MONDAY 3^RD MARCH 2008

PREMIER A

AWAY

COMPASSES ‘B’

Last week saw an emphatic win at home to the Red Lion and the Tulip C team were looking forward to the trip away to the Premiers top guns, Compasses B.

Questions waiting to be answered…..

1. Can the Tulip C carry on the good form showed last week?

2. Have Trevor’s eyes settled down since the op or is he using that as an excuse?

3. Will the Cat have kittens?

4. Can Mike really pot into the middle bag?

5. Will new boy Andy continue to show good promise?

6. Is the partnership between Ian and Craig now over and if so can Ian forgive Trevor for moving in on his b*tch?

Frame one saw Waspy play his first game for a few weeks, missing whilst setting up a new nest box for him and Mrs Waspy. The frame started with some erroneous refereeing leaving a re-rack the only option sensible to both players and teams. At the restart the Compasses player broke and cleared 4 balls before missing. Waspy then potted a few but his opponent got to the black first. Failing to get on the black a tactical battle followed where the Compasses player had 3 half chances but missed them all. Waspy then cleared his remaining balls but failed to get good position on the black and left what most would call at best a 10% chance. That didn’t bother Waspy as the black disappeared for the Tulip to take frame 1. 0 – 1

Andy stepped up for frame 2 and bossed it completely. Apart from not realising he had a foul snooker (he’s new give him a break) Andy never looked likely to lose and chalked up another frame. 0 – 2

In frame 3 we saw Mike do what Mike does best. Drag the game down into a dirty dogged tactical battle. This seemed to unsettle his opponent and when gifted 2 shots, Mike cleared 3 colours and the black….middle, corner, middle and middle!!! 0 – 3

In frame 4 the Compasses came to life. Gordon was merely a spectator and despite getting one visit to the table (with nothing to go at) the frame was easily won with a quality finish from the Compasses. 1 – 3

In frame 5 the very tired looking ‘Cat’ came to the table but left his game at home. For a while it appeared that his opponent had done the same until finally the Compasses player found the will to pot the black. Unlucky mate, even 9 lives not enough for that frame. At least the ‘Cat’ could take a nap now. 2 – 3

With the match now back in the balance it was up to Rob to try and get it going again. Things were evenly balanced when ‘kebab’ from the Compasses made a sprint for the line making some great pots and even better positional play. But then….. to the utter dismay of his team mates he missed the easiest shot of the lot on the black and gave Rob another chance. Rob cleared to all but one ball and from there it was a safety exchange for 5 or 6 shots. Rob then potted his last ball but just as Waspy did, he left a very awkward black. Did I say just as Waspy? Sure as eggs is eggs the black was potted without even touching the sides. 2 – 4

Craig will probably kick himself after getting to his last ball only to concentrate so much on the position for the black that he forgot to pot the ball. Think we have all done that. The Compasses player then went on to take the frame. 3 – 4

Did I mention the fact that we were receiving a text every five minutes from the Flyer? Don’t know why they would be interested in our little old game LOL.

The final singles saw Trevor carve his way majestically through his balls and potted the black for a …. Wake up WAKE UP WAKEY WAKEY. Ok Ok. I can dream can’t I? Trevor never got going and the Compasses took the final singles for 4 – 4

What followed next was, well… hmmm how shall I put it..

Three doubles games, 6 players all played well but three very critical flukes. Lets forget the build up in each frame.

Trevor and Craig.. Black over corner for Compasses, last ball just off the side cushion for the Tulip with a possible but awkward cross double. Trevor’s shot. Needing to strike the ball beyond the ‘centre to centre’ line a double kiss was always the danger. Sure enough the double kiss came but instead of destroying the pot, it was feint enough to adjust the line, correcting Trevor’s misjudgement and made the pot. The black was then a gimmie 4 – 5

At this point the Flyer was very keen to know what the score was. Dan even promised that the Flyer would by all our drinks at their place next season if we could take the last two frames!!

Waspy and Gordon found themselves snookered on the black with the majority of the Compasses balls still on the table. Waspy came off the side cushion, hit the black in the centre of the table and the black ran to a half covered corner pocket dribbling past the ball and in. 4 – 6.

Andy and Rob. Andy overcut his black dislodged another ball which cannoned the black into the intended pocket.

4 – 7.

Don’t be fooled into thinking that the doubles were poor because they were not. It was just the cruellest way I have ever seen a match won, or more to the point BEER AT THE FLYER NEXT YEAR. And all the texts have been saved Dan.

Now time to set the record straight on a rumour that has started circulating. Yes at the end of the match a cue was thrown in disgust by a Compasses player. Yes it did land in between the Tulip players. It did not hit any player and hence no one was hurt. The player did not throw it with animosity nor with the intent on hurting anyone. It was obvious frustration and I think we have all been there, especially given the last three frames. Apologies were made and everyone shook hands at the end including the player concerned. The Compasses were very gracious in defeat and only mentioned our luck once …. or twice.

Now to those questions..

1. Well we won and ….. well we won.

2. Juries out but any excuse will do.

3. We were all Ian’s kittens last night. Thanks for the lives mate.

4. 3 out of 4 to clear, you bet!

5. Very much so.

6. Ian and Craig were last seen cuddling up with a coffee at A1 so the love is still there.

Let’s monitor the guestbook now……….

FINAL SCORE

COMPASSES ‘B’ 4 - 7 TULIP ‘C’