Rochford Hundred had mixed fortunes in their bid to make two Essex team finals.

Their Thornton Cup side narrowly went down 8.5-6.5 against Chelmsford on Sunday.

But the next day Rochford thumped The Burstead 8.5-2.5 to set up an over-55s final against Chelmsford to be played at Boyce Hill on the week beginning September 20.

Rochford's Thornton team, weakened by the loss of two star players away on holiday, looked well in control of the morning foursomes early on, but finally had to settle for a 2.5-2.5 deadlocked scoreline at the Warren.

Nick Dutnall and Paul Birrell lost the opening match 3 and 2 to Lloyd Kennedy and Paul Harris, but Rhys Piper and Steve Weidner halved with Andy Petts and Gary Fisher, and Jordan Moss and Andy Dawbarn pipped Matt Sharman and Gordon Marsden 2 and 1.

Chelmsford's Simon Gibbins and Richard Kingston saw off Neil Cochran and John Gray 3 and 2, but Talat Buta and debut boy John Pleasant hit back to ease in 5 and 4 over Keith Davies and Bruce Hilsdon.

Rochford made a bad start to the afternoon singles' opening three games. Dutnall crashed 6 and 5 to Harris, Birrell lost 3 and 2 to Gibbins and Gray beaten 4 and 3 by Kennedy.

Weidner and Cochran steadied the Rochford ship with 1 up victories over Fisher and Sharman respectively, while Piper beat Kingston 3 and 2.

The pendulum swung back Chelmsford's way with Hilsdon crushing Moss 4 and 3 and Petts licking Buta 7 and 6. Pleasant restored hope with a 2 and 1 win over Marsden. But Dawbarn lost out 1 down after a nailbiting clash with Davies.

Rochford's defeat means that Chelmsford will now take on Romford in the final at Canons Brook on Sunday, September 12.

Published Thursday August 19, 2004

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