Symonds Green were the hosts for our Presentation Night and SCAPA Cup Final on Friday (08-05-15). Around 55 people attended to watch the final between Essendon and Stanstead Abbotts and then the presentation of the trophies. 

The final itself saw the fours won by Essendon and the triples won by Stanstead Abbotts after a good comeback. Therefore, going into the pairs and singles the two sides were locked on two points each.

However, Essendon had a significant shots advantage so it was likely that Stanstead Abbotts would need 3 out of the 4 points on offer. Stanstead Abbotts secured a narrow singles win to keep their hopes alive. The Essendon pair never looked in any real danger though as they won their match and with it the cup for Essendon. The final score Stanstead Abbotts 4 (25) - 4 (42) Essendon. Congratulations to Essendon who were deserving winners on the night and won the SCAPA Cup for the 2nd time in their history,the other time being way back in 1986/87.

After the final everybody enjoyed the buffet before the presentation of trophies started. Firstly, Mick Cook (County Captain) presented two new awards for this season. These were Players Player of the Season which was won by Thomas Ellis and Selection Committee Player of the Season which was won by Paul Harris. Well to done to both on being the first winners of these awards.

Afterwards, Pete Cook (Chairman) presented the league and county competition awards. A reminder for those who were not in attendance, the winners were as follows;

SCAPA Cup : Winner Essendon

Runners Up Stanstead Abbotts

Division 2 : Winner Braughing

Runners Up Little Hadham

Division 1 : Winner Symonds Green

Runners Up Essendon

Fours : Winner Roy Harden, Jackie Harden, Peter English & Annette Luedtke (Little Hadham)

Runners Up Martin Simpson, Tom Slade, Sandra Gammage & Rob Washbrook (Essendon / Symonds Green)

Triples Winner Ian Carter, Jonathon Carter & David Danby (Braughing)

Runners Up Roy Harden, Jackie Harden & Annette Luedtke (Little Hadham)

Pairs Winner Rebecca Hearn & Craig Hearn  (Symonds Green)

Runners Up Andy Cobbold & David Danby (Stanstead Abbotts / Braughing)

Singles Winner Craig Hearn (Symonds Green)

Runner Up Rebecca Hearn (Symonds Green)

Thank you to everybody who attended, I hope that you had an enjoyable evening.

Result from the second leg of the SCAPA Cup semi-final

Stanstead Abbotts 6 (35) - 2 (20) Symonds Green - Aggregate Score 9 (59) - 7 (53)

Stanstead Abbotts advance to the final bringing an end to Symonds Green's chances of securing a league and cup double. The match was almost a complete role reversal from last years tie when Stanstead Abbotts secured a 6-2 home lead only to lose the return leg 7-1.

Stanstead Abbotts will now either face Essendon or defending champions Little Hadham. Essendon do still have a chance of the league and cup double, they have never won the first division and have only ever won the SCAPA cup once before way back in 1986/1987. 

Symonds Green 5 (33) – (24) 3 Stanstead Abbotts

Symonds Green secured a 5-3 win at home in the first leg of the SCAPA cup semi final against Stanstead Abbotts. This leaves the tie nicely poised for the return leg at the end of the month.

The SCAPA semi final draw has now been completed. With the two remaining quarter final results as follows;

Essendon 8 (64) – 8 (51) Great Amwell

Symonds Green 10 (69) – 6 (69) Braughing

Symonds Green will now face Stanstead Abbotts and Essendon will face defending champions Little Hadham

For updated draw go to ;

Results & Stats >Hertfordshire Club League > SCAPA Cup Draw & Results

Stanstead Abbotts defending a 5-3 lead from the first leg completed an 8-0 (45-20 shots) 2nd leg win over Shenley.

They advance through to the semi final with a 13-3 (80-46) win. They will next face either Braughing or Symonds Green in the semi final.

For updated draw and results see;

Results & Stats > Hertfordshire Club & League > SCAPA Draw & Results

Stanstead Abbotts travelled to Shenley for the first leg of the SCAPA cup on Wednesday and secured a narrow 5-3 (35-26) lead to defend in the 2nd leg at home in February.

The winner of this tie will play either Braughing or Symonds Green in the semi-final

The defending champions Little Hadham have progressed through to the semi-final of the SCAPA Cup. They were made to fight hard for their victory though by Hertford Heath as they come out on top 9 (86) - 7 (57).

The will face either Great Amwell or Essendon in the semi-final, with both legs of their quarter final tie being played in January.

