West Midlands went into their final game in the Andy Wheeler Fisheries Championship Division, second in the table, just one point behind leaders Middlesex. The two top teams went into their final games as favourites to win as leaders Middlesex had an away fixture with Kent who were placed eighth on 165 points, some forty-seven fewer than their opponents and West Midlands, who also had an away game, against Cheshire, who were bottom of the division with 153 points, fifty-eight less than their visitors.
The ladies ‘B’ finished all-square at 3-3 in a game of two halves with the hosts winning the opening three games and the away side the last three thanks to wins from Jacqueline Simmons, Kat McLean and Shellbie Guest, Kat McLean their top player with a 19.44 average in her 3-2 win over Lyn Marsden. By the midway point of the men’s ‘B’ match, the away side were trailing 4-2, Callum Parkes and Dean Fullwood their two winners, the second half was a repeat performance of the first, with Olly Garratt and man of the match Justin Evans their only winners, Evans winning 4-3 against Dave Hart with a 24.42 average, the result, 8-4 to Cheshire.
The ladies ‘A’ replicated their ladies ‘B’ game with Cheshire winning the first three games and West Midlands the last three, to finish level at 3-3 thanks to wins from Evonne Taylor, Gemma Barrett and Eloise Milburn. The match award went to Gemma Barrett who won 3-1 against Emma Pearce with a 21.75 average.
For an overall victory the men’s ‘A’ required at least an 8-4 win, but the best they could do was three winners in the first half and three in the second to see them finish level at 6-6. Winners for the Midlands side were Ryan O’Connor, Shaun Carroll, Jack Aldridge, Scott Baker, Adam Teasdale and Dan Nicholls with the match award going to Scott Baker who beat Ozzy Ayers 4-0 with an outstanding average of 34.55.
The final overall score was 20-16 to Cheshire, but with Middlesex also surprisingly losing 24-12 at Kent, it was congratulations to West Midlands who not only achieved promotion but also won the divisional title with 227 points, three more than Middlesex who finished as runners-up.
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