Essex loss helps Suffolk

Suffolk received a boost to their Middleton Cup hopes on Saturday without playing. Essex who topped the group on shot difference from Suffolk after two games, lost at home to Hertfordshire 16 points to 6 points.

Saturday's match is vital to both teams for different reason. Defeat for Essex would all but signal an end to this season's campaign, while victory for Suffolk would put them in the driving seat to progress to the quarter finals.

Suffolk will need no reminding that it was Essex who put paid to their attempts to qualify last season with an emphatic 21point to 1 point victory at Westcliffe -on - Sea.

Suffolk victorious in their opening two games will be confident that they can avenge the defeat of last season and have named an unchanged team for the third consecutive match.

Mark Addison, Brian Insley (Felix & Suff), David Wellington(Brandon) & Adrian Holden (Felix & Suff)

Neil Prentice (Ipswich BC), David Thompson (Risbygate), Andy Catchpole & Kelvyn Earthroll (Ipswich BC)

Mark Todd (Beccles), Duncan Snape (Melton) John Catchpole (Beccles) & Mark Royal (Rookery)

Richard Leeder (Rookery), Steve Miller (Ipswich BC), Carl Finbow (Rookery) & Greg Nash (Cornard)

John Rednall (Felix & Suff), Chris Love (California), Brian Andrews (Melton) & Alan Barnes (Marlborough)

Gary Miller (Ipswich BC), Calvern Kemp (Rookery), Andy Meikle & Clive Webb (Felix & Suff)

Reserves

George Ward (Melton), Steve Mayes (Felix & Suff), Ian Page (California) & Andy Bishop (Risbygate)

Results from Saturday 22nd June

Essex 107 (6) Hertfordshire 125 (16)

Hunts 97 (4) Norfolk 122 (18)

Standings

Played Won Lost For Agnst Points

Essex 3 2 1 383 333 43

Suffolk 2 2 0 252 217 37

Norfolk 3 1 2 339 360 25

Herts 2 1 1 244 234 21

Hunts 2 0 2 186 260 6

Remaining Fixtures

29th June 2002

Suffolk V Essex

Herts V Hunts

6th July 2002

Hunts V Suffolk

Norfolk V Herts