CHESHIRE, helped by bowlers from Northwich and Middlewich, have reached the English Short Mat Bowling Association’s Inter County Championships final for the ninth successive year.

They have won on the past seven occasions.

Hampshire, runners-up in 2011, attempt to go one better when the teams meet in Northampton on Sunday.

Northwich duo Dennis Leather and Vernon Slater, plus Middlewich’s Steve Proctor and Simon White, were part of Cheshire’s team for a 27-13 semi-final success against Kent.