Our second ICC game on Sunday the 11th October saw Norfolk travel to Stevenage for our first home game of the season. The Norfolk team contains many England players so we were prepared for some stiff opposition and some really good games.
Session One
Mat one had Martin Nash playing his first single of the day. Martin got on the scorecard first with a double and followed on with a triple. Norfolk matched this triple on end three but Martin replied with a further triple for an 8 – 3 lead after four ends. With the following two ends going for a single apiece Martin was maintaining his five-shot lead. Norfolk held a double and Martin took two singles and was still five shots ahead after nine ends. Norfolk then held another single and followed that with a hotshot four to draw level at eleven all after eleven ends. Norfolk continued his run taking two more doubles. Matin pulled right back on end fourteen with a triple to be one shot down going into the last end. Norfolk held on and took a final triple for a 18 – 14 win.
Mat two and Neil Rixon was playing the second singles game. Norfolk took the first two ends for doubles. Neil then held a single but Norfolk came straight back for a further double and a hotshot four for a 10 – 1 lead after five ends. Neil doubled his score with a single but Norfolk attacked again and held a triple and a further double. Neil held another single on end nine which Norfolk matched on end ten. Neil then put a run of ends together taking three doubles to reduce his deficit to 16 – 9. Norfolk came back on the last two ends taking a single and a triple for the win at 20 – 9.
Mat three and Bill Gearing and Mark Spalding played the first pairs game of the day. Bill and Mark started with a double and followed that with a second. The Norfolk pair then held a single but Bill and Mark can straight back for a double and a single and a 7 – 1 lead after five ends. The Norfolk pair then put a run together. Taking two triples and three singles, they took the lead at 10 – 7 after ten ends. Bill and Mark pulled back level with a triple then regained the lead with a single. End thirteen and the Norfolk pair pulled back level with another single. The last two ends saw Bill and Mark hold a single and a double to take our first win at 14 – 11.
Mat four and Bev Stevenson and Darren Brown played the second pairs game of the session. They started well with a hotshot four. The Norfolk pair replied by taking a single, they pulled level with a triple then took the lead with two doubles. Bev and Darren then held a single but then the Norfolk pair put a run together of two singles, a double, a triple and a hotshot four for a 19 – 5 lead. Bev and Darren then held a triple, Norfolk came straight back for a hotshot four. The last wo ends went for a double apiece but the Norfolk pair had another win at 25 – 10.
At the end of the first session Norfolk were in the lead 6 – 2 and had got shot differences towards those bonus points.
Session two
Mat one had Audrey Fowler, Julia Bruce and Jan Rogers playing the first triples of the day. The Norfolk triple started with a double and followed that with two triples and a single. Audrey, Julia and Jan then took end five for a double. The Norfolk triple increased their lead with a single and a double. Our three then pulled back with a double and a triple. With a lead of 12 – 7 Norfolk finished the last four ends by taking two singles and two triples for a 20 – 7 win.
Mat two had Alan Spicer, Jeff Branch and Val Thorogood playing the second triples. The Norfolk triple started with three singles and a double for a 5 – 0 lead. Our three then held a single. Norfolk held the following two ends for singles then Alan, Jeff and Val held two singles and a triple to be one shot down at 6 – 7 after ten ends. The Norfolk triple held the last three ends for doubles to take the win at 13 – 6.
Mat three and Trevor Knight, Margaret Hare, Andrew Miles and Alan Hare were playing fours. Norfolk started with a single which our four matched on end two. The Norfolk four then put together a run of seven ends and were 13 – 1 up with two ends to play. Trevor, Margaret, Andrew and Alan then held a double but the Norfolk pair held the final end for another double and the win at 15- 3.
Mat four and Barry Thorogood, Malcolm Wawick, Susan Knight and Brian Fowler played the second fours of session two. They started with a single. End two and the umpire was called and it was declared a tied end. Norfolk drew level with a single on end three and then end four was declared another tied end and it was one all after four ends. Norfolk then took the lead with another single, they continued with a triple, a five and two doubles for a 14 – 1 lead after nine ends. Barry, Malcolm, Susan and Brian then held the penultimate end for a double. Norfolk replied on the last end by taking a single and the win at 15- 3.
So with two sessions played Norfolk had increased their lead to 14 – 2.
