CADET COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIPS
DIVISION 1A, 20 OCTOBER 2018
Surrey and Middlesex 1 seek to return straight back to the Premier Division.
The first rounds of County Cadet Division 1A matches were played on Saturday 20 October 2018. Relegated from the Premier Division last season were Surrey 1 and Middlesex 1 and they both showed that they were determined to return straight back.
However only one team can be promoted from the Division so it will be all to play for in the round two matches particularly as they have to play one another in the opening match.
For this first round of matches the Division was split in to two halves, the eastern half Essex, Middlesex 1, Middlesex 2 and Suffolk to play one another at NETTS, Earls Colne whilst the southern half of the Division, Surrey 1, Surrey 2 and Sussex 2 played one another at Graham Spicer, New Malden. Sadly, at the last minute, the two Middlesex teams found themselves with only one girl player for each team.
In the opening round of matches at Earls Colne Middlesex 1 played Suffolk. Despite being a girl short they won seven of the eight matches played, Suffolk’s Luke Davies-Stokes defeating the higher ranked Barney Mindlin 3-1 in the last match. Best match looked to be the girls match between Scarlett Anders and Isobel McGerty with Scarlet winning the deciding game 11-7. In the Essex v Middlesex 2 match it was Daniel Young’s last match 3-1 win over the much higher ranked Jenson Moreno that gained Essex the 6-4 win. Lucas Aulnette won both his matches for Middlesex 2.
For the second round of matches the two Middlesex teams had to play one another. The second team’s Lucas would have been pleased with his win against Charlie Nabarro after losing the first two games 10 and 9. The Middlesex 1’s 7-2 win reflects that each team were a girl short. The match between County neighbours Essex and Suffolk was the longest of the day timewise after four of the first five matches went to a deciding game with Suffolk winning three of those four. Daniel, by winning the last match, and Maliha Baig won both their matches in gaining the draw for Essex and Luke his two for Suffolk.
In the last round of matches Essex played Middlesex 1. Jesse Bath won his opening match against the much higher ranked Charlie Nabarro 3-0 but that was the only match that Essex won on the table. Best match was that between Maliha and Scarlett which Scarlett won in the deciding game of an all action match to retain her unbeaten status for the day. The final match was between Suffolk and Middlesex 2. Brandon Sangchin won both his matches for the Middlesex team against the higher ranked McKenzie Lowe and Luke and Suffolk won the rest for an 8-2 win, the highest winning score of the day.
What a difference at the Graham Spicer Centre where all three matches ended in 9-1 wins.
The first match was between Surrey 1 and Surrey 2. Ojasvii Borah would be pleased with his performance for the second team winning his opening match against Mikaeel Toosy 5, -11, 12, 15 and taking Ollie Maric-Murrey to a deciding game in the final match of the match. Other than that the first team showed no mercy to their second team, only one of the other eight matches needing a fourth game.
The next match was between Surrey 2 and Sussex 2.and this time it was Surrey 2 who won 9-1, only Sacha Ward gaining a 3-0 win over Lena Mitchell for the Sussex team. She was close to a second win taking Lucy Adams to a deciding game as was Max Wilson in the last match against Ojasvii.
The final match was between Surrey 1 and Sussex 2. Sussex had lost the first six matches all 3-0 until Deniz Dinc stemmed the flow with a five game win over Emily Cheung. In both their matches Ollie and Henry Maric-Murrey and Yuvathi Kumar were unbeaten.
The final round of matches will be played at BATTS Harlow when there will be four rounds of matches to play. Currently scheduled for Sunday 31 March but could be switched to Saturday 30 March if the scheduled Premier British League match becomes an away fixture.
Arthur C. Clark
Essex Junior Match Secretary and Cadet Division 1A Organiser.
Suffolk Cadets are currently 3rd iin the table with 3 points, with Surrey 1 on 4 points and Middlesex 1 on 8 points