Post by arf on Mar 9, 2014 8:26:13 GMT
“Victory is sweetest when you’ve known defeat” - Forbes
1. Surrey 3.5/4 (38.5Game Points)
2. Essex 3/4 (38.5)
3. Kent 2.5/4 (34)
4. Middlesex 1/4 (25.5)
5. Sussex 0/4 (23.5)
So the u180 campaign ends for another year. Good luck to Essex, Kent and Surrey in the National Stage. It is hoped that one can regain the Ron Banwell Trophy for the SCCU. Whilst it is good to wish our SCCU rivals well it is disappointing that the team did not make it to the National Stage but it proved impossible to overcome an Achilles Heel, namely a dearth of representation in the 160-169 range. 2013-14 saw a total of 29 players used where 16 where graded 160+ and of these 7 were graded 160-169. Like last season the squad were lacking in numbers in the 160-169 grade range primarily due to churn. For some reason the u180 squad lose more players to the Open and u160 squads than they get from either thus suggesting that churn rather than opponents is Middlesex’s greatest rival.
The backbone of any u180 squad is the numbers of players within the 160-169 range as this guarantees a team has depth. The cycle saw Middlesex have 7 in total which meant the norm was that 4 played in each match. By having insufficient 160-169 players your author thankfully relied on the u160 squad but the downside was that the team average over the cycle was 163 well down on the 168 average that saw the squad sweep all before them in 2011-12. In short an u180 team with such an average is unable to sustain a challenge for either the SCCU or National titles where the champion teams’ averages are 167 and 169 respectively. It is hoped that the 2014-15 cycle will see greater numbers in this range in order to ensure Middlesex try to reach the moon in 2014-15 making a concerted effort to challenge for both the SCCU and National titles.
Notwithstanding the disappointment for the u180 all is not lost. The final round of SCCU matches are being played on 15th March 2014 where the Open team play Surrey in a title-deciding match. The u180 will of course wish the team well and be on hand to support their endeavours in challenging for the Open Title in the National Stage should they get there. However in the event they lose to Surrey and neither Essex nor Hertfordshire do them a favour it will see the Open team challenge for the Minor Title. If this does happen it will mean the u180 squad will form the spine of the team as the Minor competition requires each team to have an average not greater than 180. Watch this space.
Martin Blaine Equivalent Best Performance Cup
Each cycle the MCCA awards the Martin Blaine Cup to the best performing Open team player – a cup and cash prize. It was introduced in the 1970’s due to 1st Team Captains having difficulties raising teams and representative ones especially away from home. Having had difficulty raising representative teams this cycle maybe it is worth introducing a similar award for the u180 extending it even further to the other divisions. In the event they were to institute a similar award for the u180 the final positions are:
1= P. Kennelly (21points) Paul Kennelly wins on tie break
1= I. Calvert (21)
3. G. thingyson (20)
4= A. Fulton (14)
4= M. Dydak (14)
If MCCA were to award a Best Performance Award for the u180 what should it be called? Should it be simply called, u180 Best Performance Trophy? Or should it be named after a captain who specifically led the 2nd/u175/u180 team? If so whom? Or should it be after any successful Middlesex Captain? If so whom? Or are there any other suggestions?
Go on the Middlesex!
With both Middlesex and Sussex being unable to qualify for the National Stage – unless due to the limited number of entries in the National Stage the ECF Controller uses his discretion and decides to give SCCU a 4th berth which Middlesex for one would decline - they had the ignominy of playing to avoid ‘winning’ the wooden spoon. This was not an unusual occurrence for Sussex who has traditionally finished in bottom two places – last time they qualified for National Stage was in 2008-09 when competition was u175; however it was a relatively novel one for Middlesex. Recent cycles had seen Middlesex lift the Montague-Jones Trophy (2011-12) AND habitually qualify for the National Stages even going onto win the Ron Banwell Trophy (2011-12). The last time Middlesex contested the wooden spoon was in 2009-10 the first cycle after the grading boundaries changed. In that cycle Middlesex failed to win a single game with the nadir being the home default to Sussex in the final match of the cycle. If the idea of taking home the wooden spoon was not sufficient motivation to defeat Sussex then pride should be; the current campaign had seen Middlesex battered and bruised, bowed but not defeated! True defeat is when you give up trying and in facing Sussex that was something no-one would want to happen. So could Middlesex finally record a win and finally taste the sweet fruit of victory?
