D&DS&BL Week 1 Match Reports

And so, the 2013-14 D&DS&BL Season got under way on Wednesday night.

Despite losing Fairmile (team folded!), Fawley (unable to field a full squad!) & Didcot Con A (last minute withdrawals!) all from from the Prem/1st, poor Vic Hartley & others were on Version 4 of the Calendar Fixtures before a match even started!!!  Headache!

Fortunately Wallingford Comrades Club, bolstered by a Summer influx of players (some on a 'Free Bosman' & others slightly more expensive!) had 24 players registered for just 2 teams!

Step up 'Captain KP', Kev Pickworth who used his powers of persuasion to get Andy Rance to re-take the helm for the B Team & volunteered himself & Pete Beaumont (as his able Deputy) to Captain & steer a newly formed Wallingford C Team!  They've been pitched in to the combined 2nd & 3rd Division & I'm sure they will all become household names by the end of the season.

As per usual, the opening match for the A Team (without their new Summer Signing of Aaron Tame-welcome aboard Aaron, Get Well soon!), & also missing their Novice Champion Tom Williams (who is still on Honeymoon) faced the B Team in their annual 'derby' opener.

Captain Pete Billingham opened against Simon Ellam & it was Simon who made the running all the way, racing off to a 20+ point lead.  The League Singles Champion pegged it back to nearly level, before Simon took off again after playing some lovely snookers & safety, only to be pegged back to a couple of points difference.  Simon put in a last, telling few pots to take the first frame by 74-52 (126 aggregate points indicating a hi scoring quality frame!) to take 1st blood for the B Team.

Second frame saw Nigel Prior (VC) facing Club Singles Champion Dave Rowe.  A mouth watering frame in prospect!  The frame was a very tight affair & with a lot of respect being shown by each opponent, knowing that any mistake would be severely punished it lasted a while with plenty of tactical safety.  It ended up being decided on the colours & it was Dave who took the honours by 50-31.  2-0 to the B Team & justifying their 'promotion' to the Prem in the Summer re-organisation!

Frame 3 was Kev 'Cuz' Higgs facing B Team debut man Pirom Pongsathorn, the Thai Typhoon who is better known as just Phai (pronounced 'Pi'...thankfully!).  Phai has been practicing with Andy (& his 'secret coach', Alan 'Stace' Stacey) & it obviously paid off as he knocked in a 24 from the off to put Cuz on the back foot.  However, Cuz was in scintillating form in practice & pegged the deficit back immediately.  Cue a safety battle & a telling safety shot from Phai put Cuz under pressure & it proved to be the decisive shot as Phai triumphed by 63-27 to seal the win for the B Team who now led 3-0.

The A Teams Secret Weapon was wheeled out (at late notice) & Jon 'Hawkinator' Hawkins faced Rob House in frame 4.  Jon had been called in at the last minute after Aaron signed off sick.  Without any practice & up against a seasoned match player, Jon was always going to face a stern challenge.  Rob made all the running & making a 22 (including a 'Greathead' fluked red!), it proved to be the telling contribution.  Jon did have a slim chance with 35 on & being 37 behind when Rob went in-off. Jon proceeded to take red, black, yellow, a lovely drop green to the middle leaving the cue ball awkwardly near the cushion for the brown.  The brown was missed as he 'dug deep' for the blue & it was to be the miss that Rob needed to seal the win by 68-33.  4-0 to the B Team & could the unthinkable happen?!

With the Captains words ringing in his hears ('We need this one Dad'!), the A Team Anchorman Dave Greathead stepped up to face B Team Captain Andy Rance.  Dave made the running at the start & pulled a lead.  He held it through to the last red on the table & when it looked like he was going to ensure it wasn't the first 0-5 of Captain Pete's reign, he missed a relatively straight forward cut pink to the middle & Andy took full advantage.  He sealed the win by 68-62 to complete the B Teams white wash of their A Team rivals!

Congratulations to the B Team on a fantastic (historic?) victory.  I know during the current Captaincy that the A Team have never suffered a 0-5, in fact I think you'd probably have to check with Phil 'The Legend' Hall's comprehensive records to see a) the last 0-5 loss for the A Team & b) the last time the B Team beat the A by 0-5?!

Meanwhile on Table 1, the first game for the newly formed Wallingford C Team saw them play experienced opponents, Abingdon Con B.

Hugh Baker started for the C Team & like some of his team mates, admitted to having a few nerves!  He fought a titanic battle (an hour & a quarter!), against Richard Palfrey & despite being behind & needing a snooker with only the pink & black left, he showed his steely determination.  He got the 6 point foul he needed after a lovely snooker & potting a superb 'length of the table' black to finish the frame in style to win his & the teams first ever game by 66-61!  Well done Hugh!

Next up was another new Summer Signing, Alan Wells.  Now Alan is a bit of a dark horse having played in the Hounslow League some years ago & he obviously knows his way round the table!  He showed this experience against Mark Pratley &  never looked in any danger, making it a flying 2-0 when he eased to a 36-19 victory.  C Team 'cruising'?!

Next up were two of the new youngsters, who understandably showed a few nerve but accredited themselves extremely well.  They both showed they have plenty of ability & will certainly grow with confidence over the next few games.  Joey Edwards lost 22-44 against Paul Onion & Dan Milles lost 30-72 against the vastly experienced Fred Brett.  Good effort lads, keep the determination & learn from the mistakes & you'll go a long way!

So, with the match poised at 2-2, the final game was awarded to Pete Beaumont after Dave Hancock declined to play due to fading light (PB... forever the Cricketer, but I read that as a Walk Over as the Bar was shut & it was past Closing Time!  LOL!).  However, the records will show that the C Team WON their first ever match in their tentative first steps in the League!  Congratulations lads & Thank You PB for all your efforts (& KP... go enjoy your holiday!  Your new team is in good hands!).

So, the B Team have their first BYE next week (should have been their first 'home' match v  Didcot Con A!) whilst the A Team are consigned to the practice tables before facing newly promoted Challow C away in a repeat of last seasons Jim Taylor Cup Final.  Wallingford C have their first away match at Harwell RBL B (don't expect the tables or lights to be as good as ours there boys!  You may need head torches!!!).

Couple of things before signing off...

1.  The Greene King Handicap Tournament is tomorrow (Saturday 14th) & briefing is 1000am... sharp!  Andy Rance has put in a HUGE amount of effort to get this annual tournament back up & running after a 2 years hiatus, so those that have entered please ensure prompt arrival.  The Greene King Brewery have helped out with sponsorship (Thank You Brian Orton & Oz/Lucy!), so it will be quite a lucrative prize pot!  Enjoy & play well!

2. Another Thank You, this time to John Beardsley who works tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure our tables are kept to the enviably highest standard in the League!  Tables 1 & 4 (the 'match' tables) are both due for recovering soon, plus on-going maintenance to keep 2 & 3 to an equally high standard.  Thank You John, your efforts do not go un-noticed & are greatly appreciated!

'Til next time... Love the game, Respect your opponent... Fear No-One!