Hunts kick off their Middleton Cup campaign

Hunts are seeking to qualify for the quarter-finals for the first time since 2010 when they reached the final for the first time – their other group rivals are Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire.

Cambridgeshire will provide Hunts with a tough test at the Cambs and County green having reached the semi-finals last year.

Then on Sunday, Hunts entertain Suffolk at Parkway in the Balcomb Trophy inter-county double rink championship, having been beaten finalists two years ago.

Meanwhile, the Hunts women’s team open their Johns Trophy programme with a home match against Northants at Parkway.

Middleton Cup team

Paul Dalliday (Whittlesey Manor), Joe Randall (Parkway), Robbie Coleman (Brampton), Tristan Morton (Parkway). Richard Wilson (Hemingford), Lindsay Swannell (Warboys), James Price (Brampton), Lewis Baker (Warboys). Brian Martin (Parkway), Scott Wilson (Hemingford), James Harford, Mike Robertson (both Parkway). Eric Baker (Papworth), Trevor Collins, Simon Law, Ean Morton (all Parkway). Simon Leader (Warboys), Owen Kennedy (Hemingford), Rob Elmore (Warboys), Ryan O’Flanagan (Brampton). Steve Farrant, Harry Ward, Ed Elmore, Nicky Brett (all Warboys).

Balcomb Trophy team

Simon Leader (Warboys), Simon Law, Mike Robertson, Tristan Morton (all Parkway). Rob & Ed Elmore, Lewis Baker, Nicky Brett (all Warboys).

Parkway A and Warboys A are set to clash in the next round of the Bowls England men’s inter-club two fours competition after wins over Peterborough & District (46-24) and St Ives (40-31) respectively.

In the other local fixture, West Ward, who defeated Warboys B 41-17, take on Parkway B, who were 59-26 winners over Eynesbury.

There was a surprise result in the opening round of the men’s pairs with West Ward’s Jim Burrows and Mick Hatch defeating Warboys duo Harry Ward and world indoor champion Nicky Brett 19-18, and Hatch followed that up by taking his rink to Brampton three nights later and defeating Robbie Coleman’s rink that reached the county final last year.