Kent team, 2007 National Intercounty Champions

On the 3^rd and 4^th of March I went to Great Yarmouth to participate in the National Intercounty Championships with team Kent. We went into the tournament as favourites but if we were to go on previous years results this meant nothing, as many favourites tended to fall at the first hurdle.

This year the big shock was current National Champions, Staffordshire going out in what seemed like a group of death. This group had defending champions Staffs, Suffolk who had been losing finalists in 2006, Lancashire who had been previous semi finalists and finally first timers Buckinghamshire.

It was always going to be a tough group to pick the two teams that would progress. But the teams that won there place in the semis were Lancashire in 1^st and Suffolk as runners up.

In the other group Kent seemed to sail through with no real challengers. They won both matches convincingly and had to play the runners up in the other group which turned out to be a rematch of last year’s semi final with Suffolk. Somerset came through as runners up in this group and set up a match in the other semi final with Lancashire.

Group 1
Match 1	SOUTH YORKSHIRE	10	v	23	KENT
Match 2	NOTTINGHAMSHIRE	20	v	23	SOMERSET
Match 3	KENT	23	v	12	SOMERSET
Match 4	SOUTH YORKSHIRE	16	v	23	NOTTINGHAMSHIRE
Match 5	SOMERSET	23	v	18	NOTTINGHAMSHIRE

Semi Finals Day

Kent Vs Suffolk had the potential to be the match of the tournament with both teams full of talented players and it definitely didn’t disappoint. Suffolk’s stars included Vikki Layton - Irish International and former Individual National Champion, Clare Seaman- 2x European Finalist and England International and Kim O’Brien Irish International and former European Champion to name a few.

The Kent girls wanted revenge though, after losing in a 3 man play off last year after coming from 20-12 behind. The Kent sides notable players included Myself, Barbara Taylor England International and European and Home Internationals Winner, Liesa Conlin England International, Sharon Dickson Wales Captain and former European Finalist and Jackie Baker England Captain and former European Champion.

Suffolk flew into the lead but Kent’s strength and depth shone through and they managed to pinch the first session 6-5. This boosted the Kent girl’s confidence and at 9-9 they excelled taking every opportunity given. We went on to take the match 23-15.

In the other semi Lancashire came through easy victors with a 23-11 result.

The Final

Unfortunately for the neutral the final was one sided, Lancashire took the first frame but it was only going to be 1 of the 3 they won in the first session with Kent winning it 8-3. The Second session was a repeat performance and the score sat at 16-6. After the third session the score lay at 21-12. With Kent two frames away from the title, the last session saw Babs Taylor and Myself coming to the table.

Runners-up: Lancashire team

We didn’t disappoint, Babs took her frame and left me to pot the final black which brought home the National Title for the second time in Kent’s History.