Post by arf on Nov 1, 2015 7:44:37 GMT
Nobody goes undefeated all the time!
Match Summary: Reigning SCCU u180 Champions lose 6-10.
Of all the competitions run by both the SCCU and ECF the u180 is arguably the toughest in main due to the limited number of entrants; realistically only London’s Metropolitan Counties (Essex, Kent, Middlesex and Surrey) and the larger non-London counties (Devon, Lancashire, Nottinghamshire, Warwickshire and Yorkshire) are able to consistently field teams who could genuinely be considered as u180 teams. Others have fielded teams, e.g. Cambridgeshire, Greater Manchester and Sussex but they are heavily dependent on their 3rd team (u160) and quite often they have to dip into the 4th team (u140) to make-up numbers.
In the SCCU traditionally there are 5 entrants meaning each match is a critical one as any early slip up is almost impossible to recover from. Making the competition even harder then was not needed; this happened when Kent withdrew after the fixtures were published due to an inability to find a match captain AND a majority desire by the match captains to play a single-round competition rather than the Controller invoke the rules and make it a double-rounded one. Apart from a reduced number of game the additional downside was that the rules only allow for 2 teams to be guaranteed qualification when 4 teams or less compete, a third team would have to rely on an invitation from the National Controller. Thus in playing a tough opening fixture against Essex the result would set scene the remainder of the cycle – a win all but guaranteeing qualification or a desperate attempt to qualify for the National Stage. However as defending SCCU and ECF Champions Middlesex wanted more than just qualification they wanted to win the whole thing all over again; if successful in this endeavour it would be the first time since 1983-85 that the 2nd team would have done the Double Double! Certainly if they were to lift the SCCU Title it would be the first time since the period 1991-1993 that they successfully defended it.
Since the opener had so much resting on it, a concerted effort was made to ensure the team would be one of the strongest fielded and it was: Middlesex average – 169; Essex – 169; Par Score – 8-8. The following observations can be made in fielding a team of this strength:
Firstly, it meant that a run of16 matches of asking at least 1xu160 player to represent the XVI was brought to an end; this match is the first time since the 2011-12 Final (vs. Yorkshire) where the team was entirely made up of 160+ players! The 2014-15 Final against Devon was the closest the team did this when 1xu160 player was fielded. This shows why it is important to have both strength in depth AND a strong team in the section below; after all if it was not for the depth of the u180 last year, the Open, u180 and u160 would have fallen at the semi-final stage.
Second, a team of this strength equates to the average strength of all the National Champions (2009-15).
All in all it would suggest that if this level can be maintained or certainly dropping no lower than 165 then a successful cycle beckons! However, despite travelling to Wanstead with a strong team your author recognises that there is always the 17th player that to date has given Essex an edge, that is, New Captain. In his time as captain your author has faced 3 Essex captains where 2 of them where new appointments. His record? P2 L2! So the question was could the duck be broken against a third new captain? Alternatively would the trend continue? Alas it was not to be as Middlesex went down 6-10.
On a day with very little to celebrate – one sole victory, well done Andrew – the match as expected with two level pegging sides started cagily with no less than the first 7 matches all being drawn! Match tied: 3.5-3.5
The wheels came off the train when two successive defeats left Middlesex with a mountain to climb, but with Mat and Jon looking in control of their respective positions it looked as though the points could be recovered. When coupled with Andrew’s win it seemed as though the team would pull off victory on the presumption that all others maintained their level positions. Middlesex trail: 5.5-4.5.
However, Essex were able to regain their 2point lead and were looking nailed on to win by a large score as patient play by their opponents led to both Mat and Jon relinquishing not only control but even the draw. Despite the efforts of Bob and debutant Peter (Sammut Briffa) to eke out wins from dead level positions and Peter (Morton) to complicate at the end of his game the tide could not be turned. Middlesex lose 6-10.
Unlucky guys! The trend of your author losing to new Essex captains continues! We can take solace from the fact that the defeat was not as heavy as the last visit to Wanstead when we got hammered 4-12 not helped by the fact that we default on Boards 1&2 – ouch!
Defeat means that we are now in knock-out mode, namely, if we harbour any chances of retaining the SCCU Title and to progress onto the National Stages we must win our last 2 matches. Any slip-up will effectively mean giving up both titles softly!
The other fixture on the day was between Surrey and Sussex. The past few cycles has seen Sussex consistently default at least 2 boards on their travels north and this match was no exception – Sussex defaulted 6boards! With Sussex playing both Essex and Middlesex at home it must be asked, ‘Is this result is a blessing or a curse?’ If Sussex as expected do field full teams and stronger teams at home their comprehensive defeat to Surrey is anomalous. Fortunately for Middlesex they do not have to travel to Sussex until the end of the cycle so who knows what kind of team they will face!
League Table
1. Surrey 1pt (11.5GP)
2. Essex 1 (10)
3. Middlesex 0 (6)
4. Sussex 0 (4.5)
Anthony Fulton Best Performance Shield
From 2013-14 your author has been advocating that an award along the lines of the Open’s Martin Blaine Best Performance Cup be instituted for the 2nd Team. It is a pleasure to announce that the incumbent Match Captain has kindly donated a shield in order for such an award to be made. In recognition of the kind donation the award is named the Anthony Fulton Best Performance Shield. The award will run along the same lines as the Open’s where points are awarded for games played and game results; the player accumulating the greatest number of points will receive the shield. Discussion with the MCCA Executive Committee will take place to determine if like the Open a cash prize will also be awarded. Good luck to you all in your endeavours to win the award in this its’ inaugural year and onwards.
Next Match
21st February 2016 vs. Surrey (H)
The reason for such a long break is the combination of Kent’s withdrawal and the London Chess Classic. Although the number of matches during is reduced there are still opportunities to play regional stage matches as the Open team may be in need of the 2nd Team’s support. Notwithstanding playing opportunities by the time the match rolls around, Essex would have played all of their matches so we will have an idea of what we are playing for, namely qualification and potentially title! If latter we will need a favour from Sussex and Surrey and with both sides being somewhat inconsistent it is possible we get it but it is equally possible we don’t! What is clear though is that we need to do our part first and win both of our remaining matches; the rest will take of itself!
Go on the Middlesex!