Middleton win is Hampshire 'must' (From Bournemouth Echo)

Middleton win is Hampshire 'must'

12:10am Saturday 20th June 2009 in

• Skip social links
• Print
• Email
•  

HAMPSHIRE are in a must-win situation for their final two group matches if they are to have any chance of qualifying for the Middleton Cup quarter-finals.

The damage was done on the opening day in a 131-98 (18-4) setback against Oxfordshire at Banbury.

Although Hampshire recovered their composure with a 20-pointer in a 114-90 victory against Middlesex at Atherley in the next match, they cannot afford any mistakes against Berkshire today at Reading or against Surrey in the finale at Atherley on July 4.

Even if Hampshire win both they must still rely on Oxfordshire slipping up in either of their last two matches. Oxfordshire head the table as the only unbeaten side with 35 points from two games, 11 more than Hampshire.

A year ago Hampshire had thrashed Oxfordshire 138-92 (20-2) on the same Banbury green but it was a vastly different outcome this season with Derek Collins’s men 48 shots adrift at 10 ends.

Boscombe Cliff’s Chris Daniels (24-23 against Alan Prew) was Hampshire’s solitary winner while Peter Ward of Ringwood (22-22) and Colin Thresher (18-18) drew. Beaten skips were Russell Morgan (18-12), Leo May (24-14) and Charlie Bailey (26-8).