Following their win in Devon in the quarter-final of the Inter-County Championships Essex were in Daventry for the semi-finals on Sunday.

The four teams were Cheshire, Hampshire, Kent and Essex who drew Cheshire.

The match over 16 mats was a see-saw but then with the first Cheshire on top and then Essex pulling back to leave the final four mats to decide, with Essex needing to win two to ensure victory.

With both pairs losing it was left to the triples of Fred Gudgin and Pauline Lowe to secure convincing wins to ensure Essex meet old rivals Kent in the final this Sunday at Wellingborough.

Having played Kent in the Group Stage where it was a win apiece before finishing first and second in the group, hopes are high that Essex can win the title for the first time.

Scores (Essex first): Singles: Stuart Lowe 11-15 and 8-11, Craig Burgess 10-14 and 18-6. Pairs: Michelle Howe and Pat Dilworth 8-14 and 5-14, Maureen Binstead and Alan Jones 10-10 and 13-15. Triples: Kevin Mcbride, Nigel Reed and Pauline Lowe 12-6 and 15-4, Ian Arthur, Alan Pearce and Fred Gudgin 19-6 and 12-6. Fours: Mary Phelan, Linda Lambert, Mark Castle and Sam Lambert 11-9 and 8-7, Dominic Reed, Roy Gavin, Steve Killington and Bill Dilworth 9-11 and 5-8.

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.