Session Three
Mat one and Bev and Darren were playing their second pairs game of the match. Norfolk got started with a double and continued taking ends. By end nine they had a 17 – 0 lead Bev and Darren held the following end for a single but Norfolk held a further two doubles to increase their lead to 21 – 1. Bev and Darren then held a double. Norfolk finished with two more singles and took the win at 23 – 3.
Mat two and Bill and Mark were playing the last pairs of the day. They started well with two singles. The Norfolk pair then took a run of five singles and a double for a 7 – 2 lead after eight ends. Bill and Mark then held a single, The Norfolk pair increased their lead with a triple. Bill and Mark then took a run of ends. Taking three singles and a triple they had reduced Norfolk’s lead to 10 – 9 with one end to play. The last end saw Norfolk hold on for a single and the win at 11 – 9.
Mat three and Neil was playing his second singles game. Neil started with two singles, Norfolk then took end three for a single. Neil then put a run of ends together. He started with a triple and followed that with two doubles and three singles for a 12 – 1 lead after nine ends. Norfolk took a double and Neil held a single. Norfolk then took a hotshot four to reduce Neil’s lead to 13 – 6. Neil pulled ahead with a double which Norfolk matched on the penultimate end. Norfolk also took the final end for a single but Neil had the win at 15 – 9.
Mat four and Martin was playing the final singles of the day. Martin started with a single. Norfolk then took a triple and followed that with two singles and a hotshot four for a 9 – 1 lead after five ends. Martin held a double but Norfolk attacked again, taking two singles and a triple Norfolk increased his lead to 14 – 3. Martin pushed back and held a hotshot four followed by a single. Norfolk came back for two singles and a double and had an 18 – 8 lead going into the last end. Martin dug in and held a final single but Norfolk had another win at 18 – 9.
At the end of session three Hertfordshire had another win but Norfolk had three wins and had also taken the bonus points for bot disciplines giving them a 24 – 4 lead.
Session four
Barry, Malcolm, Susan and Brian were playing their second fours game on mat one. The Norfolk four started with a single. Barry, Malcolm, Susan and Brian matched this on end two. Norfolk regained the lead with a double on end three. End four and our four took a four (that’s a lot of fours) and the lead at 5 – 3. Norfolk the held a single and took the lead with a triple. Barry, Malcolm, Susan and Brian then pulled level with a double on end seven. Norfolk pulled back ahead with a five. Barry, Malcolm, Susan and Brian then pulled back with two singles. The last end saw Norfolk hold a final double and the win at 14 – 9.
Trevor, Michelle Conlon, Andrew and Alan played the last fours game of the match on mat two. They started well with a triple. Norfolk held a double which our four matched on end three for a 5 – 2 lead. Norfolk then held a single and drew level with a double. They continued with a second double for a 7 – 5 lead. Trevor, Michelle, Andrew and Alan then took two singles and it was all square at seven all after eight ends. Norfolk attacked and held a double and a triple for a12 – 7 lead with one end to play. Trevor, Michelle, Andrew and Alan held onto the final end for a single but Norfolk had another win at 12 – 8.
Alan, Ruzmilla Haque and Val played the third triples game on mat three. They started with a single, Norfolk took the lead with a double. Alan, Ruzmilla and Val then drew level with another single. Norfolk took control and held a four, they followed that with a single and a double for a 9 – 2 lead after six ends. Our three held a third single but Norfolk replied for a second four and a 13 – 3 lead after eight ends. Alan, Ruzmilla and Val then held another single but Norfolk replied for a double. Our three then matched this double. The final two ends saw Norfolk hold a double and a triple for a 20 – 6 win.
Audrey, Julai and Jan played the final triples and the final game of the match on mat four. Norfolk started with a single and followed that with two doubles. Audrey, Julia and Jan then pulled back with two doubles of their own. Norfolk held another double but our three held a single on end seven to reduce their deficit to two shots. Norfolk pushed on, taking a triple and a four they had a 14 – 5 lead with four ends to play. Audrey, Julia and Jan then held the last four ends for singles giving Norfolk the final win at 14 – 9.
So there we are, all sessions completed and Norfolk took all eight points for the games and a further four bonus points giving them a comprehensive win at 36 - 4. For those who wish to know, The total points were also in Norfolk’s favour 258 - 134.
Hertfordshire were playing the Premier division winners of the last two years. Playing a team that includes many England players and the England team coach. We may not off won, but we had some good games against a very experienced team. Let’s see if we can do better when we play them at the return match at their home ground in January.