4 all after four ends. Northampton then regained the lead with a double. Jeff took end six for a single only to see Northampton take a single and a triple to go 10 - 5 up after eight ends. Jeff then took a single followed by a hotshot four and it was all square again at 10 all after ten ends. Jeff now pulled in front taking a double and a single. Northampton came back on end thirteen for a single but with Jeff taking the last two ends for doubles he had the win at 17 – 11.
Martin Nash played the second singles on mat two. Northampton started with a single only to see Martin take two singles and a double to have a 4 – 1 lead after four ends. Northampton came back on end five for a double but Martin’s reply was to take a further double followed by a triple and a 9 – 3 lead after seven ends. Northampton then held two doubles to reduce Martin’s lead to two shots. Martin then held a single but with Northampton taking end eleven for a double they had reduced Martin’s lead to 10 – 9. Martin took the following end for a single only to see Northampton hold end thirteen for a hotshot four and take the lead at 13 – 11. The last two ends also went Northampton’s was for doubles giving them the win at 17 – 11.
Dennis Mack and Jeanette Gayler played pairs on mat three. Our pair took the lead taking the first two ends for singles. Northampton then took the lead taking a triple on end three, they followed this with a single. Taking end five for a double Dennis and Jeanette had made it all square at 4 all. Northampton regained the lead taking a single on end six. Our pair then started a short run, taking two singles followed by two doubles they had the lead at 10 – 5 after ten ends. The following two ends went for a single apiece with our pair retaining their five shot lead. Ends thirteen and fourteen again went for a single apiece. Going into the last end with a five shot lead Dennis and Jeanette took a final single to give them the win at 13 -7.
Audrey and Brian Fowler played the other pairs match on mat four. Audrey and Brian started with two singles. Northampton then levelled it taking a double. With ends four and five going for a single each it was all square at 3 all. Our pair then held a double followed by a single and a triple to have a 9 – 3 lead after eight ends. End nine and Northampton took a hotshot four. Our pair held end ten for a single. Northampton’s reply was to take a second hotshot four, taking the lead at 11- 10. They followed this with a triple and a single giving them a 15 – 10 lead with two ends to play. The last two ends went for a single each giving Northampton the win at 16 – 11.
With Session one ending with two wins for Hertfordshire and two wins for Northamptonshire it was all very close at 4 – 4. The outlook for the bonus points was also very close with the singles aggregate score being drawn at 28 all and the pairs 24 – 23, one shot in Hertfordshire’s favour.
Session two got under way with Beverly Stevenson, Alan Spicer and Brian McGivern playing triples on mat one. The first end went Northampton’s way for a hotshot six. Our three came back for a single and a triple to be only two shots behind. Northampton then extended their lead, taking a double and two singles they had a 10 – 4 lead after six ends. Our three then took two doubles to be within two shots with five ends to play. Northampton then held end nine for a three and a five shot lead. Bev, Alan and Brian then held a three of their own. With the following two ends going for a single apiece Northampton still had that two shot lead going into the last end. Taking the last end for a double Northampton had the win at 16 – 12.
Julia Bruce, Roger Watkinson and Neil Rixon played the second triples on mat two. Northampton started with a triple. Our three came straight back for a triple and followed it with a second triple. Northampton then held end four for their second triple of the game and it was six all after four ends. Our three then started a run of five ends. Taking three singles, a double and a third triple they had a 14 – 6 lead after nine ends. End ten saw Northampton take a double to increase their score to 8. Julia, Roger and Neil then continued their run taking the last three ends for a single followed by a double and finishing on a triple to take the win at 20 – 8.
Barry Thorogood, Trevor Knight, Margaret Hare and Alan Hare played fours on mat three. Our four held the first end for a single. Northampton then held a single followed by a double. With our four holding end four for a single, Northampton had a slight lead at 3 – 2. Northampton then started a run, taking three singles and followed by a triple and a further single they had a 10 – 2 lead with two ends to play. Barry, Trevor, Margaret and Alan held the last two ends for a single and a double however Northampton had the win at 10 – 5.
Tony Gayler, Carol Still, Jan Rogers and Darren Stanford played the second fours on mat four. Our four took the first end for a triple. The following two ends then went for a single each. With Northampton taking end four for a triple it was all square at 4 all. Tony, Carol, Jan and Darren then started a run of six ends. Taking a five followed by a double, a triple, a single and two more doubles they had a 19 – 4 lead with one end to play. Northampton held the last end for a single but our four had the win at 19 – 5.
With Session two also ending with two wins apiece the points so far were still evens at 8 all. The bonus points however were in Hertfordshire’s favour. The triples being 32- 24, an 8 shot lead and the fours being 24 – 15, a nine shot lead. A short break before session three and all to play for.
Dennis Mack and Jeanette Gayler played pairs on mat one. Northampton’s pair got a good start taking a double followed by a single and two further doubles. Our pair then held end five for a single. With Northampton taking two further singles they had a 9 – 1 lead after seven ends. Dennis and Jeanette then held a double and a single to reduce Northampton’s lead to 9 – 4. With the following two ends going for a double each Northampton still had a five shot lead. End twelve and our pair held a triple to reduce Northampton’s lead to 11 – 9. Northampton then held a double. The penultimate end saw Dennis and Jeanette hold a single. With the last end going Northampton’s way for a double they had the win at 15 – 10.
