5 STAR MIDDLESEX BOUNCE BACK TO BEAT SUSSEX
On a Cold and damp afternoon Middlesex CBA welcomed Sussex CBA to Finchley Bowls Club for the 2nd Home Counties League Game of the season.
Once again traffic problems meant that there was a delayed start to the game with numerous players stuck in either road works or the increased traffic volumes caused by sporting events at Wembley and Twickenham. Whilst you can’t do much about road works, perhaps, as difficult as it can be to arrange, a venue or date change needs to be considered for 2013 when the sides next meet in Middlesex.
Anyway once everyone had arrived the game got underway and Middlesex dominated from the off. At 5 ends Middlesex were 28-22 ahead and up on 4 rinks, at 10 ends that lead had been extended to 15 (63-48) and Middlesex led on 5 rinks, a position they would retain.
As the weather deteriorated and the drizzle began Middlesex steadily increased their lead on a somewhat tricky green to 25 (93-68) at 15 ends, to a final 27 shot victory (125-98). Having retained their lead on 5 rinks Middlesex picked up 20 points to Sussex’s 2.
Top rink for Middlesex was Paul Reynolds (Ladygate), Michael Kopp (Uxbridge), Brian Hearn (Team Manager / Hendon) and Tony Waller (Ladygate) who won 21-10.
There were also winning rinks for Glen Adams (Uxbridge). Ian Ellis (Finchley). David Crudgington (Bush Hill Park) and President Brian Elbourn (Harrow). 20-19.
Kevin Ward (Broomfield), Alan Harman (North London), John Sinclair (Bush Hill Park) and John Sweeney (Hendon), 18-9. Kevin Hill (Hendon), Jamie Gibbs (Paddington), Andy Knott (Masonians) and Ernie Rudston (Bush Hill Park), 25-18. Nick Edwards (Bounds Green), Willie Woods (Hayes), Simon Evans (City of London) and Ron LeLeux (West Ealing), 22-17.
This fixture also marked Kevin Hill’s debut at this level.
Interestingly a group of students from the local University doing a media studies course spent the afternoon filming events and it is hoped to get copies of their finished work to either upload or distribute, time will tell.
So Middlesex bounce back and have 24 points from their first 2 Home Counties games. The next league game is against Buckinghamshire CBA at Bush Hill Park on 2nd July.
In the meantime, with the boost of a big win at Finchley, Middlesex start their Middleton Cup campaign on June 4th against Kent CBA. Full preview next week.
Tony Waller
NB - All the players pictured did play against Sussex although it is acknowledged that the pictures were taken at Surrey last week. My photographer said it was to cold to come out Saturday!
