Having played all six matches in the round robin Hertfordshire finished second in their group. Cambridgeshire finished first in the group with 143 points narrowly beating Hertfordshire who had 142 points. This meant that Hertfordshire drew Oxfordshire in the quarter finals as they had come first in their group. Cambridge drew Wiltshire and all four teams travelled to Guilford on Sunday morning where two of the quarter finals were played. Following a draw Hertfordshire were given mats seven to ten to play on.
Session one
Jeff Branch played singles on mat seven, Oxford started this game by taking two doubles, Jeff then replied by taking a single followed by a double. Oxford then applied some pressure taking a triple and a single to go 8 – 3 up after six ends. Jeff then started a short run, taking two singles and a double he reduced oxfords lead to one shot. With the following two ends going for a single apiece, Oxford had a slight lead of 9 – 8 after eleven ends. End twelve saw Oxford extend their lead with a double, Jeff replied by taking a single. Oxford then took the penultimate end for a hotshot four. Jeff held the last end for a single but Oxford had the win at 15 – 10.
Dennis Mack played singles on mat eight, Dennis started with a double which Oxford matched on end two. They followed it with a second double to take the lead. Dennis then held end four for a hotshot four, following this with a double Dennis had an 8 – 4 lead after five ends. Oxford reduced their deficit taking a triple on end six. Dennis replied taking a single to hold a two shot lead. Oxford came back on end eight to take a double and it was all square at nine all. Oxford then pulled out a four shot lead taking a triple followed by a single. |Dennis held end eleven for a double reducing Oxfords lead to 13 – 11. Oxford then held a triple, they followed this with three singles giving them the win at 19 – 11.
Neil Rixon and Martin Nash played pairs on mat nine. Oxford started with a single, our two instantly replied taking a double. Oxford then held a further single and it was two all after three ends. Oxford then took the lead with two singles. Neil and Martin replied with a single and then took the lead with a double. Oxford replied taking a single on end eight and it was all square at five all. Neil and Martin then started a run of wins, taking five successive ends for singles they followed with a double on the penultimate to be 12 – 5 up with one end to play. The last end went Oxfords way for a double but Neil and Martin had our first win at 12 – 7.
Jan Rogers and Bill Gearing played pairs on mat ten. Getting of to a good start with a double and following it with a single our pair were 3 – 0 up after two ends. Oxford then took a double followed by a single and a triple to be 6 – 3 up after five ends. Jan and Bill then took end six for a single. Oxford replied by taking a run of ends, taking a single, a double, two triples and a hotshot four they had pulled out a lead of 19 – 4 after eleven ends. Jan and Bill then took a triple, Oxford came straight back taking a double. Jan and Bill then held end fourteen for a hotshot four to reduce Oxford’s lead to 21 – 11. Oxford held the last end for a double giving them the win at 23 – 11.
At the end of the first session Oxford had the upper hand. Winning both singles they also had a thirteen shot lead towards the singles bonus points. With the pairs being split with one apiece, Hertfordshire had their first points although Oxford had a seven shot advantage towards the pairs bonus points. Oxfordshire 6, Hertfordshire 2.
Session two.
Alan Spicer, Julia Bruce and Brian McGivern got our triples started on mat seven. Starting with a single and following it with a double they took the lead at 3 – 0 after two ends. Oxford held end three for a single and with the following two ends going for a single apiece Alan, Julia and Brian had a 4- 2 lead after five ends. Our three then extended their lead to 7 – 2 by taking a double and a single. Oxford pulled back by taking end eight for a double. Alan, Julia and Brian instantly replied taking a triple and a 10 – 4 lead after nine ends. Oxford held end ten for a double but with Alan, Julia and Brian holding the next two ends for a single, a double and finishing on a triple they had the win at 16 – 6.
Beverly Stevenson, Margaret Eccleston and Jeanette Gayler played the second triples on mat eight. Oxford started well taking the first end for a four. Bev, Margaret and Jeanette came straight back to level it by taking a four of their own. Oxford then pulled out a lead taking a double and a single to go 7 – 4 up after four ends. Our three reduced the gap by taking a single. Bev, Margaret and Jeanette then took a magnificent hotshot six and the lead at 11 – 7 after six ends. With the following two ends going for a single each our three were maintaining their four shot lead. The next four ends all went our three’s way. Taking a double followed by two singles and a four they had a lead of 20 – 8 with one end to play. Oxford recovered from the onslaught to take the last end for a double however Bev, Margaret and Jeanette had another triples win at 20 – 10.
Bill Durham, Mike Eccleston, Roger Watkinson and Alan Hare played fours on mat nine. Our four got started by taking a single. Oxford replied by taking a triple and followed it with a double and a single to go 6 – 1 up after four ends. Bill, Mike, Roger and Alan took end five for a single, following it with a spectacular five they had the lead at 7 – 6 after six ends. Oxfords reply was to regain the lead taking a triple and a single. Bill, Mike, Roger and Alan held end nine for a double and were within one shot at 9 – 10 with two ends to play. Oxford held the last two ends for a double and a single to take the win at 13 – 9.
Tony Gayler, Terri Watkinson, Toni Gearing and Trevor Knight played the last fours of the morning. They started well by taking a triple on the first end. With the following two ends going for a single apiece our four were 4 – 1 up after three ends. Oxford then held end four for a six, they followed this with three doubles and a single to go 14 – 4 up after eight ends. Tony, Terri, Toni and Trevor held end nine for a single. Oxford then held the penultimate end for a single. Our four took the last end for a double but Oxford had the win at 15 – 7.
Going into lunch at the end of the second session Hertfordshire had won both triples and had a healthy 20 shot lead for the triples bonus points. Conversely Oxfordshire had won both fours and they had a twelve shot lead for the fours bonus points. Oxfordshire 10, Hertfordshire 6.
