Duchy remain top despite loss, but lead cut to a point

CORNWALL remain top of division one after a defeat by the narrowest of margins in their British Inter County Championship fixture away at Northamptonshire, but the eight-point lead that they held at the end of 2017 has now been trimmed back to a single point.

The Ladies’ B team took a share of the spoils when Claire Irons (15.49), Teresa Brookshaw (20.31) and Jacqui Champion (17.89) all won in three straight legs but the Men’s B side began lethargically.

Only Rob Ruberry (26.84) was able to add to the Duchy’s points tally when he emerged a 3-0 winner from the first four sets, before Danny Robinson (19.78) was successful when also winning without loss.

Another lapse occurred before Mark Odgers (22.23) obliged 3-1, but a 3-2 success from John Dennis (23.52) in a 7-5 defeat saw Cornwall end the first day 10-8 in arrears.

11-DARTER: Kevin Dunstan turned in a good performance for Cornwall and emerged a 4-2

winner, aided by a leg in just 11 darts.

Kath Gill (21.13) and Sarah Gill (18.87) won 3-1 and 3-2 respectively in the Ladies’ A encounter and a 3-2 victory from Nikki Furse (18.31) earned a 3-3 draw.

The Men’s A side had a brilliant start and shot into a 3-0 lead through Kevin Bray (23.27), Dave Copplestone (26.58) and Kevin Dunstan (26.62) who won 4-2, aided by a leg in just 11 darts.

From the next five sets, only Neil Meneer (28.77) was successful and produced a man of the match performance to win 4-2, aided by a finish of 116 in the opening leg.

Four matches remained and Cornwall required all four to win or three to force a draw but could only manage two.

Simon Knowles (26.00) won 4-1 and there was success by the same winning margin for Matt Knowles (26.68) who also won 4-1 with his best legs being won in 15 and 14.

The Men’s A match ended all square but overall the Duchy suffered a 19-17 defeat and there will be renewed hopes in February when Cornwall entertain third-placed Oxfordshire.