HEADS HELD HIGH AS MIDDLESEX BOW OUT

So Middlesex CBA’s Middleton Cup campaign is at an end for this year but what a ride it’s been.

Despite a fantastic battling effort ultimately the 17 points needed from the final game against Hampshire CBA proved too difficult to get. Whilst some may choose to look back on points dropped in previous games as costing Middlesex the players and Management will be focusing on all the positives from this campaign as they continue to build a side capable of lifting the trophy again.

With success in the 2011 Balcomb and White Rose Trophy competitions 2012’s Middleton campaign, perhaps, can not come soon enough.

The only down side to the day, other than the obvious result was that with Kent hammering Sussex 20-2, Middlesex end up finishing the group 4^th, some what harsh on their efforts for the season.

So back to the days game. It was all change from the off with a different changing room being used and the game being played on the top green. The pace and condition of the green were as always at Atherley, top class for a competitive game of bowls. Even the weather, overcast at the start, improving to provide a sunlit finish.

Middlesex got off to a cautious start and trailed by 8 (24-32) at 5 ends. Hampshire were not, however, being allowed to dictate play and at 10 ends the gap had narrowed to 5 (54-59), Middlesex however only led on 2 rinks. At 15 ends the gap was back out to 8 (80-88), Middlesex still led on 2 rinks but a third was now tied and a 4^th only trailed by 1 and a grand stand finish was on the cards.

At 18 ends things sadly seemed to be slipping away with the gap stretched to 14 (93-107) and Middlesex comfortably down on 2 rinks. This meant that the remaining 4 rinks all needed to score points as well as a combined overturning of the deficit. When the first of those 4 rinks lost a single on their last three ends, despite some superb bowling, to lose by 2 the game was effectively up.

Hampshire closed out the game to ultimately win 121-105, 18 points to 4 and secure top place in the group. They now go on to play Devon CBA in the Quarter finals at Dorset BC.

Middlesex’s top rink was Darren Gosnell (Bounds Green), Barry Wheeler (West Ealing), Captain John Sweeney (Hendon) and the returning Mal Bishop (City of London) who won 23-14. There was also a winning rink for Ashley Tanner (Ashford), Nick Edwards (Bounds Green), John Sinclair (Bush Hill Park) and Ron LeLeux (West Ealing) who won 21-20.

As already mentioned Kent beat Sussex 134-97 so the final table is as follows:-

Hampshire        67 points

Kent                 51

Oxford              45

Middlesex         42

Sussex              15

Every player who represented the side this season can hold their head up high on their efforts which have rightly made the team Manager Brian Hearn and President Brian Elbourn very proud.

Looking ahead Middlesex return to Home Counties League action next week when Berkshire CBA are the hosts at Three Mile Cross.

Further ahead, of course, are the Counties trips to Worthing when on Friday 19^th August the Under 25’s start their campaign against Herefordshire CBA and then on Sunday the 21^st the Seniors take on Cornwall CBA.