Chacewater were crowned Southern division champions on Friday evening without having to bowl a bowl.

In the showdown between Carnon A and Redruth A, Carnon were in the situation that they had to get at least four and a half points of the five available to win the league.

In a very tense game with many spectators from practically all division I clubs present, Redruth started well and were up on all rinks after six ends.

Gerald Fisher's Redruth's rink were the first to succumb to the pressure Carnon were putting on them as Mark Foster's rink, with team members Charlie Gay, Andy Laity and Colin Allen all bowling well, making it very clear that Redruth were not going to get any points from this rink. Carnon completely dominated to win 41-17, a huge margin.

Redruth's Barry Kessell's rink led all the way to the tea interval against Carnon's Bill Lawer's rink. The Redruth front men were getting the better of the Carnon front men and it was up to Bill Lawer at skip to save many shots through some excellent bowling to keep Carnon in touch. Eventually Carnon got into the lead and were never headed, to secure the match with four points.

It was now down to Redruth's Robin Walters' rink to try and win the all-important point against Carnon's Stephen Lawer's rink.

Redruth took an early lead and were never headed as they eventually overcame the Carnon rink, leading by nine shots on the 19th end. Stephen killed three ends in succession with the light nigh on pitch black as at 9.35pm the 19th end was played. How the players could see the jack was a mystery, but eventually Robin drew the shot with the penultimate bowl - not that any of the spectators could see it, but the shout from the Redruth players confirmed Redruth had secured the one point.

The result of this match meant that Carnon and Chacewater were now level on points, but Chacewater, with a superior shot average, were declared league winners and so will go on to represent the Southern division in the County league divisional finals.

Carnon have won the league seven times, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, a great record and they went on to win the Nicholl cup four times in 1998, 2001, 2002 and 2005. Falmouth were the last club to win the league in 1999. Chacewater have won the title twice in 1987 and 1995 and went on to win the Nicholl cup in 1987.

It has been a hard tussle in the league this year. Carnon are probably victims of their own success, as they enter so many competitions and get through so many rounds and finals, that the commitment from the players has to be huge, with the result that some players find it difficult to play every game due to work, family ties, sickness, etc.

Everyone in the division wishes Chacewater success this year in their bid to win the Nicholl cup. They are a fine club and deserve their chance.

Closer to home, the Falmouth cup rounds were played this week. This competition is for four teams of triples, two play at home and two play away, with the combined scores deciding the winners.

At Stithians, Max Burley's rink had a good start against Falmouth's Tony Nancolas' rink, going into a 5-2 lead. But by the tea interval Falmouth had gone in front to lead 12-8. After tea Falmouth picked up two fours in succession to go on to secure a 24-11 win.

Stithians' David Pascoe's rink were 4-1 up after four ends against Falmouth's David Winnan's rink. Stithians were to stay on four for the next ten ends as Falmouth progressed to an 18-4 lead after 13 ends. Stithians pulled back a little at the end, but Falmouth had done enough to win 18-11. This gave Falmouth a 20 shot cushion.

At Falmouth Ron Medlyn's trio were having a real tussle against Stithians' Harry Barnes' rink and at tea Falmouth were only 10-8 up. Stithians came back to within one shot as by the 15th end Falmouth led 16-15, but by winning the last three ends 1-3-3 ran out winner 23-15.

Falmouth's Andy Richards' trio were in trouble against Stithians' Richard Rowe's rink, who led 10-4 at the tea interval. After tea Falmouth changed gear with 2-3-1-3-2-2-1 and went on to take a two, leaving Falmouth winners 18-12. This left Falmouth overall winners by 34 shots and will now face last year's winners Chacewater A in the next round.

Falmouth B squad were involved in the divisional plate competition. This consists of three games, pairs, triples and fours, whoever wins two out of the three games goes forward to the next round. No first team players are allowed in the competition.

Falmouth had to visit Mylor and came away second, but I'm afraid in the pairs Mylor's Chris Loader (an ex-Truro skip, now back bowling again after a lay-off and joining the Mylor club) and E Watts were too good for the Falmouth pairing of Melville Angel and Doug Travers, as Mylor romped home to a 17-7 win.

The triples saw Falmouth's Paul Williams' rink play Adrian Poole's rink from Mylor. This was a very close game and could have gone either way. Both teams were level at 6-6, 7-7 and 8-8. Eventually, Falmouth pulled clear to lead 13-9 after 13 ends. Mylor could only take two singles on the last two ends, leaving Falmouth winners 13-11.

So it was all down to the fours. Mylor's Jim Brown's rink got away to a good start against Falmouth's John Oldcroft's rink, leading 11-3 after nine ends, but Falmouth recovered to be only one shot behind at 12-11 with one end to play.

This was taken by Mylor, so they win 2-1 on games overall and go forward to the next round.

Falmouth C also played in their divisional plate match at Falmouth against Perranporth, who trounced Falmouth 3-0. In the pairs Falmouth's Harry Hodge skipping, with Jim Chatteron leading, were soon in trouble and could only score on five ends of the 15 played, leaving Perranporth winner 20-10.

In the triples Harry Stephens' rink were 14-4 up after 10 ends against Perranporth's J Woods' rink, but after tea it was all change as so often happens. Perranporth, with 2-3-2-3-1 went on to snatch the game on the last end to win 15-14.

In the fours Perranporth's B Cockburn's rink took a commanding lead 17-3 after 10 ends over Falmouth's Bruce Littlewood's rink. Faced with this deficit, Falmouth could not respond and Perranporth won 20-8.

Results Falmouth cup - Falmouth v Stithians: away, A Nancholas 24, M Burley 11; D Winnan 18, D Pascoe 11. Home, R Medlyn 23, H Barnes 15; A Richards 18, R Rowe 12. Falmouth won by 34 shots.

Divisional plate - Mylor B v Falmouth B: pairs, C Loader 17, D Travers 7; triples, A Poole 11, P Williams 13; fours, J Brown 14, J Oldcroft 11. Mylor 2, Falmouth 1.

Divisional plate - Falmouth C v Perranporth B: pairs M Hodge 10, A N Other 20; triples, H Stephens 14, J Woods 15; fours, B Littlewood 8, B Cockburn 20. Falmouth 0, Perranporth 3