Middleton Cup
Worcestershire			Middlesex
Venue		South Oxford B.C., Oxfordshire
Date		19/07/86
Match Report
Worcestershire Bowling Association equalled their best performance ever in the Middleton Cup when they won an exciting quarter final tie with Middlesex by seven shots at South Oxford Bowling Club. The last time they reached the semi-final stage was in 1976 where they went out by a narrow margin. For their efforts against Middlesex the County now take on Wiltshire in the last four at Worthing on August 23, the other semi-final will be between Northumberland, the holders and Leicestershire. Worcestershire made a bad start to their game with Middlesex, being ten shots down after five ends and eight on ten with Brian Borthwick's the only rink in front, by five shots. The green was playing very fast being difficult to draw a length wood but with the exception of John Weaver's rink the County soon found the green. Steve Halmai, England's number three, was having an impeccable game for Middlesex and John Weaver had a frustrating time while the other county rinks were getting into top gear. Brian Borthwick lost only three ends during the last 14 to win by 16 and Colin Baines, although losing a six and three on the 12th and 13th ends held on to win by seven. Bill Irish, level at 13 each on the 16th turned the game in his favour with a six on the 17th and John Pugh held their game tight to lose by only two. The County were nowtwo shots in front with three ends to play. Colin Baines trailed the jack for a five on the last end and Tony Garcia lost his last wood in the ditch. John Weaver lost a two on the last and Ian Jenkins, who had four dead ends in his game, scored a two and Worcestershire were through.
	Worcestershire			Middlesex
Rink 1
L	I.Crowe	23	L	C.Ackland	16
2	B.Martin		2	J.Sussex
3	D.Harrison		3	K.Allen
S	C.Baines		S	A.Garcia
Rink 2
L	G.Clarke	20	L	A.Sussex	17
2	R.Thornely		2	D.Hall
3	P.Lill		3	A.Ridington
S	W.Irish		S	J.Kenton
Rink 3
L	A.Whitefoot	25	L	C.Pink	9
2	M.Atkins		2	J.Hare
3	B.Whitcombe		3	M.Burfield
S	B.Borthwick		S	A.Lines
Rink 4
L	M.Hillson	15	L	T.Craddock	17
2	M.Dawson		2	J.Sweeney
3	G.Burgess		3	N.O'Keefe
S	J.Pugh		S	A.Thurn
Rink 5
L	W.Oldnall	24	L	G.Caparn	18
2	R.Stanley		2	D.Rowland
3	D.Cooper		3	G.Smyth
S	I.Jenkins		S	A.Bennett
Rink 6
L	R.McCormack	13	L	S.Wheeler	36
2	R.Ashby		2	D.Watling
3	A.Jackson		3	C.Chambers
S	J.Weaver		S	S.Halmai
	Worcestershire	120		Middlesex	113