EXONIA'S Rob Paxton secured six straight wins in this season's Middleton Cup but his superb form was small comfort as Devon bowed out in the semi-finals at Worthing for the second year in a row.

Devon were beaten by Huntingdonshire 120-115 in the semis of the national championships, with Cornwall eventually going on to win the trophy for the second successive season.

Backed up well by Steve Davies (Shaldon), David Hoaen (Tiverton Borough) and Kevin Newcombe (Culm Vale), Paxton had a terrific win over Nicky Brett 19-14.

Fellow skip James Webber (Shaldon) also finished unbeaten and, with debutant Joe Melmore from Newton Abbot at two, the England international beat Tristan Morton 31-26.

It was a credit to Webber and his rink after his number three, Richard Bawden (Culm Vale), made himself unavailable for the final.

Beaten at the same stage a year ago, David Tucker's team are currently not the power they were.

Once a force to be reckoned with — and they still are on paper — Devon's all-star line-up has failed to shine brightly enough at Beach House Park these past two years.

Devon's only other winning rink on Saturday was that of Gareth Foster (Shaldon), Craig Ralph (Madeira), Glenn Allen (Exonia) and skip Griff Sanders (Kings) who beat Ryan O'Flanagan 21-18.

Back in the fold this season, Sanders has enjoyed a good cup run. After missing out in the opening match against Gloucestershire, Sanders has won five matches in a row, two more than fellow Devon skips Sam Tolchard (Kings), Kevin Phillips (Exonia) and Phil Downs (Shaldon).

Sometimes victory and defeat can be measured in fine lines and while Devon missed out by just five shots, Cornwall's three-shot margin of victory took them past semi-final opponents Kent and on to beat Hunts 126-109 in the final.

Devon's season started full of hope but they were to lose the services of Stephen Fourte (Plymouth), Neil Pook (Shaldon), Adrian O'Neil (Kings) along the way and latterly that of Richard Bawden.

It could be argued that Devon would not have reached the finals if Cornwall had been in their group and not elsewhere these last two years. That will change next season and it will be a massive game when the two meet in the opening match of the group at St Austell next June.

Results, Bowls England Middleton Cup (Worthing), semi-final: Devon lost to Huntingdonshire 115-120 (Devon skips first) — Phil Hackett (Kings), Craig Down (Kings), Lee Haywood (Shaldon), Sam Tolchard (Kings) lost to Stuart Popple 15-18; Simon Broom (Culm Vale), Jamie Heard (Exonia), Simon Haywood (Shaldon), Kevin Phillips (Exonia) lost to Trevor Collins 12-19; Gareth Foster (Shaldon), Craig Ralph (Madeira), Glenn Allen (Exonia), Griff Sanders (Kings) bt Ryan O'Flanagan 21-18; Oliver Lucas (Civil Service), Joe Melmore (Kings), Stuart Evans (Shaldon), James Webber (Shaldon) bt Tristan Morton 31-26; Ryan Whitlock (Shaldon), Mark Theedom (Crediton), Ian Lesley (Shaldon), Phil Downs (Shaldon) lost to Ean Morton 17-25; Steve Davies (Shaldon), David Hoaen (Tiverton Borough), Kevin Newcombe (Culm Vale), Robert Paxton (Exonia) bt Nicky Brett 19-14.