Middleton Cup vs. Norfolk Match Report

Resounding win for Suffolk against Norfolk in Middleton Cup!

It was a day to remember for many reasons as a new look Suffolk team swept aside group leaders, Norfolk in the last fixture of the Middleton Cup campaign. The 18 points to 4 victory spoilt the chances of the group leaders qualifying, leaving the door open for Essex who as expected trounced Cambridgeshire to qualify for the quarter-finals. Suffolk finish a respectable second, just seven points behind.

With several players unavailable for selection, the debutants starred, reaffirming the success of Suffolk’s pathway to top level inter-county selection via the Eastern Counties League and White Rose competitions.

In matches of this standard, it is crucial to make a good start across the board and Suffolk did just that, racing to an 11-1 lead over the hosts after just one end. Indeed five of the six rinks scored their first end.

Large wins in Middleton Cup are a rarity; however John Rednall, Alfie Jackson, Ryan Hard and Joe Sims were completely dominant against Dan Seabourne, Daniel Cawthorne, Jack Wells and James Segolo, leading 25-1 after thirteen ends and returning an enormous 30 shots to 6 card.

The experienced rink of Mark Betts, Mark Todd, Jack Burch and Phil Last should feel delighted with three wins from three matches and a hard earned four shot win against Adrian Field, Bernie Perrett, Jack Larter and David Smith.

Elevated to a Middleton Cup skipping berth for the first time, Mark Euston skipped confidently. His team of Dennis Andrews, Andrew Pulford and Clive Webb led for the whole match, returning a satisfying and hard earned 12-11 scoreline against Aaron Johnson.

Roger Adams, Steve Giles, Ryan Claxton and Elliot Last were one shot behind with the last end to play against John Tufts, David Lamb, Peter Boldero and Wayne Willgress. One down on the head but with five seconds, skip Elliot Last fired out the Willgress bowl to win 19 15 and secure Suffolk’s forth winning rink.

Shaun Cook, with successful debutant Aaron Giles at lead, Adam Turner and Adam Frost raced to a 7-1 lead after just four ends only to see fortune favour Ian Catchpole for a fortunate five. It was a spirited and competent display from the Suffolk four losing out 17-20.

Meanwhile, on the most difficult rink on the green, the new debutants front end of Graham ‘Spike’ Howlett and Paul Jackson faced arguably Norfolk’s strongest rink of Max Harrison, Daniel Page, Richard Summers and Sam King. With the score at 2-11 to Norfolk, it would have been easy to become downhearted but Howlett, Jackson, George Ward and Kelvyn Earthroll steadied the ship to only lose 13-16, a success in itself.

Suffolk player-manager, John Rednall, was delighted with the victory, praising the whole team. “This was one of the best Suffolk displays against Norfolk at County Arts for many years. The togetherness and team spirit of the Suffolk boys was clear for all to see and those making their debut were tremendous. If there was another Middleton Cup match to go, I truly could not change the team. The players who have come in fully deserve to stay in. Suffolk were brilliant today,” he said. The final score line of 108-81 bodes well for next season.

John Rednall

Player / Manager