Post by arf on Apr 3, 2013 4:20:01 GMT
Breaking News:
The Finals will no longer held at The Trident Centre – reasons why cancelled unknown. Consequently, all Finals will still be played on the 13th July but at venues as arranged by the competing teams. The decision is stunning as it overturns the preference to have all finals taking part at the same location. Read here for more details: www.englishchess.org.uk/finals-of-the-ecf-counties-championships/#more-24676
The observations on the Open have had to be revised since the draw has been revised; Suffolk has not taken up their nomination in National Stage. Consequently there is no EACU representative in the flagship event of the Counties Championship. Thus the revised draw is now:
OPEN
Quarter-finals
(A) Staffordshire v Kent;
(B) Middlesex v Warwickshire;
(C) Somerset v Lancashire;
(D) Yorkshire vs. Surrey
The comments about Middlesex vs. Warwickshire remain same but it is now known that the winner of this match will play the winner of the Staffordshire vs. Kent match. This is satisfying for Staffordshire since they now know who they face rather than have the uncertainty waiting to find out who the winner of the preliminary match is. There is no real history between the two counties as they have only ever played each other twice in the entire history of the Counties Championship (1967-68 and 1991-92) with a win apiece. The history between the two indicates things are even and this theme continues as based on the teams they have fielded this cycle suggests the match will be a close call.
The real shock is the re-pairing of the bottom half of the draw. Surrey expected an easy path to the SF as a QF match against Suffolk should be straightforward. However with Suffolk failing to take up their place in the National Stage, Surrey finds themselves with a tougher match against Yorkshire. Surrey has a 100% record against Yorkshire (P4 W4) but the last match between the two was at the same stage in 1964-65. The comment about Surrey’s vulnerability on the road is even more relevant as rather than potentially travelling to a venue in Essex to face Suffolk, they now have a further journey to the Midlands.
Somerset likewise are surprised as they would have been steeling themselves for a rematch against Yorkshire but now find themselves paired against the other NCCU powerhouse Lancashire. This will be the first time these two counties have played against each other in the National Stages so not possible to comment on rivalry between the two. Lancashire with 20 titles behind them as compared to Somerset’s none would be strong favourites. However Lancashire have not been as strong as in previous cycles and if this trend continues Somerset will be confident of matching their best ever performance in the National Stage, namely participating in the SF at the National Stage (2011-12).
With the exception of the Middlesex vs. Warwickshire match the remaining QF matches ought to throw up some interesting contests so hard to say who the other participants in the SF are likely to be. The SF matches though are still the defining ones so despite Suffolk’s withdrawal the overall balance of the draw is not upset.
Unlike previous cycles where there is a definite favourite the 2012-13 draw has a good balance to it. When the draw pans out, the neutral would like to see a Lancashire vs. Middlesex final for the same reasons as previously mentioned. These two august counties between them have amassed 49 (53%) National Titles which is more than all the other winners (10) combined (44)! Having failed to beat Lancashire in three previous attempts since their return F – 2007-08; SF – 2008-09 and QF – 2010-11), if Middlesex and Lancashire do face-off the bookies are not accepting any bets as there are no odds worth offering against Middlesex who when defeating Lancashire would achieve a record-breaking 30th National title!
Go on the Middlesex!
The Finals will no longer held at The Trident Centre – reasons why cancelled unknown. Consequently, all Finals will still be played on the 13th July but at venues as arranged by the competing teams. The decision is stunning as it overturns the preference to have all finals taking part at the same location. Read here for more details: www.englishchess.org.uk/finals-of-the-ecf-counties-championships/#more-24676
The observations on the Open have had to be revised since the draw has been revised; Suffolk has not taken up their nomination in National Stage. Consequently there is no EACU representative in the flagship event of the Counties Championship. Thus the revised draw is now:
OPEN
Quarter-finals
(A) Staffordshire v Kent;
(B) Middlesex v Warwickshire;
(C) Somerset v Lancashire;
(D) Yorkshire vs. Surrey
The comments about Middlesex vs. Warwickshire remain same but it is now known that the winner of this match will play the winner of the Staffordshire vs. Kent match. This is satisfying for Staffordshire since they now know who they face rather than have the uncertainty waiting to find out who the winner of the preliminary match is. There is no real history between the two counties as they have only ever played each other twice in the entire history of the Counties Championship (1967-68 and 1991-92) with a win apiece. The history between the two indicates things are even and this theme continues as based on the teams they have fielded this cycle suggests the match will be a close call.
The real shock is the re-pairing of the bottom half of the draw. Surrey expected an easy path to the SF as a QF match against Suffolk should be straightforward. However with Suffolk failing to take up their place in the National Stage, Surrey finds themselves with a tougher match against Yorkshire. Surrey has a 100% record against Yorkshire (P4 W4) but the last match between the two was at the same stage in 1964-65. The comment about Surrey’s vulnerability on the road is even more relevant as rather than potentially travelling to a venue in Essex to face Suffolk, they now have a further journey to the Midlands.
Somerset likewise are surprised as they would have been steeling themselves for a rematch against Yorkshire but now find themselves paired against the other NCCU powerhouse Lancashire. This will be the first time these two counties have played against each other in the National Stages so not possible to comment on rivalry between the two. Lancashire with 20 titles behind them as compared to Somerset’s none would be strong favourites. However Lancashire have not been as strong as in previous cycles and if this trend continues Somerset will be confident of matching their best ever performance in the National Stage, namely participating in the SF at the National Stage (2011-12).
With the exception of the Middlesex vs. Warwickshire match the remaining QF matches ought to throw up some interesting contests so hard to say who the other participants in the SF are likely to be. The SF matches though are still the defining ones so despite Suffolk’s withdrawal the overall balance of the draw is not upset.
Unlike previous cycles where there is a definite favourite the 2012-13 draw has a good balance to it. When the draw pans out, the neutral would like to see a Lancashire vs. Middlesex final for the same reasons as previously mentioned. These two august counties between them have amassed 49 (53%) National Titles which is more than all the other winners (10) combined (44)! Having failed to beat Lancashire in three previous attempts since their return F – 2007-08; SF – 2008-09 and QF – 2010-11), if Middlesex and Lancashire do face-off the bookies are not accepting any bets as there are no odds worth offering against Middlesex who when defeating Lancashire would achieve a record-breaking 30th National title!
Go on the Middlesex!