Desborough break Herts

A blistering opening spell by John McGuinness’s team was the perfect start for Desborough as they breezed past Herts to book a place in the quarter-finals of the Egham Trophy.

In the previous round Desborough humbled Oxford by more than 60 shots and the Berkshire side put in a repeat performance against Herts with another excellent display of bowling skill.

John McGuinness and Maurice Woodley again led the home charge as they steered their respective teams to victory, equally Matthew Hyde and Alan Price followed suit completing a four-rink whitewash.

Maurice Woodley with Lorraine Woodley, Yvonne Tilley and Gordon Knapper alongside kicked off well in the first end but then had a fight on their hands for the next six ends.

The match see-sawed but with the rink scores at 11-11 the home side pulled away helped by a seven in the 14th end for a 13-shot advantage.

Over at Watford the away skips Matthew Hyde and Alan Price were clearly encouraged by the scores coming from
Maidenhead and while Alan Price, Andy Knapper, Margaret Hooper and Eileen Devonald-Batt were in a close battle, their compatriots Matthew Hyde, Len Essex, Katrina Jones and Pam Armstrong had shaped an 11-4 lead after 10 ends.

But the real damage was being inflicted back at base as John McGuinness, Peter McGuinness, Maggie Scrace and June Essex took the match away from Herts with a compelling show of bowling to win 31-5.

A fine overall performance by all the Desborough bowlers and a quarter-final appearance against Havering in February.

* Rink Scores (Desborough first), home: J Essex, M Scrace, P McGuinness, J McGuinness 31-5; L Woodley, Y Tilley, G Knapper, M Woodley 25-12. Away: P Armstrong, K Jones, L Essex, M Hyde 19-5; E Devonald-Batt, M Hooper, A Knapper, A Price 14-12