CORNWALL COUNTY

SHORTMAT BOWLING

INTER-COUNTY

CHAMPIONSHIP

On Sunday Cornwall travelled to Dorset for the final group matches of the season. The Premier Team went into the match knowing 11 points would be enough to qualify for the knockout competition later in the season but had their sights firmly set on winning the match.

The first session saw the points shared with Nigel Nicholls winning 17-9 in the singles and Elise Daniell and Luke Jolly 18-10 in the pairs.

The second session saw Dorset seize the initiative, taking three of the four mats with Cornwall's solitary win recorded by Tom Westlake, Dennis Shorthouse, Neil Gribble and Peter Hore 7-6 in the fours. At the halfway stage Dorset led 10 points to 6 and 100 shots to 79.

The third session proved crucial with Cornwall retaking the initiative in fine style winning all four games and the bonus points. In the singles Nigel Nicholls won 18-11 and Richard Kerr 15-8. In the pairs Elise Daniell and Luke Jolly won 19-11 and David Balow and David Studden 18-11. 

The final session saw Cornwall confirm a well-deserved victory with another three wins. In the triples Ken Horrell, Linda Martin and Nicholas Truscott won 12-10 and in the fours Richard Brown, Chris Roberts, Kevin Williams and Percy Tripp won 10-6 and Tom Westlake, Dennis Shorthouse, Neil Gribble and Peter Hore 7-4 which also secured the fours bonus points for Cornwall. The final match score was Dorset 14 points 175 shots Cornwall 26 points 180 shots. 

With Devon and Somerset drawing 20-20 in the day's other group match Cornwall finish top of the South West group with an increased margin of 16 points over Devon. Cornwall can now look forward to their first ever fixture in the Main Championship at Premier Team level.

The A Team went into the match knowing they were at best playing for third place in the group. The first session went Dorset's way with only Alan Holden winning for Cornwall 19-8 in the singles. The second session was better for Cornwall taking five points courtesy of Diane Williams, Martin Williams and Keith Williams drawing 7-7 and Joe Dixon, Carolyn Stanley and Gary Davey winning 12-4 in the triples. Henry Matthews, Ruth Newbury, Brenda Sleep and Derek Newton won 11-6 in the fours. At the halfway point Dorset led 9 points to 7 but trailed 82 shots to 85.

Like the Premier Team the A Team dominated the third session taking all the points. In the singles Graham Reeves won 18-6 and Alan Holden 26-5. In the pairs Graham Ford and John Worton won 17-9 and Betty Temple-Smith and Max Burdon 20-9. In the final session the points were shared with Dorset taking the triples and Cornwall the fours. Graham Luke, Sandra Worton, Keith Matthews and Brian Wakeley winning 12-6 and Henry Matthews, Ruth Newbury, Brenda Sleep and Derek Newton 13-2.  The final match score Dorset 15 points Cornwall 25 and Dorset 147 shots Cornwall 205.

COUNTY MIXED FOURS

On Saturday 17 teams competed in the County Mixed Fours at Carnmoggas on a round robin basis with the winners and runners-up from four groups progressing to the finals later in the year.

Group One winners were Elise Daniell, Caroline Moore, Nicholas Truscott and Peter Hore with six points +25 shots, with Tina Wills, Barrie Kessell, Linda Martin and Gerald Fisher second on four +9. Group Two was won by Betty Temple-Smith, Ruth Newbury, Max Burden and Keith Matthews with 6 +9 with Rosemary Curnow, Patsy Wakeley, Graham Luke and Chris Roberts second on 4 +7. Group Three was won by Rob Peareth, Lesley Clayton, Terry Bray and Pam Williams with 6 +4 with second going to Robert Rawlings, Lynette Golledge, Bill Sharp and Brenda Sleep on 4 +/-0. The final group winners were Sheila Hodge, Diane Shorthouse, Dennis Shorthouse and Neil Gribble with 4 +11 with Carolyn Stanley, Jim Stanley, Jenny Smith and Gordon Smith second on 4 -1.

Attention turns to the National Qualifiers tomorrow with the local rounds of the singles and fours at Carnmoggas and the county triples following on Sunday at the same venue.