MILES OF JOY FOR MIDDLESEX DAY TRIPPERS

It’s been a good week to be part of the Middlesex Friendly Squad.

Last week they recorded a whitewash victory over Cambridgeshire CBA and this week they have followed it up with victories over both Derbyshire and Somerset CBA’s retaining, in the latter, the “Jack See” Trophy.

The week started on Sunday with a trip up to Long Eaton Town Bowls Club in Derbyshire. A good afternoon was had by all and the conditions were clearly to the continued liking of Middlesex as they won on 5 rinks to record a 121-110 victory.

Top rink was Mike Fanning (Century), Phil Lloyd (Osterley), Peter Hicks (Edmonton) and Maurice Zollo (Strawberry Hill) who won 20-12.

It was also a memorable day for Keith Robinson (Ashford) and David Flatt Snr (Ladygate) who received their colt’s badges from President Graham Kellet.

Three days later and the selected side gathered at Popes Lane for probably the longest trip of the season, all the way South West to the Isle of Wedmore Bowling Club in Somerset, President Graham’s home county.

It proved to be a day of drama from the off with the coach arriving for departure 20 mins late leaving no time for a stop on route. On the journey down, with the rain bouncing off the M4 everyone wondered what conditions we would be playing in but after a back side numbing 2 ¾ hour journey the coach pulled into the car park in glorious sunshine.

First look at the bare green suggested that the pace would be fast but the locals assured us that after a heavy night’s rain the green had been, in fact, under water at 8 in the morning. Closer inspection showed that any live grass had been rolled into the green and the first bowls on the trial ends showed the surface to be slow and fairly lifeless.

The opening ends were spent dodging the black clouds that rolled over, water proofs were going on and off at a more regular pace than ends were being completed. Indeed at one stage the players were called off the green for 5 minutes to let the worst pass.

Thankfully the stiff breeze helped the clouds to pass and the weather brightened. Middlesex pulled ahead and at the tea break Middlesex were around 20 shots to the good and things looked comfortable. Somerset however pulled right back to lead going into a tense conclusion.

With 2 rinks finished and the other 4 all starting their 21^st end Somerset actually led by 2. Senior Deputy Brian Elbourne superbly drew second wood with his last bowl to reduce the count against his rink from 4 to 1 leaving Middlesex 3 adrift. David Todd’s rink scored one on their final end to bring the margin back to 2. Tony Waller trailed the jack with his last bowl to turn 1 up into 2 up on his rink and with his opposing skip being unable to reduce the count the match was level.

Eric Prior’s rink still had 3 bowls to come at this stage and Eric was one down on the head. With his first bowl Eric trailed the jack to count 2 and Middlesex were ahead. Somerset’s skip was unable to convert the position and the game appeared won. We were then treated the funny sight of half a dozen players double and triple checking the overall score to confirm victory and then 23 players convincing Eric not to play his final bowl!!

So the trophy was retained by the tight margin of 118 – 116. Then, to complete the dramatic effects as the last players left the green the heavens opened.