The prize for the teams was that the winner would go forward as Midlands second representative into the national finals; Warwickshire having already won the zone with a convincing 6/6.
At the end of a well contested match the result was 6-6! I must admit here that I was less than conversant with the rules than I should have been. The various tie break rules were firmly imprinted on my mind but unfortunately I'd got the wrong one in my head for this one!
Anyway the correct rule was that the winner of the match between the two counties concerned would go forward - oh but that's a draw! Into second tie-break - it will be decided by Board Count. Staffs win on 2,4,7,10 & 12 and Notts win on 1,6,8,9 & 11 with two drawn games. Add them up 35-35 each - but oh that's a draw as well! Into third tiebreak - bottom board elimination - and Notts win by 6-5! Luckily all the games weren't drawn so a fourth tie-break doesn't come into effect.
So Notts are nominated, Staffs aren't.
Can I move on now to the national stages - in the national stages there are just six nominees for eight places (SCCU 1, SCCU 2; MCCU 1, MCCU 2, NCCU
& EACU). At this point I make my usual point, Notts and Staffs U100 have played more matches (3 each) than the whole gamut of the matches in the NCCU which to date comprise of two matches betweens Yorks and Lancs over 12 boards at Championship and U160 level. There have, of course, been no matches at U100 level where it is suggested that Lancashire are the sole nominees.
The ECF rules suggest that any vacancies at the quarter-final can be filled if there are insufficient entries. The MCCU have applied for an extra place for Staffs - I sincerely hope that they will be allowed to play.
