2006 Anderson Shield

Teams from each of the six counties in the Federation competed for the Anderson Shield at Colchester over the bank holiday weekend. With four players in each team playing Advanced Doubles each match consisted of two games, each county playing the other five over the two days.

At the end of the first round Herts were the only team to win their match, beating Bedford +12,+1(T), all the other matches being drawn at one game each. In the second round Bedford, Cambridge and Essex all won, against Suffolk, Norfolk and Herts respectively. In the third round Suffolk were the only team to score a win, against Herts, leaving only Norfolk without a win on the first day.p>

The standings at the end of a wet Saturday's play were:

The 4th round on a dry but still cold Sunday morning saw the closest match of the tournament. With the Essex 2 team beating Bedford 2 +1 on time Essex 1 and Bedford 1 were tied when time was called. With the tension rising and shots being missed which would ordinarily be hit, Bedford finally made the extra hoop, leaving the match drawn at one game all. At the end of the round Cambridge and Suffolk had won their matches against Herts and Norfolk, leaving them out in front with 2 matches won although Essex were still in with a chance provided they won their last match and the other two lost.

The final result was still in the balance until the end. With Cambridge and Suffolk the only counties with a realistic chance both second teams quickly demolished their opponents +21 and +24. The first team games were a lot closer until the final 20 minutes when Essex beat Suffolk +6. All then depended on the outcome of the Cambridge 1 game against Bedford 1. Cambridge duly kept their lead until time was called giving them a +9 win and the team the only winning match of the round.

Final scores:

Teams