Eynsham 21/11

[fazza]

Well, after reading some interesting thoughts on handicaps against lesser/new players on the general thread, read this.

Corner House were playing away at Bletchingdon B last night. We had been "asked" by their A team to go easy on these three (very new) youngsters so it would have been easy (if I had had the first break in the 1st leg) to "touch-up" at say 5000.

But this Steve had the 1st break and missed the red, got the break back well and missed the red again. He got the break back and missed a third time. I thought he was being lucky to still be there, until he settled into a lovely rhythm and did not miss another break, one up or split shot till he got past 11,000.

This was his SIXTH ever competitive game.

He ended up with 14k. I was so impressed, even more so when I found that he only drank Orange Squash which set me back 30p.

In the 2nd leg I missed both balls from my first split and feared for the worst when he got the break back and settled in again for another 6k.

Well Ok, I did manage to nervously make an 8000 reply to nick it but how would that have been achieved if I had been handicapped by having to come off at 5k, say.

It really would not have made sense, and it would have seemed condescending to my young impressive opponent.

Both his teammates showed promise, so there ARE some young stars coming through and they will not need to have their opponents handicapped.

We won 4-2, but I still found time to pass on a few tips to encourage these young lads in their first season.

I told Steve I would remember his name next time, but I've forgotten it already. Mulhall?

The other two lads only drank coke. How refreshing? No, I don't mean the coke, I mean their attitude.

Sixth competitive match? Makes you sick! Watch out for Steve Mulhall, Mulhill, Mullich, whatever his name is!

[milhouse]

I have heard about this team and have been told that they play their home table very well, but struggle to do anything away from home. Apparently they are on the table as much as they can practicing.

[fazza]

I think they have only played two away games so far, so it may be too early to judge. I think, Mark, it took a while for you to get anything away from home, as it does most of us at first.

But look at you now!!!!!!

[milhouse]

fazza said:

I think they have only played two away games so far, so it may be too early to judge. I think, Mark, it took a while for you to get anything away from home, as it does most of us at first.

But look at you now!!!!!!

Of course, master your own table first, then work on away tables !!!! - although that is not so easy with the Tandem table at the moment......