Audrey and Brian Fowler played the last pairs of the day on mat two. Our pair started with a double to see it instantly matched on end two by Northampton. Audrey and Brian took the lead with a single on end three. This was followed by Northampton taking a double. With our pair taking a further single on end five it was all square at 4 all. The following two ends went for a single apiece so it was still all square at 5 all. Northampton then pulled a small lead taking a double and a single. Audrey and Brian pulled back taking two singles. End twelve and Northampton held a triple for an 11 – 7 lead. Our pair then held a single and a triple and it was all square at 11 all with one end to play. The final end was very close with the umpire being called for a measure for shot. The callipers determined that it was a win for Hertfordshire at 12 – 11.
Jeff Branch played singles on mat three. Northampton started by taking the first end for a single. Jeff then got a run going taking three triples followed by a double. With end six being declared a draw Jeff had an 11 -1 lead. Jeff’s run then continued, taking a further triple, two doubles two singles and a hotshot four Jeff had a 24 – 1 lead with three ends to play. Northampton then broke Jeff’s run taking a single and a double. Jeff then replied by taking the last end for a double and the win at 26 – 4.
Martin Nash played the fourth singles of the day on mat four. Northampton started well, taking a double, a triple and a hotshot four they had the lead at 9 – 0 after three ends. Martin then started a comeback, taking two doubles and a single he had reduced Northampton’s lead to 2 shots. Northampton then took end seven for a single. Martin replied taking end eight for a double and was only one shot behind at 9 – 10. The following two ends went for a single apiece. Northampton held end eleven for a double. Martin replied taking the next end for a single to be two shots behind. Northampton held end thirteen for a triple and a five shot lead. With the last two ends going for a single apiece Northampton had the win at 17 – 12.
With Session three ending with another two wins apiece the points were still evens at 12 all. The bonus points could now be added for the singles and the pairs. With the singles shots being 66 – 49 in Hertfordshire’s favour we had the two bonus points The pairs however had the shots at 49 – 46 in Northampton’s favour giving them the pairs bonus points. With the adjusted scores at 14 all it was getting a bit close for comfort going into the last session.
Barry Thorogood, Trevor Knight, Margaret Hare and Alan Hare played fours on mat one. Northampton started by taking the first end for a single. Our four replied by taking the second end for a double. Northampton then started a short run taking two singles and a double they had a 5 – 2 lead after five ends. Barry, Trevor, Margaret and Alan came back for a single, they followed this with a magnificent five, taking the lead at 8 – 5 after seven ends. Northampton held end eight for a single. They followed this with a triple to regain the lead at 9 – 8 with two ends to play. The penultimate end and our four held a double and took back the lead at 10 – 9. The last end was declared a draw giving Barry, Trevor, Margaret and Alan the win at 10 – 9.
Tony Gayler, Carol Still, Jan Rogers and Darren Stanford played the last fours of the day on mat two. Northampton started well by taking two triples. Our four then took two singles. This was followed by end five being declared a tied end. Our four continued their run taking a further double and a single to be only one shot behind at 5 – 6 after seven ends. Northampton took end eight for a double and following this with a single they were 9 – 5 up with two ends to play. Tony, Carol, Jan and Darren held the penultimate end for a double. Northampton finished the game taking the last end for a double and the win at 11 – 7.
Beverly Stevenson, Alan Spicer and Brian McGivern played triples on mat three. Our three started well taking a four followed by a double. Northampton then took end three for a double. Our three then took end four for a further double to go 8 – 2 up. Northampton then took the following two ends for singles. Bev, Alan and Brian held end seven for a single, following this with a double they were 11 - 4 up after eight ends. Northampton then started a run of three ends. Taking a single followed by a double and a triple they had reduced our threes lead to 11 – 10 with two ends to play. Bev, Alan and Brian took the penultimate end for a single, they followed this by taking the last end for a five and the win at 17 – 10.
Julia Bruce, Roger Wilkinson and Neil Rixon played the last triples of the day on mat four. Northampton started with a single to which our three replied by taking a double. Northampton then took a triple followed by a double to be 6 – 2 up after four ends. Julia, Roger and Neil held end five for a triple to reduce their deficit to one shot. Northampton held the next two ends for singles. Our three held end eight for a double to come back within one shot. They then took a triple to take the lead at 10 – 8 after nine ends. End ten and Northampton took a single. The following end and our three held a triple for a four shot lead. The penultimate end saw Northampton take a triple to reduce Julia, Roger and Neil’s lead to one shot. The last end and Northampton took their third triple of the game giving them the win at 15 – 13.
With Session four finishing, the match over it was yet another two wins each. With the scores now at 18 all it was down to the last of the bonus points. With the shots for the triples being 62 – 49 to Hertfordshire we had those two bonus points. The shots for the fours were then checked and seen to be 41 – 35, also in Hertfordshire’s favour. Hertfordshire had the closest of wins at 22- 18. The total shots for the match were Hertfordshire 215, Northamptonshire 182.
Our next outing on Saturday the 21st January will actually be two matches against Cambridgeshire. We will be playing them both at Cambridgeshire’s home venue over four sessions played on eight mats. This will be the last of Hertfordshire’s matches in the first stage of the ICC competition.