DORSET left Nottingham with a defiant “we’ll be back” message following their defeat by Norfolk in the Liberty Trophy final.

Facing a side who had won the event twice and been last-end runners-up over the past four seasons Dorset had to be at their very best if they were to crown their first final appearance by lifting the trophy but their form could never quite rise to the heights required.

Steve Gait’s men, however, made a good fist of it for three-quarters of the match. Despite losing the opening end 10-1 they overcame those early nerves to lead 30-26 at five ends.

Although 59-50 behind at 10 ends and 87-69 adrift by the 15th the difference was not insurmountable but at that crucial stage when the complexion of a match can so easily change Dorset, sponsored by Ranger Fixings of Bournemouth, could not find the inspiration and Norfolk took control extending the gap to 22 by the 18th.

Unlike their ladies there was no way back for Dorset’s men but they will surely benefit from this first experience and having given excellent performances to overcome Cornwall, Somerset, Hampshire and Berkshire Gait and his squad know they have the ability to tread that path to Nottingham in the future.

Chris Daniels’ Bournemouth threesome with Dolphin's Ron Sparks at lead gave Dorset their solitary rink success stretching 10-2 clear by the seventh though the six on their final end brought little overall joy since the match as a contest was already over.

Peter Ward kept pace with Daniels early on and these two were the Dorset flagship until at 12-4 on the 12th Ward foundered and did not score again in his 18-12 defeat.

Gait caught the backlash of Norfolk international Mervyn King. Thoughts that the East Anglian might be down in the mouth after unexpectedly losing the national singles final to Dave Hubbard of Sussex in the morning were unjustified as King swept 21-7 ahead in a 28-17 win.

Barry Patterson’s men did a solid job in subduing England regular Jamie Chestney whose pink woods were never far from the jack. A fourth-end three gained by Patterson’s weighted wood sent the all-Moonfleet quartet 6-3 up and was the forerunner to a tight contest which Norfolk edged 21-17.

Martyn Sekjer’s farewell performance – he does not intend playing next winter while working in Essex – was even closer with the Dorset bowler only 11-10 behind until Richard Mason scored singles on the final two ends played.

A second-end five put the Nick Voss rink in good heart and when the skip’'s shrewd shot earned another three for an 8-6 lead the signs were promising yet after that he won just four more ends.