INTER-COUNTY TEAM CHAMPIONSHIPS

Qualifying Rounds

The Inter-County Championship was first established as a national competition back in 1905, but over recent years has been held only intermittently. The 1996 event, which had been the first since 1990, was replaced last year by a national team championships (open to any team of players). However, this was not well supported, and this season the EABA reverted once more to the County format. The event attracted an entry of 16 teams nominated by various Associations. Three regional centres were selected to determine the teams who would contest semi-final and final. The three-man teams all competed on Sunday 6th December in games of one hour duration, the result to be decided on aggregate score.

South West

Exeter

Brian Harvey an Michael White both made century breaks to steer their Wessex side past the first hurdle of Cornwall “B”. The Cornwall “A” side had a much closer struggle against Devon with Charlie Gay eventually holding off the challenge of Bill Andress to see them through by just 14 points.

In the qualifying game, it was the form of Cornwall´s David White who effectively secured their place in the semi-final line-up by a 298 point victory. This gave Charlie Gay a 246 point advantage going into the final game against Brian Harvey, which the Wessex player was unable to reduce sufficiently.

South East

Newmarket

Norfolk qualified as the representative for the South East with Phil Welham producing the best performances for his team, setting them off to a comfortable lead in both of their matches. Fosse Wilson and David Nichols were only required to consolidate this position, and both performed this task competently.

Albert Salisbury made the highest break of the day with 102 for Cambridge in their first match against Kent.

North

Bradford

The larger entry from the Northern area determined that two teams would progress to the semi-finals from this section. Cleveland, who have been without an Association for some years, where obliged to form one in order to send two teams to this event. A formidable “A” side was supported by a relatively weak “B” team, fired more by enthusiasm than expectations.

However, Cleveland “B” gave some idea of the depth of talent on Teesside when they completed a first round victory over Cheshire. Lee Connor provided the pivotal game when he compiled a rapid-fire break of 123 in the closing minutes to give them an aggregate advantage of 68 points. Simon Snee included a break of 86 to fend off the challenge of Paul Dunning and provide his team with an unexpected victory. Centuries were also made in the opening round by Merseyside´s Gerry Dickson (102) and Peter Shelley (114) who was in the combined team of Staffordshire and West Midlands.

If Cleveland “B” were inspired by their performance against Cheshire, they were quickly put in their place in the next round by Cleveland “A” who provided an awesome display to crush their junior side. A string of big breaks came from the cues of Messrs. Kell, Bennett and Lagan to confirm their position as competition favourites.

The second qualifying place was a much closer contest as an 180 point advantage for Staffs/West Midlands was cancelled out by Gerry Dickson for Merseyside, leaving Peter Shelley and Dennis Marr to determine the outcome of the match. Despite a magnificent break of 130 by Marr, it was Peter Shelley who emerged victorious, putting Staffs/West Midlands into the Semi Finals.