Middleton Cup - 2010

What a difference a year makes !  In the corresponding fixture last season Surrey suffered a disappointing 7 shot defeat away to Middlesex and picked up only 4 points in the process. Last Saturday, at Shirley Park BC, Surrey made a really convincing start to their 2010 Middleton Cup campaign against a Middlesex team showing no fewer than 10 changes from the corresponding fixture last term. Surrey made the brightest start and soon built up a 21 shot lead after 5 ends. The demoralised Middlesex team could not cope with the fast green or their opponents and Surrey increased their lead as the match unfolded, leading by 58 shots after 10 ends and 65 shots by the close. The home side won on five of the six rinks and amassed 20 points to Middlesex’s 2. Only a narrow victory on Rink 6 by Pat Briscoe’s Middlesex rink against England’s Ian Honnor prevented a complete whitewash. Team Manager David Candeland was delighted with his side’s early season form and was pleased with the team spirit and determination shown throughout the game. Surrey now face a tricky visit to the Royal County of Berkshire next Saturday at Suttons BC at Earley (near Reading). Support will be welcomed but please note that the fixture starting time has been brought forward to 12.30 pm because of England’s first match in the football World Cup later in the evening. In the other Group 3B match played on Saturday at Atherley BC in Southampton, Oxfordshire defeated Hampshire by 127 – 119 and picked up 16 points to Hampshire’s 6.

Surrey’s 2010 Middleton Cup campaign came to an end last Saturday at Banbury Central BC when they suffered a crushing defeat at the hands of Oxfordshire. Surrey have rarely excelled on their travels in this competition but no one could have expected such a heavy and disappointing defeat. Despite winning on three of the six rinks, the overwhelming losses on rinks    1 – 3 were largely to blame for the defeat. Team Manager Dave Candeland was very disappointed with the showing and is baffled by the county’s worrying form. After such a good win against Middlesex they have now suffered two massive defeats which surely has ended their challenge for this season. Oxfordshire are now in prime position to win the group even though Surrey stay in second place. There is now a two week gap before Surrey’s last fixture against Hampshire at Shirley Park BC on 10 July (2.00 pm). Surrey must hope for a change in fortunes to restore some confidence, sadly lacking against Oxfordshire.   In the other group game played on Saturday Middlesex somewhat surprised Berkshire by winning 118 -  112 away from home and taking 14 points to Berkshire’s 8.                                                                                                                             Rink Scores aginst Oxfordshire :-                                                                                                                                 Andy Gladwell, Steve Shanley, Lee Dickson, Barry Jenkins lost 17 - 27 to M Sykes.                                                             Michael O'Leary, Tim Orr, Eamon O'Flynn, Mark Bishopp lost 13 - 34 to B Sparkes.                                                                Charles Bruder, Tony Downs, Sean O'Connell, Ian Honnor lost 10 - 38 to Alan Prew.                                                         Paul Coleman, Jeff O'Leary, Mike Sigamoney, Chris Young won 22 - 20 against Greg Moon.                                                 Daniel Morris, Nathan Beeson, David Clark, Dennis Hennessy won 25 - 24 against H Watts.                                               Steve Spencer, Alistair Howick, Graham Vigor, Ian Jenkins won 27 - 14 against I Snowden.

Surrey CBA   104  ( 4 Pts. ),   Hampshire CBA   125  ( 18 Pts. )

Surrey brought their 2009 Middleton Cup campaign to a close on Saturday when they entertained Hampshire in their fourth and final Group 3B match at Shirley Park BC. Last year Hampshire won this fixture 127 – 111 at Atherley BC in Southampston and the points split was exactly the same, 18 – 4.  Only the winners of this group go forward to the National Quarter-Finals later this month and Oxfordshire deservedly finished top of the group by defeating Berkshire by 121 – 107 shots (claiming 16 of the 22 points on offer). They beat all 4 counties in this group and pipped Hampshire by 7 points. Surrey finished fourth in the table with a highly disappointing 34 points, two behind Berkshire. Apart from a couple of Surrey rinks who won quite comfortably, the remaining four rinks toiled in the heat and came a distant second best to their Hampshire opponents. Hampshire, who made no fewer than 10 changes from last year’s successful team, led by one shot after the first end and thereafter never relinquished the lead, gradually increasing it as the match progressed. Just nine shots behind after 15 ends, Surrey supporters were hoping for rousing finish but it never materialised as they eventually lost by 104 – 125 and picked up only 4 points to Hampshire’s 18. Once again it is ‘back to the drawing board’ for Surrey who appeared short on confidence and team spirit despite an excellent start against Middlesex.  Rink Scores against Hampshire :-  R1 Chris Young lost 14 - 23 to Peter Ward, R2 Barry Jenkins lost 6 - 30 to Gary Starks, R3 Ian Honnor beat Richard Shelley  26 - 17,  R4  Mike Sigamoney beat Chris Daniels 30 - 13,  R5  Ian Jenkins lost 15 - 23 to Leo May and R6 Dennis Hennessy lost 13 - 19 to Paul May.