WITH the county championships taking pride of place this week - the few remaining games in the Southern Division League were played off - leaving only the Carnon A v Redruth A showdown to be played on Friday evening to decide who will win the division one title and go on to play in the Nicholl Cup finals in September.

Falmouth Cs completed their programme with a visit to Redruth Cs.

Falmouth's John Jones rink got away to a good start against Redruth's Reg Terrill's rink, leading 9-2 after seven ends - but a six on the eighth end brought the Redruth rink level in one foul swoop.

The game was very close with Falmouth leading 17-16 after 18 ends, but Falmouth, with a four made the game safe and eventually won 22-17 to gain their only point of the evening.

Falmouth's Bruce Littlewood's rink were all level at 10-10 after ten ends against Redruth's Denis Ward's rink and level again at 15-15 after 15 ends, but Redruth suddenly surged ahead with three threes to seal Falmouth's fate - Redruth 25, Falmouth 18.

Harry Hodges' Falmouth rink were soon 18-5 down after ten ends, but the cup of tea revived their spirit and with a 2-3-2-1-3 pulled right back to be only two shots behind Redruth's John Hopson's rink. However Redruth rallied and ended strongly, eventually winning 28-17 and leaving Redruth with four points to Falmouth's one.

Falmouth club played three mixed friendlies during the week. Away to Porthleven, a game much looked forward to by both teams, as it always produces a very competitive and close match.

Porthleven won three of the four men's matches, whilst the ladies matches were shared. However when the scores were compiled - Falmouth had won overall by three shots, mainly due to Jackie Medlyn's rink pulling off a 23 shot victory and David Winnan's rink winning by eight shots.

Visiting St Stephens on Saturday, Falmouth could only win on one rink, Francis Walther skipping her rink to a 14 shot win. The other game was quite close and once again a very pleasant day in good company was had by all with St Stephens winning the match by 14 shots.

Visiting Falmouth the Queen Camel Tourists came to play a five rink mixed friendly. The Queen's captain, A North, skipped his rink to an excellent win over Falmouth's captain, Doug Travers rink by nine shots. However the other Queen's rinks did not fare so well as Falmouth won the remainder winning overall with a 35 shot victory.

At the County Championships held at Wadebridge on Saturday, the honours were shared between Carnon, St Austell, St Stephens and Stenalees.

The four wood single between Mark Reid from Stenalees and David Parr from Newquay produced a very competitive game. Dave took an early lead, but gradually Mark reeled him in to level at 13-13. Then Mark took the initiative with long jacks and now playing consistently good bowls went on to win the championship 21-14.

In the pairs Carnon's David Perrin and Bill Lawer were against St Stephen's Pat Lawrence and Mike Heard.

Carnon took the initiative and looked on course to win the championship, but Mike Heard, playing some outstanding bowls, came back from 18-9 down to level the game on the last end and force an extra end, which the St Stephens pair won by one shot.

The triples saw Carnon's Gary Matthews, David Perrin and Bill Lawer against St Stephen's Andrew Broad, Pat Lawrence and Mike Heard.

The game started as the pairs left off, with Mike Heard in devastating form turning around end after end. However, the spectators were waiting for the bubble to burst and suddenly things changed and the Carnon trio, playing superb bowls, pulled the game back and took an eight shot lead with two ends to play, and winning the next end it was shake hands time as Carnon lifted the trophy for the Southern Division.

The final of the fours proved an anti-climax. Both Carnon players, Charlie Gay and Tim Phillips, were late arriving, held up in heavy holiday traffic and with the delayed start all the Carnon players were on edge and unsettled.

With Charlie Gay leading David Perrin at number two, Tim Phillips number three and Bill Lawer skipping, they soon found themselves trailing a very-up-for-it team in St Austell's David Drew, David Grose, Andrew Barron and Ian Drew, who unbelievably took a 20-0 lead before Carnon could score on an end.

Eventually Carnon scored a three, but this was to be their only score as St Austell kept the pressure on. At 25-3 down, Carnon had had enough and conceded the game to St Austell.

St Austell were worthy winners and outbowled the Carnon team in all departments, but not in their wildest dreams did they expect this result against a strangely out-of-touch Carnon team.

However, Carnon's overall championships was impressive, having teams in pairs, triples and fours - a great team performance.

Results - Redruth C 4, Falmouth C 1: R Terill 17, J Jones 22; D Ward 25, B Littlewood 18; J Hopson 28, H Hodge 17.

Falmouth v Queen Camel Tourists: T Reid 32, H Cawte 11; L Amos 25, N Holt 13; D Travers 19, A North 28; P Williams 20, S Humphrey 18; J Oldcroft 23, B Hallett 14. Falmouth won by 35 shots.

Porthleven v Falmouth: J Welch 26, F Walther 24; T Warren 24, R Medlyn 13; R Smith 21, P Williams 13; K Symons 16, D Winnan 24; R Bicknell 23, D Travers 16; B Rowe 11, J Medlyn 34. Falmouth won by three shots.

St Stephens v Falmouth: M Julian 15, F Walther 29; G Hammett 27, P Williams 21; S Mennear 18, T Reid 17; a Dyer 20, L Amos 20; R Biddick 17, J Ogden 15; J Pascoe 29, H Hodge 10. St Stephens won by 14 shots.

County Finals - Four Wood Singles Stenalees v Newquay: Mark Read 21, D Parr 14.

Pairs - St Stephens v Carnon: Mike Heard/P Lawrence 19, D Perrin/W Lawer 18.

Triples - St Stephens v Carnon: A Broad/P Lawrence/M Heard 14, G Matthews, D Perrin, W Lawer 25.

Fours - St Austell v Carnon: D J Drew, D Grose, A Barron, P Drew 25, C Gay, D Perrin, T Phillips, W Lawer 3.