Match Report
Match Report - 15 Dec 2019, Hertfordshire County Short Mat Bowling Association Inter County Championship Premier 2 beat Bucks
Herts won their fifth and penultimate game against Bucks in the Inter Counties "A" Competition, where they managed a decisive 30 to 10 points win over Bucks. Herts won twelve of the sixteen games and managed to take six of the eight available bonus points. It was not a walkover as most of the matches were quite close, shown by the fact that Herts shots victory was only 188 to 175. It just shows how important those bonus points are. Herts are now top of the group being equal with Cambridge on points but with a slightly better shot difference. We are eagerly waiting for the last game of the season against Cambridge, as whoever wins, will win the group.
Session 1
Herts started well winning three of the four games in the first session. After a slow start Dennis Mack pulled back and overtook the opposition to win 12 – 10. Michael West started well but after end seven he was overtaken and did not manage to stop the strong opposition, losing 11 -17. Julia Bruce and Jeanette Gayler after 13 ends were 11 – 8 ahead and then went down for a 4, going into the last end 11 – 12 down. They held on for a 2, winning 13 – 12 in a very close and exciting match. Audrey and Brian were ahead for the whole game winning 12 - 10 although Bucks were starting to catch up by end 15.
Buckinghamshire 2 Hertfordshire 6
Session 2
Another good session for Hertfordshire, again winning three of the four games. Pauline Taylor, Robin Quarterman and Tony Gayler facing stiff opposition, only managed to win six ends, losing 6 -12. Jeff Branch, Alan Spicer and Brian McGivern had a close game and at end 8 it was 5 all. On end 9 they went down for a 5. Now at 5 – 10 down with 4 ends to play they clawed it back, taking 1 shot on the last end to win 11 – 10. Sue Murray Trevor Knight, Martin Nash and Ken Murray lead all the way through a close game winning 9 – 6. Carol Still, Margaret Hare, Alan Hare and Mary Chadd only took 1 shot in the first four ends and were 1 – 8 down, however the game turned round for them and they only lost 1 more end ( all be it for a 4) and went on to win comfortably 17 -12.
Buckinghamshire 4 Hertfordshire 12
Session 3
Honours were even in the third session with Herts again taking both the Singles games while losing both the Pairs. Michael started slowly, but by end 9 had drawn level and then slowly pulled in front winning comfortably 15 – 11. Dennis was 5 – 3 up after 5 ends then slipped backwards for 5 ends to 7 – 9 down. He then won 4 of the remaining 5 ends to win comfortably 15 – 11. Julia and Jeanette were down 2 - 8 at end 7 before starting a comeback. At end 14 they had recovered to 13 – 16. They were holding 3 on the last end when the Bucks skip managed to get his final bowl in the middle of the head for 1 and they lost 13 – 17. Audrey and Brian faced tough opposition. They played well but unfortunately lost 6 -18.
Buckinghamshire 10 Hertfordshire 18 (Including Bonus Points 2 - 2)
Session 4
This session was the clincher for Hertfordshire winning all 4 games. Pauline, Robin and Tony started with a 3 (the highest scoring end of the match) and although Bucks took 5 ends for 1 and 1 end for 2 Herts steadily pulled in front to win 11 – 7. Jeff, Alan and Brian were 6 – 0 up after 4 ends and although Bucks took 3 ends for 1 and 3 ends for 2, Herts stayed ahead, at end 12 they were 11 – 8 up. However, more exciting was the fact that the Bonus points shot difference was very close. We were just 2 shots in front with the last end of the triples to play. Although they lost the last end by 1, this meant that not only had they won 11 – 9, we also held the bonus points by a shot difference of +1. Sue, Trevor, Martin and Ken won the first end by 4 shots and never looked back winning 13 – 8. Carol, Margaret, Alan and Mary started well and were 5 up after 2 ends. Bucks only took 3 ends for 1 and the last end for a 2. Herts lead just increased for most of the game, finally winning 13-5.
Buckinghamshire 10 Hertfordshire 30 (Including Bonus Points 0 – 4)
Bucks 10 - 30 Hertfordshire County Short Mat Bowling Association Inter County Championship Premier 2