A top-table clash between Cumbria and County Durham saw the home team win 20-16 and move within 4 points of top spot with a game in hand.
With County Durham’s Men’s B winning 7-5, and Cumbria’s Men’s A winning by the same result, it proved to be County Durham’s Women’s teams who made the difference as they both won 4-2. Linda Hindmarch produced the Women’s A average of the division for County Durham.
A close clash between third-placed Bedfordshire and the West of England went the way of the West of England 19-17. Saturday’s matches saw the West of England take a narrow 10-8 lead moving into day 2, before Bedfordshire’s Women’s A’s 5-1 win saw the advantage swing back in favour of the visitors. An 8-4 win for the West of England’s Men’s A secured their third win of the season.
Three of the four standout averages within the division came from the tie, with Lee Harris hitting the highest average (31.86) in the Men’s A for the West of England and Bedfordshire’s Lynda Drawe and John Hook (pictured) in the Women’s and Men’s B respectively. Hook’s 34.95 was the highest hit over the entire National League.
Wiltshire dealt a crushing blow to Montgomery and Radnor’s hopes of a maiden win this season, as they took a 26-10 win. Wiltshire’s Women continued their strong season, with the B whitewashing their opponents, and the A winning 5-1. Wiltshire’s Men’s B won 7-5 and the Men’s A completed the weekend with an 8-4 victory.
With Middlesex and Tyne and Wear playing their fixture earlier on in the season, the final match of the weekend was contested by Leicestershire and Norfolk. Not much could separate the teams on day one, with the Women’s B drawing 3-3 and Leicestershire’s Men’s B winning 7-5.
A strong performance by Norfolk’s Women’s A resulted in a whitewash victory, before Leicestershire’s Men’s A, who currently sit top of the divisional table, won 9-3 to ensure the win.