Tollemache Final
Yorkshire finish sixth in Tollemache final
In November last year, 30 counties took part in the qualifying round of the EBU’s Tollemache Cup, and the Yorkshire county team of eight reached the final for the first time since 2016. The final was played over the weekend of 31st January and 1st February at an excellent hotel venue near Cambridge.
The Yorkshire team of five pairs was: Dave Robinson (captain) & Tony Sowter, Alan Hayward & Steve Raine, Paul Brereton & Frank Dixon, Alan Brosgill & Robin Jepson, and Tom Copeland & Alan Jarvis.
Yorkshire finished sixth out of the eight teams. Slightly disappointing, perhaps, but better than seventh or eighth! The format was all play all, seven 14-board matches, four on Saturday and three on Sunday. Yorkshire began with three losses, to Kent (narrowly) Middlesex and Sussex before putting our first win on the board against Dorset. On Sunday we defeated Norfolk and then, the highlight of the weekend, an excellent 16-4 win over Warwickshire, the leaders at the time and eventual winners. At this point we were on track for a top four finish but in the final match were brought down to earth with a 0-20 loss to Surrey.
Yorkshire’s strongest pair over the weekend was Alan & Steve, who played every board in every match and were the fifth best pair overall in the cross-imps. Paul & Frank were also plus in the cross-imps. Thanks to the selectors – Alan Brosgill, Dave Robinson & Nichola Cockerill-Smith; to Alan who undertook the bulk of the administration, and to Dave who was an excellent captain.
A Yorkshire team will be back again in the autumn for another crack at this competition and hopefully we won’t have to wait another ten years to reach the final again!
Robin Jepson.
