Emphatic BICC victory for Cornwall puts them third

CORNWALL came from behind to pull off an emphatic victory away at Nottinghamshire in the British Inter County Championships and move up into third spot in division one, a point above cross-Tamar rivals Devon.

The Duchy squad did not have the best of starts when the Ladies’ B side lost 4-2 with 3-1 victories coming from both Emma Dow (15.64) and Becky Curnow (19.61) who came from a leg down to win, aided by a checkout of 114.

A good start was much needed from the Men’s B side but only Fred Goldsmith (23.30) obliged from the first three sets.

The Plymouth marksman (pictured) was back in favour with the selectors for the first time this season and justified his place when producing a 4-0 victory, aided by a win in 18 which he finished with a kill of 141.

Rich Slater (28.73) pulled another one back when he hit two 15-darters in a 4-2 win, followed by a 4-1 victory from Kevin Bray (25.43) who finished a 15-dart leg with an outshot of 115.

The hosts took the next, only for Cornwall to reply by taking five on the bounce.

Joe Yendle (26.29) won 4-2 with his best leg being claimed in 15 with a 110 outshot and a kill of 110 was also achieved by Ben Smeeth (22.27) who emerged a winner in four straight legs, as did Jez Campe (25.69).

Martin Smith (25.24) was taken the full distance but emerged a 4-3 winner, aided by a leg in 13, followed by a 4-1 success from Carl Jeffery (25.49) whose best game came in 14.

Cornwall did well to turn around a 6-3 deficit to lead 10-8 overnight and that advantage became 16-8 when Cornwall Ladies’ A side produced their best performance of the campaign to win 6-0, achieving a team average of 20.54.

Teresa Brookshaw (19.78) started the onslaught when she converted a checkout of 102 in a 3-0 win, the same scoreline that was also achieved by Nikki Furse (19.78).

Jacqui Champion (20.62) and Sue Shepherd (20.31) both won 3-1 while Sarah Gill (20.64) won a five-leg thriller and lady-of-the-match Tracey Hancock (22.10) triumphed 3-0.

As formidable a win as that was, the best was yet to come as the Men’s A side also produced a memorable performance, scoring no fewer than 140 throws of a ton or more which included 10 maximums.

Although Nottinghamshire won the opening set, Matt Knowles (29.23) came from 2-0 down to win 4-2 in 16, 14, 17 and 14, aided by three 180s, before Rob Ruberry (28.67) also won the hard way and trailing 3-2, won the last two legs in 15 and 16 for a well-earned 4-3 success.

The hosts pulled one back only for Cornwall to continue the onslaught when Mike Jones (25.46) won 4-1 with his best leg being claimed in 13 darts.

Dennis Bryant (28.09) found himself 3-0 down but won a brilliant point for the team when taking the remaining legs in 19, 14, 20 and 11.

Mike Beard (22.86) triumphed 4-2, winning the sixth and decisive leg in 12, before Gareth Griffiths (30.05) produced an excellent man-of-the-match performance when winning 4-1 in 16, 15, 16 and 16, winning the 15-darter with a kill of 101.

Simon Knowles (26.72) won without loss followed by a 4-2 victory from Neil Meneer (26.32) which included a 13-dart leg before the final point of the fixture was won by David Mills (24.71) who hit a 15-darter before going on to win 4-1.

That 9-3 victory from the Men’s A side enabled Cornwall to win the fixture 25-11, a scoreline that they so fully deserved and, on this showing, could well be in the promotion mix at the end of the season.