Only the A Team were in League action this week as the B Team start their 2 weeks of byes (& nervously wait for results of other matches to see if they retain 'top spot' in the 1st Division!).
The A Team travelled to Abingdon RBL who are renowned for having one of the best tables in the league. However, on arrival the snooker room was freezing cold (or have we just become spoilt at Wallingford Comrades since they finally sorted out our heating?). Nah, IT WAS bloody cold!
First frame saw Harvey Pearce play Captain. Harvey is recovering from a rather nasty shoulder injury & was playing only his 2nd match frame this season! Captain, quite wary of a 'wounded tiger' (let's face it, I've been there enough times myself! LOL!), found that Harvey was still a tenacious opponent & it went down to the pink ball before a 1-0 lead was gained by Wallingford, 47-33.
The table was playing RIDICULOUSLY fast (the cloth having been recently 'stretched') & the middle pockets wouldn't take any pace on shots at all (thanks for the advice Cuz! Well, it is his Monday night Oxford League 'home' table!).
Second frame was Paul Archer v VC. Paul potted very well & it was a most uncharacteristic performance from Nigel (maybe the lack of heat & fast cloth took it's toll? Just trying to 'help' you out with reasons VC!) who lost 64-6!
Jon Hawkins was up next v Keith Bennett. Jon, standing in for 'man flu' Tom, came in 'cold' but played solid match play (despite missing the pack on the break off!) & was in control of the frame throughout. Jon stroked the cue ball around nicely & won 71-27 to put Wallingford 2-1 up.
Cuz was on next v Nigel Archer (& Cuz has had something of a reputation of nicking the 'glory' leg this season!). It was a dogged performance & Cuz slotted in some fantastic pots, but Nigel just wouldn't give up. After a hilarious interlude when Nigel questioned how the score board read to the ref (Jon), who replied "IF you get to 20, you'll go on there", pointing to the 4 tiered score board! Well, I thought our guest cheerleader Big Dan 'The Man' Sheridan was gonna spill his pint! Both teams were creased up! LOL! Undeterred, Cuz battled on & aided by a HUGE slice of luck when he 'fluked' the green (match ball! Take it Cuz, you've had plenty of bad 'run' this year!), he eventually made it 3-1 by winning 71-35.
So with the win secured, Anchorman faced his old protagonist Doug Young. Now Doug looked well up for this having been defeated by Dave earlier in the season in the Over 50s (or OAPs as we call it!). Dave was always on the back foot & again battled valiantly, even to the point of requiring 2 snookers on the colours (& getting 1). A questionable 'push shot' wasn't called by the ref when Doug potted the brown, but unfortunately it wasn't the deciding factor as Doug won by 48-21 to make it a final frame score of Abingdon RBL 2, Wallingford 3.
So, with our 6th (!!!) 3-2 win of the first half of the season, the A Team have a home match v Marlborough next week to finish the 1st half. We need to record MORE than 3 points to catch & pass Wantage who currently lay 2nd (& have a bye). A nice big 5-0 would be very timely please... CHAMPIONS!
The A Team travelled to Abingdon RBL who are renowned for having one of the best tables in the league. However, on arrival the snooker room was freezing cold (or have we just become spoilt at Wallingford Comrades since they finally sorted out our heating?). Nah, IT WAS bloody cold!
First frame saw Harvey Pearce play Captain. Harvey is recovering from a rather nasty shoulder injury & was playing only his 2nd match frame this season! Captain, quite wary of a 'wounded tiger' (let's face it, I've been there enough times myself! LOL!), found that Harvey was still a tenacious opponent & it went down to the pink ball before a 1-0 lead was gained by Wallingford, 47-33.
The table was playing RIDICULOUSLY fast (the cloth having been recently 'stretched') & the middle pockets wouldn't take any pace on shots at all (thanks for the advice Cuz! Well, it is his Monday night Oxford League 'home' table!).
Second frame was Paul Archer v VC. Paul potted very well & it was a most uncharacteristic performance from Nigel (maybe the lack of heat & fast cloth took it's toll? Just trying to 'help' you out with reasons VC!) who lost 64-6!
Jon Hawkins was up next v Keith Bennett. Jon, standing in for 'man flu' Tom, came in 'cold' but played solid match play (despite missing the pack on the break off!) & was in control of the frame throughout. Jon stroked the cue ball around nicely & won 71-27 to put Wallingford 2-1 up.
Cuz was on next v Nigel Archer (& Cuz has had something of a reputation of nicking the 'glory' leg this season!). It was a dogged performance & Cuz slotted in some fantastic pots, but Nigel just wouldn't give up. After a hilarious interlude when Nigel questioned how the score board read to the ref (Jon), who replied "IF you get to 20, you'll go on there", pointing to the 4 tiered score board! Well, I thought our guest cheerleader Big Dan 'The Man' Sheridan was gonna spill his pint! Both teams were creased up! LOL! Undeterred, Cuz battled on & aided by a HUGE slice of luck when he 'fluked' the green (match ball! Take it Cuz, you've had plenty of bad 'run' this year!), he eventually made it 3-1 by winning 71-35.
So with the win secured, Anchorman faced his old protagonist Doug Young. Now Doug looked well up for this having been defeated by Dave earlier in the season in the Over 50s (or OAPs as we call it!). Dave was always on the back foot & again battled valiantly, even to the point of requiring 2 snookers on the colours (& getting 1). A questionable 'push shot' wasn't called by the ref when Doug potted the brown, but unfortunately it wasn't the deciding factor as Doug won by 48-21 to make it a final frame score of Abingdon RBL 2, Wallingford 3.
So, with our 6th (!!!) 3-2 win of the first half of the season, the A Team have a home match v Marlborough next week to finish the 1st half. We need to record MORE than 3 points to catch & pass Wantage who currently lay 2nd (& have a bye). A nice big 5-0 would be very timely please... CHAMPIONS!
