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MIDDLESEX CBA CRASH TO DEFEAT AGAINST KENT CBA CLASS
Middlesex CBA travelled to Kent on Saturday in positive mood following their good start to the competitive season, half way through the game Middlesex looked like they may pull off something of a shock in their opening Middleton Cup group game but ultimately the Kent CBA class shone through and they powered home to a crushing 139-85 victory picking up 20 of the 22 points on offer.
Middlesex CBA showed a number of changes to their 2007 line up with 3 players, Andrew Pearce (Poplar), David Pitt (Masonians) and Dave Parrott (Rosedale Park) making their Middleton cup debuts.
The venue, Canterbury BC, must be one of the finest bowling arenas in the Country and certainly no-one can have any complaints about the green or surroundings for the game.
Middlesex started the match in positive fashion and indeed led at 5 ends (30-26) with only one rink being behind. Kent pulled it back over the next 5 ends and took a 57-49 lead at 10 ends. It was in the second half of the game though that Kent's class shone through and by 15 ends they had stormed ahead by 95-64, Middlesex steadied the ship slightly to hold the gap to 34 (115-81) at 18 ends but Kent closed the game out in clinical fashion allowing Middlesex only 4 shots across the 6 rinks over the last 3 ends as they finished 139-85 winners.
Despite the result there were some positives from Middlesex. The rink of Nick Edwards (Pymmes Park), Thomas Brooks (Poplar), Ken Allen (Holtwhites) and Ron LeLeux (Uxbridge) were one bowl away from beating the rink of Andy Thomson until with his last bowl, Andy's wood, off line, flicked off a wide short bowl sending it into the head, collecting the jack on route before bowl and jack were deposited in the ditch for a fortuitous win. Finally the rink of Roger Watkinson (Bush Hill Park), Willy Woods (Uxbridge), Andrew Pearce (Poplar) and Paul Cater (West Ealing) collected Middlesex's only 2 points as they won 21-20.
Next up for
Middlesex CBA is a home tie at Ladygate, against Buckinghamshire CBA. With
a couple of yesterday's squad unavailable for the second game it is
certain that there will be one or two changes as Middlesex look to prevent
their Middleton Cup campaign being over before it has even begun. |