The draw for the SCAPA cup (made at the recent committee meeting) is shown below;

Shenley v Stanstead Abbotts

Braughing v Symonds Green

Great Amwell v Essendon

Little Hadham v Hertford Heath

Little Hadham will be looking to defend their title which they won last year after beating Symonds Green in the final

Congratulations to Little Hadham who defeated Symonds Green 6-2 (points) (29-36) shots at Saturday nights presentation evening. In a high quality tense final they managed to come out on top to win the title for the very first time preventing Symonds Green winning the event for the 3rd year in a row and 7th time in total.

A summary of each game is detailed below;

Triples

Little Hadham got off to a great start, they dropped a single on the 1st end but responded with a single on the 2nd and four shots in the 3rd end to open up an early 5-1 advantage. Symonds Green responded positively and reduced the deficit to 5-3 with a score of two on the 4th end. Singles were exchanged over the next two ends to leave Little Hadham leading 6-4 after 6 ends. A score of two on the 7th end and a single on the 8th end put Symonds Green into the lead for the first time since the 1st end of the match. Needing a single for a draw and two shots to take victory the Little Hadham skip had last bowl but Symonds Green held match lie. With all the back bowls the Hadham skip played a positive shot on his backhand to force the jack through and pick up three shots to take the match 9-7.

Fours

As in the Triples, Little Hadham started well with a single on the 1st end and two shots on the 2nd end to open up a 3-0 lead. Three consecutive singles on ends 3-5 pulled Symonds Green level at 3-3 after the 5th end. A crucial 6th end saw Little Hadham pick up three shots to open up a 6-3 lead. Two more singles for Symonds Green on ends 7 & 8 saw them reduce the deficit to a single shot going in to the last end. As in the triples the Hadham skip had last bowl but found themselves match lie down. Unfortunately for Symonds Green the outcome was the same as the Hadham skip was bale to turn in their wood for shot and take the match 7-5.

Going in to the singles and pairs Hadham lead 4-0 but only had a four shot advantage. Victory for Symonds Green in the singles and pairs and they would probably retain their title.

Singles

The Symonds Green singles bowler got off to a flying start picking up a three and a four on the first two ends to open up a 7-0 advantage. Hadham got on the scoreboard on the 3rd end when they picked up a single. However, another maximum count of four for Symonds Green on the 4th end all but ended the contest as they now lead 11-1. They continued to largely dominate the match and ended up winning the match 21-4. This result had kept them in the match and had crucially overturned the shots deficit form the triples and fours which just meant the pairs had to win.

Pairs

Hadham once again were fastest out the traps picking up three shots on the 1st end. Symonds Green responded with a score of two on the 2nd end to reduce the deficit to one. Four consecutive singles for Hadham on end 3,4,5 & 6 put them in a commanding position with a 7-2 lead. They secured the 7th end too with two shots to open up a 9-2 lead with just two ends to play. needing at least two shots to ensure that the last end was required the Symonds Green skip was only able to score a single making the score 9-3 with an end to play. Although they could have still drawn the match with a maximum count of six on the final end it would not have been enough to win the tie so the two skips shook hands and Hadham were crowned the champions.

Congratulations to Hadham who deservedly win the title for the 1st time (31st year tournament had been held). The previous winners can be found in Results & Stats > Hertfordshire Club League > SCAPA Cup : Previous Winners

We now know the two finalists for the SCAPA Cup final which will be held on presentation night on Saturday 10th May.

Little Hadham who will be attempting to win the trophy for the very first time face Symonds Green who are looking to defend their title.

Little Hadham had to get past higher opposition in Braughing in the quarter final. They won the home leg 8-0 (38-24) and were able to score the point required in the second leg as they lost 6-2 (37-26) to advance to the semi final 10-6 (64-61) on aggregate. In the semi final they faced Shenley who were having a really promising second half to the season. They managed to secure a 12-4 (64-50) victory over the two legs and advanced through to the final.

Symonds Green faced Stanstead Abbotts who they defeated in last years final in the last 8. They lost the first leg 6-2 (46-17) but managed to battle back in the return leg taking it 7-1 (37-23) to secure on aggregate victory of 9-7 (54-69). In the semi final they faced Essendon and after a 4-4 draw away from home secured an 8-0 victory at home to win 12-4 (76-43) overall and advance to the final again.

You would have to say that Symonds Green go in to the match as favourites as they are the 1st division while Little Hadham are in the 2nd. However, Symonds Green struggled for league form this year and are arguably not as strong in previous seasons. Little Hadham narrowly missed out on promotion from the 2nd division and have already beaten higher opposition this season. Lets hope for a competitive match to get the presentation evening off to a good start.