MIDDLESEX CRUMBLE IN THE KENT COUNTRYSIDE

Middlesex’s Home Counties Squad made the long trek to the Aylesham and Snowdon Bowls Club near Canterbury for the 5^th game of their 2010 league campaign.

With chances of retaining the league long gone there was little to play for but pride but the side came up against a Kent team challenging for honours both at Home Counties and Middleton Cup Level and they proved simply to strong.

Dependant upon your view point one of the great joys / annoyances of Outdoor bowls is the changeable weather and mother nature treated both sides to a full range of effects during the afternoon.

A heavy shower prior to the start and light drizzle during the opening ends had players heading for their waterproofs as conditions were over cast, cool and breezy. By the end of the game the bad weather had blown through, blue sky had taken over and sun cream and shades were more the requirement as the temperature jumped!

So to the game itself, Kent’s players started knowing that 20 points would almost certainly win them the league but despite the alien conditions, to Middlesex’s players, of a quick swingy green they started well and Kent only led 28-34 at 10 ends.

Kent though turned the screw and progressively extended the lead to 50-64 at 10 ends. They then went for the jugular racking up 46 shots over the next 5 ends to lead 71-110 at 15 ends played. Middlesex narrowed the gap slightly to 89-120 at 18 ends but there was to be no comeback as Kent romped home 99-149.

With Middlesex only winning on one rink Kent had secured the 20 points they required leaving them league champions for 2010 barring a Surrey miracle in their remaining games.

Top rink, indeed the only winning rink, for Middlesex was Colin Mason (North London), Tommy Brooks and John Stacey (both Poplar) and Alan Harman (North London) who won 16-15 in a tight game.

So onto West Ealing and the final game of the 2010 campaign against Oxfordshire CBA, can Middlesex finish on a high?