This Saturday the 17^th October Hertfordshire players began their quest to reach next year’s National Finals in March and April.

Player illness and family matters reduced the field to only six teams from the original eight entries.

The first session saw the Greenwood quartet play against a Letchworth/Greenwood team. The Letchworth/Greenwood team started well but a five-count on the third end helped them extend their lead; they eventually won 13-4. Neil Rixon’s team played a quartet from his club, Shillington. Shillington started well taking a four on the second end, but lost five ends on the spin. Neil ran out 13 – 5 winners. Darren Brown’s four lost their first three ends but rallied to run out 10 - 5  winners.

In Session two, both Neil Rixon’s and Darren Brown’s teams won well. In the third game, Alan Hare’s four took on Val Thorogood’s four. The game ended six all.

Session three and two of the games ended in draws; the highlight was the Shillington four who picked up a five-count on the last end to tie their game 12 – 12 against Alan Hare’s four. Brian Fowler’s four started slowly but clawed back the deficit and, by the 7^th end, got their noses in front, holding onto the win 7 – 5.

Session four: Neil Rixon started his game with a five on the first end, a perfect start. They ran out 12 – 4 winners. Darren Brown’s four picked up two fours on back-to-back ends, giving them an eight-nil lead after only two ends. They never looked back, running out 11 – 5 winners.  The game between Val Thorogood’s team and Shillington was nip and tuck throughout, but Val just hung on to win 8 – 7.

Session five: Two teams vied for first place. Neil Rixon and Darren Brown, both on seven points, but Neil had +29 shots and Darren+20, all to play for. Neil was playing against Val Thorogood and Darren against Alan Hare. Neil’s team took the first end, but the second was a tied end. A run of three consecutive ends put Val ahead 6 – 1. Neil rallied, taking a two on end seven. Needing three shots to draw and four to win on the last end. Both teams took turns holding shot, but Val’s team managed to hold on despite dropping one shot. On Darren’s mat they stormed away, winning the first five ends to lead 10 – 0. In end six Alan picked up two shots, but it was too late to make a difference. Darren then picked up a one on the penultimate end and, to finish the game, managed to pick up six shots on the final end, winning 17 – 2.

At the completion of all games, the following four teams will potentially represent Hertfordshire at the National Finals at Melton Mowbray.

1^st Jeanette Gayler, Jan Rogers, Mark Spalding & Darren Brown.

2^nd Alan Spicer, Bev Stevenson, Julia Bruce & Neil Rixon.

3^rd Barry Thorogood, Marilyn Stevens, Martin Nash & Val Thorogood.

4^th Mick Thrush, Angie Baird, Margaret Hare & Alan Hare.