Post by arf on Mar 6, 2011 10:30:31 GMT
Pilot steers Middlesex to victory!!
The MCCA President's message to Middlesex members informed them of the intention to relocate County matches from The Exmouth Arms to The Pilot in Gunnersbury and that the Open match against Essex was to be a trial run in what is hoped to be a long and fruitful relationship with the pub. If the Essex match is anything to go by we got off to a fine start as Mx win a close one 8.5-7.5.
The match was billed as a shoot-out for the final qualifying berth into the Open section of the ECF Stage. In the event Mx lost they would have the consolation of competing in the Minor Section but with the u180 already qualified and the u160 still in with a shout the prospect of fixture congestion was a real possibility. So it was in Mx's interest to avoid defeat. The real pressure though was on Essex as they needed to win. With a team average favouring Mx (195 to 191) it was difficult to see how Essex were not only going to win the match but achieve a significant margin of victory just in case they were involved with a tie break Herts and Sussex; however as we know Mx have had larger advantages and had their fingers burned!!
The match got off to an auspicious start with 3 quick draws. Just another 6.5, 8points reached and 3rd place secured. Those points though looked a long way off as in the early skirmishes a number of Mx players seemed to have the worst of it, but as with all things when the going gets tough, the tough get going and Mx did exactly that when Andrew scores the first positive result of the day. Mx lead 2.5-1.5
Another series of draws sees Mx maintain their slender advantage then fireworks; back to back wins by Phil and Peter allows Mx to extend their lead to 6-3. The magic score of 8 is tantalisingly close but with a number of advantageous positions Essex have a platform for a fightback.
Essex launch their rally by also recording back to back wins to reduce Mx lead to 6-5. Things are still looking tight with games favouring both sides. Who knows how things will turn out, can Mx at least hold on to their slim lead? Mx are able to put the nails in Essex's coffin with 2 consecutive wins from Mark and Neville and in turn reach the magic score of 8. A 3rd placed finish is guaranteed as Mx cannot lose. With 3 games remaining it was just a matter of whether one more draw could be obtained to see Mx over the winning line. Daniel attains the requisite draw and with the final games having been lost, Mx win 8.5-7.5
Well done guys A close run but a fantastic debut at the Pilot!
(Full match details www.sccu.ndo.co.uk/match1.htm )
Some games of interest:
tinyurl.com/K-WhitevA-Stone
tinyurl.com/Fegan-Makepeace
tinyurl.com/Moore-Ackley
tinyurl.com/MDavey-PGregory
At time of writing the other results are yet to come in however it is confirmed that Middlesex finish 3rd with 3/5 so take their place in the preliminary round:
Table after Round 5
1. Surrey 4/4 (39.5)
2. Kent 4/4 (38)
3. Middx 3/5
4. Herts 1/4
5. Essex 1/5
6. Sussex 0/4
[Notes:
1) Surrey and Kent guaranteed to finish 1st & 2nd
2) Herts v Sussex: Herts win means Herts and Essex qualify for Minor
3) Herts v Sussex: Sussex win means that qualifiers depend on either match points or tie break. 9-7 win means Herts and Sussex qualify]
[Editor's note: Correction from previous post Herts win over Essex means they have superior record]
With qualification to the knock-out stages assured unless the ECF Stage draw is amended the path to the final is as follows
Preliminary - Greater Manchester (to be played by 16th April)
Quarter-Final: Yorkshire or Lancashire (21st May)
Semi-Final: Winner of EACU v SCCU2 (11th June)
Final: The Moat School Leicester 2nd July
(Editor's Note: Details have been corrected as misread the details!)
Observations:
1) Last time Mx were paired against Greater Manchester (2007-08) GM were unable to fulfil fixture and Mx granted walkover. Looking at their results this year once again they have struggled to raise a team so bodes well ( www.mccu.org.uk//cm10-11/open/open.htm )
2) EACU representative is expected to be Suffolk who will play either Kent or Surrey on Mx half of the draw, both of whom are notoriously poor travellers! What chance a Suffolk-Mx semi-final?
3) The observation about Kent and Surrey is applicable to the opposite half of the draw. With both having a reputation of poor travelling: Will Mx be flying the flag for the SCCU once again?
Time will tell!
Martin Blaine Trophy - current leaders
Ackley 25points
Farkas 24
Makepeace 23