Session three.
With Lunch over, Neil and Martin played their second pairs match on mat seven. Neil and Martin took the first end for a single, Oxford matched this but our pair came straight back for a triple and a double and a 6 – 1 lead after four ends. Oxford held end five for a single but Neil and Martin took a double followed by two singles for a 10 – 2 lead after eight ends. Although Oxford held the next end for a double our pair continued their onslaught taking three triples and a hotshot four to go 23 – 4 with two ends to play. With the last two ends going for a single apiece Neil and Martin had a comfortable win at 24 – 5.
Jan Rogers and Bill Gearing played pairs on mat eight. Jan and Bill started by taking a single. Oxford then took a double and a single for 1 3 – 1 lead after three ends. With the following two ends going for a single each Oxford maintained their two shot lead. Jan and Bill then took end six for a single and following this with a double they had the lead at 5 – 4 after seven ends. Oxford then regained the lead taking two doubles. Jan and Bill held end ten for a double to be back within one shot of Oxford. Oxford then took a hotshot four, following this with a double they had increased their lead to 14 – 7 after twelve ends. Jan and Bill then held ends thirteen and fourteen for singles. Oxford held the last end for a double and the win at 16 – 9
Jeff Branch played his second singles match on mat nine. Oxfordshire got started with two singles followed by a triple. Jeff got on the card with a single but Oxford continued on taking two singles, a double and a triple to be 12 – 1 up with eight ends played. Jeff held end nine for a second single but Oxford came straight back for a triple. Although Jeff then took a double, Oxford took a further triple and an 18 – 4 lead with three ends to play. The last three ends all went Jeff’s way, taking a double, a single and finishing on a triple he had reduced Oxfords win to 18 – 10.
Dennis Mack played the last singles of the day on mat ten. Dennis got the game started with a single, he followed this with a triple and a further single to be 5 – 0 up after three ends. Oxford came back for two singles only to see Dennis take a single and increase his lead to four shots. Oxford held end seven for a hotshot four and it was all square at six all. Dennis took the lead but Oxford pulled it back on end nine with a triple to go 9 – 7 up. With the following two ends going for a single apiece Oxford were maintaining their two shot lead. With Ends With ends twelve and thirteen also going for a single apiece Oxford still had that two shot advantage. Dennis held the penultimate end for a single and was within one shot of Oxford. Taking a double on the last end Dennis had the win at 12 – 11.
Winning one pair and losing the other gave both teams two points however by keeping the losses low Hertfordshire had a positive shot difference and also took the bonus points. With a win in the singles Hertfordshire had two points but Oxford had the better shot difference and held the singles bonus points. Going into the last session it was Oxfordshire 16, Hertfordshire 12.
Session four.
Bill, Mike, Roger and Alan played fours on mat seven. Our four started well with a double, Oxford then held a single which our four matched to go 3 – 1 up after three ends. Oxford then took then lead with a four, following this with a double they had a 7 – 3 lead after five ends. With the following two ends going for a single each Oxford maintained their four shot lead. Bill, Mike, Roger and Alan then held end eight for a triple and were only one shot behind at 7 – 8. The last three ends all went Oxfords way. Taking a double, a single and finishing on a triple they had the win at 14 – 7.
Tony, Terri, Toni and Trevor played the last fours of the day on mat eight. Our four started with a double. Oxfords reply was to take the second end for a five, they followed this with a single and a triple to be 9 – 2 up after four ends. With the following two ends going for a single each Oxfords were holding on to that seven shot lead. Our four then held a single and followed it with a double. Oxfords reply was to hols a single and following it with a triple they were 14 – 6 up going into the last end. Tony, Terri, Tony and Trevor held the last end for a triple reducing Oxfords win to 14 – 9
Alan, Julia and Brian played triples on mat nine. Oxford got things started with a single. Our three replied taking a single and a double to go 3 – 1 up. With the following two ends going for a single apiece Alan, Julia and Brian then held a further single to go 5 – 2 up after six ends. Oxford then narrowed the gap with a double then took the lead with a further double to be 6 – 5 up after eight ends. Our three then levelled it with a single, took the lead with a second single and reinforced their position with a third single to be 8 – 6 up with two ends to play. Oxford reduce the margin with a single on the penultimate end. Alan, Julia and Brian then secured the win taking the last end for a double and getting the win at 10 – 7.
Bev, Margaret and Jeanette played the last triples and the last game of the day. With the first two ends going for a single each it was level after two ends. End three saw our three take the lead with a strong four. Oxford then reduced our lead by taking a triple and then took the lead with a further triple followed by a double and a single to be 10 – 5 up after seven ends. Bev, Margaret and Jeanette then evened the score on end eight by taking a five. They followed this with a single and two doubles to take a 15 – 10 lead with two ends to play. Oxford then got within two shots by taking a triple on end twelve. Bev, Margaret and Jeanette held the final end of the day for a single giving them the win at 16 – 13.
Losing both fours gave Oxford the four points and the fours bonus points. Winning both triples gave Hertfordshire four triples points and the triples bonus points. In a close match Oxfordshire just had the win at Oxfordshire 22, Hertfordshire 18. The overall shots totals being Oxfordshire 206 Hertfordshire 193.
So Hertfordshire have now concluded their first season in the Premier two division. Although we are unable to progress to the semi-finals we have secured our position in this league for next year. We are all now looking forward to seeing the new draw for 2023/24. Our secretary has already booked Elm Court for the new seasons matches (Dates to be advised soon). So come on all you ICC players, don’t rest your laurels, let’s all get some practice in over the summer ready for the new season.