SUSSEX SUNK AS MIDDLESEX KEEP DESTINY IN OWN HANDS

So Middlesex CBA got the result they needed to keep their Middleton Cup campaign alive going into their final game against Hampshire CBA on July 9^th at Atherley BC.

The 16-6 points victory over Sussex CBA at Finchley BC on Saturday was not perhaps as big as may have been hoped for, but a victory is a victory and continuing the recent winning run can only breed confidence going into the games ahead (See Balcomb Trophy reports).

Middlesex now know that a minimum 17-5 victory in Hampshire’s back yard will see them reach the quarter finals for the first time in a number of years.

Returning to Saturday’s game, Middlesex started confidently both as a result of their recent record against Sussex and their performances against Kent and Oxford in this years Middleton campaign.

Despite the improved weather the green remained somewhat pushy but with the sun on their backs and a winning run to maintain the conditions were of less focus!

After 5 ends Middlesex led 34-22. Middlesex then heeded the warning from Captain John Sweeney not to sleep through ends 7 to 14 and decided to sleep in early as by 10 ends Sussex had caught up 51 each. The next 5 ends saw things ebb and flow with Middlesex slowly edging ahead 76-73 at 15 ends.

Then in a reversal to the Kent game Middlesex kicked for home and at 18 ends they had jumped 103-89 ahead. Maintaining that lead to finish 120-105 ahead at the close securing 16 points with 3 wining rinks.

Top rink for Middlesex was Richard Southgate (Harrow), Nick Edwards (Bounds Green), John Sinclair (Bush Hill Park) and Ron LeLeux (West Ealing) who stormed home 28-11. There were also winning rinks for Paul Reynolds (Ladygate), Kevin Ward (Broomfield), John Carey and Paul Cater (West Ealing) 20-16 and Poplar trio Ray Fortune, Tommy Brookes, Perry Cook with Ladygate’s Tony Waller 25-14.

With Mal Bishop missing the game, John Carey came in at the eleventh hour, so the Selectors and Team Manager will have been particularly pleased with the result on Paul Caters rink.

After the match John Carey, Chris Cleaver (City of London) and John Sinclair all received the Middleton Cup flashes from a happy President Brian Elbourn.

In the days other game Kent paid the price for upsetting their Oxfordshire hosts, by refusing to go to Banbury, as they were beaten 115-96 (18 points to 4) at Oxford City and County, a result which also ended their interest in this years competition.

So the table to date looks like this:-

Hampshire      P3        Points 49

Oxfordshire    P4        Points 45

Middlesex       P3        Points 38

Kent                P3        Points 31

Sussex             P3        Points 13

So the big day, July 9^th, every one down to Atherley, let’s turn the town Orange and make it a home game and cheer the side into the Quarter finals