Despite concerns that the match may not go ahead, primarily due to Middlesex not being able to raise a team as they had to travel AND were only playing for pride, it proceeded as expected. Ironically in what for most would be considered a meaningless match Middlesex fielded one of their stronger teams of the cycle (Team Average 162) – if only they had been able to do that throughout the season then maybe they could have challenged for at least the SCCU title! Although being at home Sussex just reach the 160 barrier the first time all season they had done so (Team Average 160). With the teams separated by 2points a close match was on the cards Par score: Match Drawn.
With your author playing once again, the first time since 2010-11 he has played in all matches within a cycle, brief details of how the match unfolded will be given. With the ignominy of failing to attain a point in the campaign it was no surprise that a more belligerent attitude was adopted by the players of the respective teams. This belligerence result in 12 definitive results – 7 Middlesex wins as compared to Sussex’s 5.
The match was definitely one of two halves. The first saw Middlesex race to a 5-2 lead with Mark, Ian, Russell and Guy’s wins being sandwiched by the draws of Richard and George. The second half saw Sussex put up a rearguard action as they clawed back and were able to reduce the deficit to one as John and Paul were the only victors in the next 7 games. With 2 games to go Middlesex led 7.5-6.5 and were looking good in both. U180 debutants Jagdeep and Michael were sitting on a draw and a win respectively and so long as they did not let the occasion get to them Middlesex were assured of victory. Jagdeep agrees the draw to ensure Middlesex cannot be beaten and Michael puts the icing on the cake with a maiden victory. Middlesex win close encounter 9-7 and having tasted the bitterness of defeat finally taste the sweet fruit of victory; in doing so they regain some pride and avoid taking home the wooden spoon.
For completeness the other match of the round, Surrey vs. Kent, was to decide whom of the two plus Essex would become SCCU Champions. A victory for either would see them walk off with Montague-Jones Trophy. Essex on the other hand would be hoping for a draw as all teams would be tied on 3pts each. In this scenario game points come into play and Essex would be crowned Champions. Unfortunately for Essex Surrey managed to record a comprehensive victory over Kent – 9.5-6.5 – and in doing so lift the Montague-Jones Trophy for the first time since 2009-10 the inaugural year of the u180.
League Table Round 4:Despite concerns that the match may not go ahead, primarily due to Middlesex not being able to raise a team as they had to travel AND were only playing for pride, it proceeded as expected. Ironically in what for most would be considered a meaningless match Middlesex fielded one of their stronger teams of the cycle (Team Average 162) – if only they had been able to do that throughout the season then maybe they could have challenged for at least the SCCU title! Although being at home Sussex just reach the 160 barrier the first time all season they had done so (Team Average 160). With the teams separated by 2points a close match was on the cards Par score: Match Drawn.
With your author playing once again, the first time since 2010-11 he has played in all matches within a cycle, brief details of how the match unfolded will be given. With the ignominy of failing to attain a point in the campaign it was no surprise that a more belligerent attitude was adopted by the players of the respective teams. This belligerence result in 12 definitive results – 7 Middlesex wins as compared to Sussex’s 5.
The match was definitely one of two halves. The first saw Middlesex race to a 5-2 lead with Mark, Ian, Russell and Guy’s wins being sandwiched by the draws of Richard and George. The second half saw Sussex put up a rearguard action as they clawed back and were able to reduce the deficit to one as John and Paul were the only victors in the next 7 games. With 2 games to go Middlesex led 7.5-6.5 and were looking good in both. U180 debutants Jagdeep and Michael were sitting on a draw and a win respectively and so long as they did not let the occasion get to them Middlesex were assured of victory. Jagdeep agrees the draw to ensure Middlesex cannot be beaten and Michael puts the icing on the cake with a maiden victory. Middlesex win close encounter 9-7 and having tasted the bitterness of defeat finally taste the sweet fruit of victory; in doing so they regain some pride and avoid taking home the wooden spoon.
