Page 27 - Winter 2019 2020 FINAL_Neat

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Session 7 - Cambridgeshire took full advantage as Suffolk sat out, taking the maximum
off Durham and going to the top of the standings. Hertfordshire dropped 2 points to Bed- 27
fordshire, as did Essex against Norfolk, while Sunderland and Northumberland shared
the points, 3 each. Session 8 - The day's penultimate session could turn out to be pivotal as the
top two teams played one another, a decisive result either way would make a huge difference
to the overnight standings. As it was two of the games were clear wins, one for each, with the
third going down to the wire. In the end it went Cambridgeshire's way, putting them 5 points
clear. Meanwhile Essex and Herts both took all 6 points from Northumberland and Durham re-
spctively and Sunderland had the best of Beds 4-2.
Session 9 (Day 1 end of play) - Suffolk needed all six points against Northumberland to
regain the top spot but fell short, losing one of their games to leave them a point behing Cam-
bridgeshire. Hertfordshire did take all six points, that was against Essex and left them just 2
points off the top. Sunderland had their best session of the day, winning all 3 games against
Norfolk to bring the up to 5th, and Bedfordshire won twice against Durham to lift themselves off
the bottom of the standings for the first time. With the top trio of teams separated from the rest
of the field by 10 points it looked as if was going to be a three horse race on Sunday.
Session 10 - While Cambs and Suffolk each dropped 2 points against their respective op-
ponents Norfolk and Sunderland, Hertfordshire took all 6 against Northumberland. Meanwhile
Essex consolidated their fourth place with a 4-2 win over Durham. The top 3 teams were now
covered by just one point. Session 11 - This time around it was maximum points for Cam-
bridgeshire and Suffolk (against Northumberland and Norfolk), while Herts dropped one to Sun-
derland and Bedfordshire had perhaps their best session of the weekend so far with two wins
against Essex. Still there was just the single point between the three leaders.
Session 12 - Essex took 2 points of Cambridgeshire who kept their slender lead as Suffolk
just got the better of Herts 4-2. It was also 4-2 in favour of Norfolk over Bedfordshire and Durham
over Northumberland. Session 13 - Cambridgeshire looked like they were going to be bested
by Hertfordshire but pulled it back to win one and draw two. While Suffolk took all 6 points of
Bedfordshire to lift them to the top it was just a one point lead. Sunderland took 4 points of
Durham while Norfolk and Northumberland ended up with 3 points each. Hertfordshire had
drifted very slightly away from Suffolk and Cambridgeshire but were by no means out of con-
tention.
Session 14 - Suffolk took a maximum off Durham but with Bedfordshire snatching 2 points
off Cambridgeshire that allowed Suffolk to extend their lead slightly. Herfordshire fell a little fur-
ther off the lead as they won 2 and lost 1 against Norfolk and Sunderland got the better of Essex
4-2. Session 15 - Suffolk and Cambridgeshire both took maximums, against Essex and Sun-
derland, as did Norfolk against Durham. Bedfordshire won two of the three against Northum-
berland.
Session 16 - As Suffolk sat out Cambridgeshire took their opportunity to retake the lead,
which they did, but only just, they dropped one game to Durham which gave them a lead of just
one point. Hertfordshire dropped just one point to Bedfordshire, Sunderland won two and lost
one to Northumberland as did Norfolk against Essex. Session 17 - It was a small lead that Cam-
bridgeshire took into their final session but since it would be against Suffolk, it was important
one. If Cambridgeshire won the lot the title would be theirs. It was, however, not to be, Suffolk
came through to win all three, which was enough to give them the overall win with a session still
to go. Hertfordshire took all 6 points off Durham which gave them a chance to snatch second
place, Sunderland did the same against Beds, lifting them to 4th, the highest they had been all
weekend, and Essex beat Northumberland 4-2.
Final Session - Northumberland could not add to their tally in the final session and ended
up ninth, where they had been since the end of Saturday after being overtaken by Bedfordshire.
The fight over 7th and 8th went down to the final session with Durham taking 4 points to finish
on 28, just overtaking Bedfordshire who finished on 27. The midfield had been close all weekend,
with Sunderland finally taking 4th on 47 points, Essex 5th on 44 and Norfolk 6th on 43.