Top of the County League CIBC, played their final game of the season beating Essex County BC, who were second, to retain top spot on the league table. The overall final shot count favoured CIBC by 130-102 and CIBC took 12 points to 1 for Essex County BC. The difference in the scores masks the fact that this was a very close encounter. In four of the six games the winning score was just a single shot, and the point distribution could easily have been much less flattering. At home CIBC won on two rinks and lost on one. Away they won on all three rinks. Both the home and away shot counts favoured CIBC.
Essex County cannot now win the County League this season. However, Falcon BC have two games to play and can overtake CIBC if they can earn 25 of the 26 points available. In neatly forty years of trying CIBC have never won the County League. No doubt Falcon will be doing everything they can to extend the barren period.
At home Candell Lench had Dean Richie, Alan Ghent and Jamie Coleman in his team. They did not have a great start and found themselves 0-10 down after three ends. Matters improved and they got it to 4-12 after eight ends. They slumped again and were down 4-18 with just ten ends to play. They started the comeback of the season by winning the next eight ends (17-18) with two ends to play. Both teams shared the shot count of the last two ends and CIBC lost 19-20.
Darren Dellar, played with Brian Finney, Brian Smith and Nigel Jenner. They also started slowly and were 4 shots down after two ends. They bounced back and led 8-5 after seven ends but Essex County rallied to hold a 6 shot lead after ten ends, (8-14). Darren and team grabbed the lead again and were 19-15 up after fifteen ends and went on to win, 22-21.
The ever reliable Dan Rodger and team Martin Hogg, Kevin Smith and Ed Mercer managed to dodge all the drama by leading from start to finish. They led 12-2 after eight ends. A small three end glitch saw them concede 5 shots but they still led 14-8 after fourteen ends and they went on to win 23-10.
Away from home Bradley Mann played with Geoff King, Ian Reeves and Dave Fisher. They were never behind on the scoreboard thanks to a quality start leading 5-0 after three ends and 11-2 after nine. Drama occurred between the tenth and the fourteenth ends after which the scores were tied 12-12. CIBC recovered well winning the next three ends and the game17-16.
Jack Butcher, together with team Peter Pushman, Paul Hills and Andy Smith were in a battle early in the game as the lead changed three times in the first five ends at which time CIBC were behind 6-9. After fourteen ends they were still behind (14-15), However, by winning the final seven ends they took the game 29-15.
Shaun Cook played with, Alf Comerford, Ian Harris and Matt Lace. They had a slow start but the scores were level (3-3) after four ends. CIBC led 12-4 after nine ends then 12-11 after twelve ends. After seventeen ends they seemed to have the game under control leading 20-14 but a strong finish by the hosts had them clinging to a 21-20 victory.