CCSMBA NEWS RELEASE - 26th October 2014

CORNWALL COUNTY SHORT MAT BOWLING ASSOCIATION
NEWS RELEASE 26th OCTOBER 2014

INTER COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP

On Sunday Cornwall traveled to Exeter to face Devon in the latest round of Inter County Championship fixtures.  With Somerset and Dorset having played on Saturday and drawing 20-20 a strong result was needed by the Cornwall Premier Team to stay in touch with a chance of making the Main Championship at the end of the season.

The first session went the way of Devon who took three wins to Cornwall's one.  Nigel Nicholls won 13-12 for Cornwall in the Singles securing Cornwall's points from the session.  Both Pairs were unlucky missing out by one and two shots respectively.

The second session saw points shared with wins for Cornwall in the Triples Graham Ford, Linda Martin & Nicholas Truscott 12-4 and in the Fours Tom Westlake, Dennis Shorthouse, Neil Gribble & Peter Hore 10-9.  At the half way point Devon lead 10 points to 6 and 97 shots to 81.

The afternoon started with wins in both Singles for Cornwall, Nigel Nicholls 17-8 and Richard Kerr 13-10, the results being enough for Cornwall to take the bonus points 51 shots to 50.  Cornwall were unable to gain any points from the Pairs although John Worton & Chris Roberts again only lost by one shot.  This left Devon leading 16 points to 12 and 145 shots to 131.

The final session saw Devon take seven points to Cornwall's five to secure the match victory.  For Cornwall Gerald Fisher, Martin Boraston & Gillian Cawrse won 15-8 in the Triples to help secure a share of the bonus points.  Peter Hore's Four completed a double on the day winning 8-5.  The final match score Devon 23 points 183 shots Cornwall 17 points 166 shots.

The weekends results leave Devon at the top of the group with 86 points, Dorset second on 83, Cornwall on 80 and Somerset on 71.  With the remaining fixtures seeing Cornwall face Dorset Home and Away and Devon against Somerset Home and Away Cornwall know that they need to outscore Dorset by 4 with Devon outscoring Somerset to qualify for the Main knockout competition.

The A Team suffered a frustrating day in which the final result did not reflect the closeness of the games with five games lost by a solitary shot.  The first session saw Graham Reeves claim Cornwall's only points of the session with a 15-9 win in the Singles.  The second session again saw Cornwall only take one win in the Fours Meg Horrell, Tony Jago, Sandra Worton & Carol Ford.  At the half way point Devon lead 12 points to 4 and 84 shots to 81.

Devon secured the match victory with all the points from third session moving into an unassailable 24 points to 4 lead.  Cornwall took a consolation session advantage in the final session by winning both Triples and taking the bonus points.  Ruth Newbury, Martin Williams & Keith Williams 12-9 and Joe Dixon, Carolyn Stanley & Gary Davey 12-8. The final score Devon 30 points 189 shots Cornwall 10 points 149 shots.

Cornwall are next in action on Sunday 9 November when Dorset visit Carnmoggas and will complete the group stage fixtures on Sunday 30 November when they travel to Bere Regis for the return fixture against Dorset.

ENGLAND

Cornwall's England squad members travel to Tamworth on Saturday for the final squad day before the British Isle Championships on the weekend of 15th & 16th November in Llanelli, Wales.

COUNTY SINGLES

Also this weekend the County Singles qualification competition will be contested at Carnmoggas with 71 bowlers entered.

ENDS

Nicholas Truscott
Press and Promotions Officer
Cornwall County Short Mat Bowling Association
Tel:    07800 916059
E-mail: cornwallshortmatbowls@gmail.com

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