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MOOD OF OPTIMISM PREVAILS DESPITE FINAL DAY LOSS
So near and yet so far.
Middlesex CBA entered their final group game of the 2008 Middleton Cup campaign knowing that victory over opponents Surrey CBA, at Ladygate BC coupled with a shock victory for Sussex CBA over Kent CBA could see them sneak into the Quarterfinals. Surrey however approached the game with completely different ideas and, in the opinion of some of their own players, fielded arguably their strongest side of the season determined perhaps to set out an early marker for 2009.
That side, including internationals and past Middlesex players, Ian Jenkins, Ian Honor and Steve Touhy proved, on the day, to be too strong for Middlesex as they emerged victorious by 136 shots to 95 and gain the 18 points required to overhaul Middlesex in the final table.
The rousing team talk of Team Manager Lindsay Warner and Middlesex's previous 2 victories seemed to have little effect and Surrey were seemingly dominant from the off. They opened up a 16 shot lead at 5 ends (37 shots to 21) with 2 Middlesex rinks having failed to score. At 10 ends the gap had opened to 30 (66 shots to 36) and one rink was still not off the mark. There was room however for renewed determination and a late fight back as news filtered through from Worthing Pavilion that Sussex CBA were doing their bit and beating Kent on 5 rinks. That fight back never materialised though with the gap extended to 46 shots at 15 ends (106 shots to 60). Surrey cruised through the later ends ultimately winning 136 shots to 95, as already mentioned, gain 18 points to Middlesex's 4. This meant that the Sussex result became immaterial but news came through that Kent CBA had fought back to win by 3 shots and so win the group and move forward to the Quarter finals. The final group table was:-
Despite the result Middlesex did have 2 winning rinks with Ray Fortune (Poplar), Richard Clarke (Brentham), Chunky Lee Barber (Broomfield) and Perry Cook (Poplar) prevailing 24 shots to 15 and Nick Edwards (Pymmes Park), Thomas Brooks (Poplar), Simon Evans (City of London) and Ron Le Leux (Uxbridge) winning 24 shots to 21.
After the match President Tony Paulley had the pleasant task of presenting Andy Leekes (City of London) and Andy Dempster (Ladygate) with their full Middleton Cup flashes.
In his speech he refused to dwell on the result and instead choose to focus on the positives from the season to date. The whitewash victory over Sussex at Worthing coupled with the home win over Bucks both in the Middleton Cup, also the fact that for 10 ends in Kent we were more than matching the eventual group winners. The top 8's win over Kent in Kent. The Under 25's fantastic success not only in the national competition, having got to Worthing but also in their league where they remained undefeated in 2008. The integration of some of those Under 25's, with their youthful exuberance, boisterous nature and positive never say die attitude, into the full Middleton Cup squad and the early season success of the Home Counties side, who are next in action at Finchley BC next week against Berkshire CBA.
Looking ahead to 2009 Middlesex CBA change groups and together with Surrey CBA they say goodbye to Sussex, Kent and Buckinghamshire to renew acquaintances with Oxfordshire, Berkshire and Hampshire CBA's. Middlesex however can go into those games with great belief knowing that they can match the best sides in the Country and that with a positive start to 2009's campaign reaching the Quarterfinals is not beyond their capabilities. Remember (sorry had to be done at least once in a report!)
THE FUTURES BRIGHT THE FUTURE'S ORANGE |