DEVON 81

DORSET 105

DORSET progressed to the semi-finals of the Atherley Inter-County Trophy after recording a convincing victory over Devon at the Plymouth Life centre.

The result sets up a semi-final tie with star-studded Kent, with the chance to progress to the final for the first time since 2013.

It was an eagerly-anticipated clash against Dorset’s arch-rivals from recent years, with Devon being the side to end Dorset’s period of domination from 2009-2013.

Dorset set out their stall early on, dominating on five of the six rinks leading to a 12-5 victory after two completed ends.

The all-Bournemouth rink of Julie Hudson, Liz Messer, Jill Bryant and skipper Sue Dadson led the charge winning all six of their opening ends, and leading Devon’s Jill Bishop 12-2 after eight ends.

Dadson charged on to record a fine 22-12 victory for the Dorset side.

Devon did show some fighting spirit when their rink, led by Val Linder, ran out 10 shots to the good with a 20-10 result.

But both sides battled for the win, and with Dorset holding a slender 76-74 advantage after the fifth rink, all attention turned to the sixth which would decide the match.

The task was left to South Dorset players Pamela Daters (Bridport), Sue Maggs and Barbara Lacey (Dorchester) and their Bournemouth skip Joan Halliwell to take the victory, which they did with real professionalism.

They took the final rink 29-7 making the final score 105-81 in Dorset’s favour.