Post by arf on Nov 16, 2008 7:42:21 GMT
Middlesex lose 6.5-9.5
The heavyweights of the SCCU u175 division met for the first of what should prove to be two interesting tussles. Unfortunately for us Essex got the better of it this time!
Looking at the respective line-ups it would be reasonable to assume the match would be a close encounter, an encounter that could match the titanic last match of the 07-08 cycle. This assumption was proved to be the case as the first 11 games all ended in draws!
The sequence of draws was broken when Essex recorded a win in the 12th game and then go on to record a further 3 wins from 4 of the remaining games. Final score - 6.5-9.5. What must be noted is that this the first defeat the team have had to Essex since September 2006 when I debuted as captain. The run of 2 wins (3 wins if you include the 2008 SCCU u180 jamboree) and 2 draws has finlly come to an end.
Unfortunately I am unable to give you an idea of how other games went as unusually for me I did not finish early! I was involved in a tense game as I lost an early exchange ahd had to defend for an extended period of time. Subborn defence combined with some inaccurate play on my opponent's part meant that I was able to secure one of the 11 draws. Notwithstanding my inability to comment on individual games I can certainly say that 'Man of the Day' is Martin Crichton as he obtained the sole win for the side against Neville Twitchell.
With Kent comprehensively defeating our next opponent's Sussex 12.5-3.5 we have now dropped to 4th, but we do have a game in hand on leaders Essex and second-placed Kent. Good wins in our next matches against both Sussex and Surrey will sees us catapult up the table.
Match details: www.sccu.ndo.co.uk/match2.htm