Surrey have been playing Essex longer than any other county and their current record from 89 clashes is won 45, drawn four and lost 40.

Last season at Loughton BC in Essex, Surrey scraped home by two shots and, in the past six years, the scores have always been close.

Last Wednesday at Putney Town BC, the teams could not be separated as it finished 116-116.

Both counties won three rinks, but the rink of Deric Homes (Weybridge), Richard Long (Streatham Park), Dave Candeland (Shirley Park) and Ian Ross (Wallington) provided Surrey with their best card by a 27-6 margin.

Streatham Park duo Richard Long and Nigel Finlay were awarded their county badges for reaching the semi-finals of the county pairs competition in 2009.

On Wednesday (May 26) Surrey travel to the Isle of Wight at Shanklin BC to try to avenge a rare defeat suffered on the Island two years ago.

SURREY CBA 116 ESSEX CBA 116

Rink 1: Surrey: Deric Homes, Richard Long, Dave Candeland, Ian Ross 27, Essex: B Look, D Johnson, K Anthone, K Thompson 6. 2: Surrey: Mick Gray, John Scarfe, Graham Dawber, Jerry Ingham 28, Essex: P Butler, B Wright, B Taplin, P Finney 13. 3: Surrey: Jim Burns, Bernie Pederson, Derek Harvey, Bill Ayling 20, Essex: P Osbourne, L Smith, D Shrubswain, K Riley 17. 4: Surrey: Chris White, Eddie Evans, Alan Bennet, Dave Harding 12, Essex: A Knight, M Cornwell, L Lewis, D Freeman 31. 5: Surrey: Tony Bourne, Nigel Findlay, Vic Painter, Kevin Donovan 15, Essex: A Ayers, H Ingham, G Coster, R Baker 29. 6: Surrey: Roger Rashleigh, Peter Staples, Bob Love, Jack Turvil 14, Essex: R Vernon, B Gardner, J Plack, C Bryan 20.

Last season, Middlesex comfortably won the Senior Home Counties League by amassing 100 points and winning five of their six matches, including a 33-shot win over Surrey.

On Saturday, Surrey travelled to Finchley BC and on a slow and difficult green just had the better of the game, winning by six shots and taking 16 points to Middlesex’s six.

Each county won on three rinks and, although Surrey had established an 18-shot lead by halfway, Middlesex fought back and the scores were level at 85 shots each after 15 ends.

There was not much between the teams on the remaining ends and, with just two rinks left on the green, Surrey led by just two shots.

They extended that winning lead to six shots at the finish and team manager David Candeland was delighted with the showing of his team and some welcome team spirit was evident.

This was an excellent start to the Home Counties season and Surrey look forward to entertaining Oxfordshire in their second match in this league this Saturday at Shirley Park BC (2pm).

MIDDLESEX CBA 109 SURREY CBA 115

Rink 1: Middlesex: Mal Bishop 9, Surrey: Mick Gray, Paul Bennett, Darren King, Ian Honnor 23. 2: Middlesex: Perry Cook 21, Surrey: Andy Bullen, Gareth Morgan, Lee Dickson, Eamon O’Flynn 15. 3: Middlesex: Tony Waller 14, Surrey: James Cooper, Steven Higginbotham, Tim Orr, Dennis Hennessy 24. 4: Middlesex: Norman Worley 16, Surrey: Phil Burge, Andrew Boarer, Paul Chuter, Mick Sigamoney 24. 5: Middlesex: Pat Briscoe 24, Surrey: Gary Stevens, James Shillingford, Simon Clarke, Dave Clark 18. 6: Middlesex: Ron Le Leux 25, Surrey: Charlie Souter, Adam White, Graham Vigor, Ian Jenkins 11.