KENT'S hopes of progress in the Liberty Trophy were dashed by Essex, 134-100, in the first round of the competition.

The Kent team showed little enthusiasm in their attempt to overcome a determined Essex side at Folkestone on Saturday.

Kent had picked a strong team and should, on paper, have been too good for their opponents on their home green. But with the one withdrawal of Alan Dunn, due to personal reasons, many of the team showed little hunger for the fight.

Of the six rinks, only two won their matches and one of those wins went to the rink with newly selected skip, Mark Johnson. The other win came from Folkestone’s Gordon Charlton. International Andy Thomson’s rink went down by sixteen shots, and this was followed by heavy defeats for Jamie Dunn’s and Duncan Hanmore’s, and Paul Barnicott’s rinks.

After taking an early lead and then trailing by 20 shots, Kent came back at the 12 end mark and held a healthy lead. But by 15 ends Essex had regained control of the match and never to let it slip from their grasp.