CHESHIRE, playing in a national final for the first time in more than a decade, were reminded on Sunday of the standard they must reach.

They lost both legs of a one-sided British Senior County Championship final, leaving them more than 120 chalks adrift of defending champions Warwick & Worcester.

They were taught a lesson by accomplished opponents, who keep hold of the Crosfield Cup for a fourth successive season.

It is a feat managed by no team since 1961.

At Winnington Rec, where bowlers from Castle Private, Comberbach and Wharton Cons were on duty for Cheshire, the hosts were spirited despite a 235-185 defeat.  

But only one, Daniel Nixon, recorded a victory – a 21-4 thrashing of Colin Weaver earning the Winsford bowler a prize for man of the match as the afternoon’s best performer.

Shaun Yearsley, last on the green under a gloomy sky when the contest was already over, reached all but 19 against Darren Round.

However his rival rallied, picking up two chalks from the next end.

Captain Jason Cornes deserved more than a 21-19 reverse from a thrilling encounter with Ben Harris, recovering from 15-3 adrift to lead, if only briefly, for the first time at 19-18.

Andy Hamman’s effort was similarly heroic; he lost to 17 after watching Tom Palmer put together a break of 14 at the start of their head-to-head.

Giving chase was the theme of Cheshire’s afternoon from the moment Steve Morrey went down 21-7 to Steve Darling.

And a bumper crowd could feel a sense of foreboding when Steve Freer avenged a humbling reverse during the British Senior Merit in July by coming from behind to beat Tom Vickers (17-21).

After four blocks, completed by defeats for Matt Thurlwell (17-21) and Jimmy Harrop (12-21), the champions’ lead was worth 31.

And they were in no mood to relinquish it.

Meanwhile Glynn Cookson, of Wharton Cons, was the only Cheshire winner in the away leg at British Oak.

His son Simon pushed Gareth Herbert, runner-up to Vickers at the All England Championships, all the way before missing out by a single shot.

Result

British Senior County Championship

Final

At Winnington Rec

Cheshire 185 Warwick & Worcester 235

Steve Morrey (Queen’s Park) 07 Steve Darling (Triplex) 21

Tom Vickers (Wharton Cons) 17 Steve Freer (KHP) 21

Matt Thurlwell (Comberbach) 17 Pete Dunkley (Greville Arms) 21

Jimmy Harrop (Wharton Cons) 12 Greg Smith (WBFSC) 21

Stuart Kellett (Comberbach) 12 Ant Bracken (Greville Arms) 21

Jason Cornes (Castle Private) 19 Ben Harris (Great Barr) 21

Andy Hamman (Castle Private) 17 Tom Palmer (KHP) 21

Daniel Nixon (Wharton Cons) 21 Colin Weaver (KHP) 04

Adi Faulkner (Castle Private) 12 Jason McLoughlan (KHP) 21

Rob Winnington (Castle Private) 16 Ross Dunkley (KGV) 21

Steve Curbishley (Castle Private) 15 Steve Wallace (Greville Arms) 21

Shaun Yearsley (Wharton Cons) 20 Darren Round (Greville Arms) 21  

 

At British Oak

Warwick & Worcester 250 Cheshire 178

Ryan Prosser (KGV) 21 Carl Armitage (Houldsworth WMC) 13

Neil Clarke (Tamworth) 21 Tommy Johnstone (Houldsworth WMC) 09

Lee Kington (KHP) 21 Dave O’Brien (Castle Private) 06

Jason Galvin (KGV) 19 Glynn Cookson (Wharton Cons) 21

Justin Hemmings (KHP) 21 Noel Burrows (Sale Excelsior) 18

Gareth Herbert (Greville Arms) 21 Simon Cookson (Wharton Cons) 20

Jon Palmer (KHP) 21 Phil Davies (Grange Sports) 13

Stewart Meddings (George) 21 Ryan Sandham (Poynton Sports) 17

Paul Hemming (George) 21 Paul Mackie (Castle Private) 16

Carl Fielding (Greville Arms) 21 Michael McDonnell (Lloyd Hotel) 16

Chris Bergin (KGV) 21 Lee Johnstone (Houldsworth WMC) 12

Tom Pritchard (KGV) 21 Paul Dooley (Poynton Sports) 17