For completeness the other match of the round, Surrey vs. Kent, was to decide whom of the two plus Essex would become SCCU Champions. A victory for either would see them walk off with Montague-Jones Trophy. Essex on the other hand would be hoping for a draw as all teams would be tied on 3pts each. In this scenario game points come into play and Essex would be crowned Champions. Unfortunately for Essex Surrey managed to record a comprehensive victory over Kent – 9.5-6.5 – and in doing so lift the Montague-Jones Trophy for the first time since 2009-10 the inaugural year of the u180.
1. Surrey 3.5/4 (38.5Game Points)
2. Essex 3/4 (38.5)
3. Kent 2.5/4 (34)
4. Middlesex 1/4 (25.5)
5. Sussex 0/4 (23.5)
So the u180 campaign ends for another year. Good luck to Essex, Kent and Surrey in the National Stage. It is hoped that one can regain the Ron Banwell Trophy for the SCCU. Whilst it is good to wish our SCCU rivals well it is disappointing that the team did not make it to the National Stage but it proved impossible to overcome an Achilles Heel, namely a dearth of representation in the 160-169 range. 2013-14 saw a total of 29 players used where 16 where graded 160+ and of these 7 were graded 160-169. Like last season the squad were lacking in numbers in the 160-169 grade range primarily due to churn. For some reason the u180 squad lose more players to the Open and u160 squads than they get from either thus suggesting that churn rather than opponents is Middlesex’s greatest rival.
The backbone of any u180 squad is the numbers of players within the 160-169 range as this guarantees a team has depth. The cycle saw Middlesex have 7 in total which meant the norm was that 4 played in each match. By having insufficient 160-169 players your author thankfully relied on the u160 squad but the downside was that the team average over the cycle was 163 well down on the 168 average that saw the squad sweep all before them in 2011-12. In short an u180 team with such an average is unable to sustain a challenge for either the SCCU or National titles where the champion teams’ averages are 167 and 169 respectively. It is hoped that the 2014-15 cycle will see greater numbers in this range in order to ensure Middlesex try to reach the moon in 2014-15 making a concerted effort to challenge for both the SCCU and National titles.
Notwithstanding the disappointment for the u180 all is not lost. The final round of SCCU matches are being played on 15th March 2014 where the Open team play Surrey in a title-deciding match. The u180 will of course wish the team well and be on hand to support their endeavours in challenging for the Open Title in the National Stage should they get there. However in the event they lose to Surrey and neither Essex nor Hertfordshire do them a favour it will see the Open team challenge for the Minor Title. If this does happen it will mean the u180 squad will form the spine of the team as the Minor competition requires each team to have an average not greater than 180. Watch this space.
Martin Blaine Equivalent Best Performance Cup
Each cycle the MCCA awards the Martin Blaine Cup to the best performing Open team player – a cup and cash prize. It was introduced in the 1970’s due to 1st Team Captains having difficulties raising teams and representative ones especially away from home. Having had difficulty raising representative teams this cycle maybe it is worth introducing a similar award for the u180 extending it even further to the other divisions. In the event they were to institute a similar award for the u180 the final positions are:
1= P. Kennelly (21points) Paul Kennelly wins on tie break
1= I. Calvert (21)
3. G. thingyson (20)
4= A. Fulton (14)
4= M. Dydak (14)
If MCCA were to award a Best Performance Award for the u180 what should it be called? Should it be simply called, u180 Best Performance Trophy? Or should it be named after a captain who specifically led the 2nd/u175/u180 team? If so whom? Or should it be after any successful Middlesex Captain? If so whom? Or are there any other suggestions?
Go on the Middlesex!