ROLLERCOASTER END TO FRIENDLY SEASON

As I know there are some out there that like to read up on what the Counties friendly squad have been up to, here belatedly, are brief details on their last 3 games.

Hopefully by next weekend I will have put together their statistical review for 2011!

On September 8^th the side gathered at Bush Hill Park Bowls Club for the game against Norfolk CBA, a County who had beaten Middlesex in 3 of the last 4 years.

Well Middlesex’s good season continued with victory on 3 rinks as we won 140-106. Top rink was Colin Rigby (Normand Park), Antonio Bracallello (Bush Hill Park), David Vine (Wealdstone) and John Sinclair (Bush Hill Park) who demolished their opposition 38-17.

It was Colin’s 2^nd top rink prize from 6 appearances and David’s 3^rd from 8.

On September 13^th, with confidence high the selected side travelled to Putney Bowls Club to take on Surrey CBA. Last season on a damp and miserable afternoon at Brentham, Middlesex had ended their friendly season by battering Surrey by 70 shots, could there be a repeat?

Well no, Surrey got some degree of revenge winning on 4 rinks to prevail 134-106.

Middlesex’s only winning rink, by 23-16, was Graham Kellett (Cambridge Park), Allen Maher (Strawberry Hill), David Elford (Grovelands) and Andrew Taylor (Cambridge Park). It was a 1^st top rink of the season for all 4 players.

Finally, as already reported elsewhere, on September 15^th at Ladygate Bowls Club Middlesex entertained Bowls England in a special match to mark the Counties Centenary.

For the record Middlesex won 151-111, with the top rink being Mike Rosenthal (Harrow), Alan Syrett (Sunbury), Tommy Lawford (Broomfield) and Ken Wilson (Cambridge Park) who beat a rink skipped by the 2010 Bowls England President 31-9! More about Ken another time but it was his 8^th winning rink from 9 appearances during 2011.

Worth noting is that the Middlesex side that day contained, by my reckoning, the current County President and 10 past Presidents, one of whom of course is now Patron. The Bowls England side contained the current and 4 past Bowls England, E.B.A. Presidents and 14 other players listed as either current or past Presidents of their respective Counties, indeed as many as 15 other counties were represented.