LINE UP DECIDED FOR ASF WOMEN’S KNOCK OUT SEMI-FINALS

The concluding matches in the Women’s Senior Fours Round Robin at the Atlantic Senior Fours were concluded yesterday (Wednesday 6th December) and saw South Africa, Cyprus A, Scotland and England claiming the four knockout semi final spots for Friday’s semi-finals.
South Africa finished in top spot with 24 points and 50 shots difference in their account, but the other three places weren’t without some tension packed finishes over the latter stages to define the semi-final line up.
South Africa went head-to-head with local hopefuls Cyprus A team and that match went right to the wire with the Springboks winning a photo finish 13-12, but the Cypriots remained in second spot thanks to that narrow defeat.
In the final reckoning after the concluding match, four clubs signed off with 21 points and the remaining three sport were decided on shots difference.
That one shot defeat left Cyprus in the mix with 35 shots to their credit, and in real nervy tussle, Scotland turned in a good second half performance, scoring on five of the back half six ends and resulting in a low scoring 10-7 victory against USA A.
However the drama was unfolding in the other match where England lost to Guernsey 15-12.
Keeping a watchful eye on the scoring were both England and the USA A team.
With the score evenly balanced against Scotland, and England 15-4 down against Guernsey with two ends to play, a narrow defeat for USA A would have given them a spot in the knockout stages.
However England rallied over the closing stages, with a 3 and 5 finish over the last two ends to cut the deficit to just three shots and although finishing with the same points, held on with a 17 shot difference while USA A’s five shot defeat from Scotland left them as nearly ran’s with 11 shots the difference in their overall total and unfortunately out of the equation.
With more entries in the Men’s Championship, their round robin matches will conclude today (Thursday 7th December).
South Africa continue to dominate the standings and after Rounds 12 and 13 today (6th Dec) and are home and hosed for a spot in the knock-outs with 36 points.
Six points will be on offer in the concluding two rounds, with England B on 32 points, England A and USA A share 27 points, Norfolk Is and Wales both have 25 points and there’s an outside change that Jersey A could perhaps sneak a top four finishing place depending on how the results above them go.
So another day of intrigue with all to play for and a spot in Friday’s KO stages.
MEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP
SESSION 1 / ROUND 12
Wales bt USA B 16-12,
Jersey B bt Guernsey 15-13,Jersey A bt Zimbabwe 15-14,
England B bt Norfolk Is 12-12,
USA A bt Cyprus A 18-17,
England Z bt Scotland 15-8,
Cyprus B bt Switzerland 20-12,
South Africa bt CZR 24-9;
SESSION 2 / ROUND 13
Jersey B bt Jersey A 29-3,
Wales bt Zimbabwe 20-13,
Norfolk Is bt Guernsey 24-6,
Cyprus A drew with USA B 13-13,
England B bt Scotland 14-7,
USA A bt Cyprus B 21-3,
South Africa bt England A 21-9,
CZR bt Switzerland 21-7,
STANDINGS AFTER ROUND 13 of 15
36 Pts South Africa (161), 32 pts England B (80), 27 pts England A (33), USA A (19), 25pts Norfolk Is (64), Wales (52), 24pts Jersey A (16), 18pts Jersey B (-46), 17pts Cyprus A (15), 16pts Scotland (-6),
Cyprus B (-10), 15 pts Zimbabwe (-59), 9pts CZR (-54), Switzerland (-105), 8 pts USA B (-38), 3pts Guernsey (-122).
WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP
*CONCLUDING ROUND ROBIN RESULTS
SESSION 1 / ROUND 11
USA B bt Norfolk Is 19-13,
Jersey B bt Wales 18-12,
Cyprus B bt Jersey A 10-9,
Guernsey bt England 15-12,
South Africa bt Cyprus A 13-12,
Scotland bt USA 11-7.
WOMEN’S FINISHING STANDINGS AFTER RD 11
KO QUALIFIERS – 24pts South Africa (50), 21pts Cyprus A (35), Scotland (26), England (17);
OTHER FINISHING POSITIONS – USA A (11), 20pts Jersey B (7), 19pts Cyprus B (29), 15pts Jersey A (17), 12pts Norfolk Is (-26), 9pts Guernsey (-60), 7pts USA B (-40), 6pts Wales (-66):
SEMI FINAL KNOCK OUT DRAW / Friday 8th December @9.15am
FINAL /Friday 8th December 1.30pm
South Africa v England, Cyprus A v Scotland

ANNE DUNWOODIE