MIDDLESEX TITLE HOPES HANGING BY A THREAD

Middlesex CBA entered their final Home Counties League Game knowing that a win, by the minimum margin of 14 points to 8, would almost certainly hand them the league title for 2008. Victory on 3 rinks, with a 4th tied would normally have put Middlesex on course to attain what they needed but Oxfordshire CBA had fielded a strong team and the two remaining rinks unfortunately lost by 16 and 20 shots respectively leaving the final result as a 105 - 123 loss.

The 7 points gained leave Middlesex top of the league with a 10 point advantage over Oxford whose last game is this coming Saturday at home to Buckinghamshire CBA. Middlesex have to hope that Buckinghamshire, themselves beaten 18 points  to 4 by Berkshire CBA last weekend can ignore the fact that they are now out of the running for the league title and do Middlesex a huge favour by winning at Thame.

What proved to be a frustrating day started in disappointing fashion as news filtered down that three members of the originally selected squad had opted out from representing their County in a potentially title deciding match to chase the Cash cow in a singles event being held at another club in Middlesex.

Team Manager Lindsay Warner rallied the troops, including both Worthing bound Under 25 rinks and told them to go out and complete a good season by winning the league. Middlesex CBA however got off to a slow start under a cloudy sky and never led. At 5 ends they were behind 24 shots to 30, they managed to hold that gap till 10 ends and at that point only trailed 51 shots to 58.

Then the rain came and the gloriously hilarious sight in modern days bowls of 48 players decked out in their multi coloured team shirts heading for their bags and the traditional white waterproofs. Bowls must be one of the only sports where representative squads are given one piece of identifying coloured kit and expected to display team colours whatever the weather, how much would it cost to get coloured waterproofs or umbrellas given the traditional British summer weather!

Anyway back to the bowls and Oxfordshire CBA seemed to like the brief period of rain as they extended their lead to 18 shots at 15 ends (73 shots to 91) and even further to 20 shots at 18 ends (89 shots to 109) from there, as the sun came out, they were able to cruise home to their final winning margin of 105 shots to 123.

Top rink for Middlesex CBA was Roger Watkinson (Bush Hill Park), Les Massey (Pymmes Park), Paul Fuller (Century) and Ken Allen (Broomfield), who won 23 shots to 13. There were also winning rinks for David Pitt (Masonian), David Crudington (Bush Hill Park), Tommy Lawford (Broomfield) and Ernie Rudston (Bush Hill Park) who won 22 shots to 15 and Terry Doe (Bishopswood), Fred Purse (Broomfield), Frank Oliver (Century) and Tony Waller (Ladygate) whom sneaked home, 18 shots to 17, when Frank Oliver ditched the jack on the last end. Special mention should also go to the under 25 rink of Nick Edwards and Chris Law (Pymmes Park), Adam Richardson  (Broomfield)  and Jamie Gibbs (Pasddinton) who took on 3 under 25s from Oxfordshire, who were skipped by the tremendously experienced and multiple title winning England International, Greg Moon, and came away with a 23 all draw.

After the match a clearly frustrated President thanked all the selectors, officials and players for their part in what ultimately, irrespective of the Oxford / Bucks result, would have to be looked back on as a positive season.

Hope springs eternal however, COME ON YOU BUCKS!

Tony Waller