Oxford Winter League 25/10/07

[milko]

The Nelson A 5 Democrats 0

Steven Sheard 15,610 John Patey 460
Ray Sturgess no game >:(
Keith Sheard no game >:(
Pauline Withey 4,990 Billy Hill 4,130
Kevin Godfrey 7,230 Terry Green 3,190

Breaks, Steven 10,480

Demo's only had 3 players and refused to play the 4 player rule, they said they wanted to save it for when they play weaker opposition.!!

This left me & Ray with no game & one less chance of most wins, as you don't get a win for yourself only for the team. ??? >:(

Each player is allowed to use the 4 player rule once per season, the Demo's have 7 players signed on so are allowed to use it 7 times.

Last season they used it once, so we feel that their was no reason for them not to use it against us.

I'm sure our rivals in the Premier Section are going to take a dim view of it as well.

This is not in the spirit of the game & with all the slanging that went on left our captain in tears (Pauline). :'(

I'm sorry to wash our dirty washing in public, but this is what we have to put up with in this fine game of ours. :(

I'm off to bed now Good Night All (Most)




Keith.

[Ian Gordon]

Temple Bar 1 - 4 Headington Con Club

Magnus Erixzon 580 lost to Graham Mildenhall 2230
Guy Davies 1150 lost to Tim Jeffreys 1670
R Inall 2420 beat Ian Gordon 1690
Nick Ainley 1180 lost to Dave Gordon 1460
J Fanti 390 lost to Ian Dunmore 1120

Temple bar side are a good bunch of lads, a good night had by all.

[milhouse]

Didcot Con Club 3-2 Dolphin A

L Beer 10,580 - 310 P Caistor
D Tooke 760 - 10,820 S Ellam
J Abbott 2660 - 12,140 J Robson
S Florey 5140 - 4060 S Lee
M Trafford 8260 - 5520 D Barnes

Breaks - Leon 9980, Simon 10,230, Jimmy 10,510

Great match with the first 3 players all going in with enough on their opening breaks.
Could have been much worse for us when Stuart missed both balls on his break, but got them back near the end to get the win. Dave then looked comfortable, i had the break back early but kept messing up, but Dave let me off the hook and i got them back near the end making just short of 5k to finish it off.

[milhouse]

Look on the bright side Keith, you kept both your break games, could of been worse for you if the 2 byes came out 1st and 4th !!!
At least you had an early night ;)
I do think it is wrong that the players involved do not have a win credited to them, i think this should be changed at the next AGM.
i understand this is the 2nd time this has happened with the Demos team, are they struggling that much to field a side ?

[NigelS]

I do sympathise with you Keith, your 4 player rule is meant to benefit teams that are turning up short of players and then they do something totally against the spirit of the rule by refusing to use it against a stronger team.

In Brighton we have had similar frustrations when lesser teams do not turn up against the stronger teams (especially in Team Knock Out games) where they feel they don't have a chance of winning. Having said that thankfully that has not happened this year and even one team that turned up with 3 players and managed to win.

I wouldn't really want to see the 4 player rule used in Brighton, and seeing that teams did what they did to Keith's team last night, I certainly would rather not have it in.

I agree, the 4 player rule sucks.

Although it did save our Prince of Wales team from disintegrating two years ago. (We played up to Christmas with five players, then Alec Hastings emigrated to Spain and Josie started nightwork - Margo stepped in to make us up to four, which meant we could play five frames and not have to give 2 away each week)

But it is open to abuse: Apart from Oxford's debacle (no-one likes to see someone reduced to tears over bar billiards) one of the ladies from the Frenches Club revealed that when her team couldn't field their strongest five, though registered, she was discouraged from attending so that someone else could play a second game.

Again, no-one should be denied a chance to play should their opportunity arise - wouldn't you agree ?

[bigtj]

Totally agree Tommo if somebody is available no matter what their standard they should be able to take their chance and not be subject to rule bending or pressure from others.

[Josie]

tommo said:

Although it did save our Prince of Wales team from disintegrating two years ago. (We played up to Christmas with five players, then Alec Hastings emigrated to Spain and Josie started nightwork - Margo stepped in to make us up to four, which meant we could play five frames and not have to give 2 away each week)

Tommo - I didn't start night work then - had been doing it for a year and a half already!!!!! Was in hospital and took a little time to recover - came back in January fully refreshed with an opening break of 8,000 odd in my first home game!!!!!! ;) ;D

But yes, the 4 player rule has helped us out untold times in Surrey. Admittedly we are very lucky - generally it doesn't matter who gets drawn twice (unless it's me on the Old Oak table :P) - we're all fab!!! ;)

Hi Keith
Although i can understand why they done it, I totaly disagree with it being done .
Perhaps the committee can tighten the rule up at its next meeting

[Richard Stowe R.I.P.]

Gladiator Club B V Berinsfield

1. Jenny Webb.............1070 lost to Chris Mace.............1550
2. Neil Cunliffe..............1620 lost to Geff Mace..............2090
3. Phil Clark..................4240 beat B Howard...................300
4. Reg Johnson............2780 lost to T Broadway...........4770
5. Wilf Tuffin.................1820 beat B Howard......................0 BP

Gladiator Club B 2 Berinsfield 3

[rag]

We had seven players signed on at the begining of the season one being the steward of the club he has now left leaving us six players. Two players were on holiday this week and i had to work.Over the next three months we have players on holiday most weeks one player is away for five weeks, i have tried to get players signed on to cover but they are novices and they dont feel they would be doing the team justice signing on just to make the numbers up and the idea of sitting there watching someone put 10k plus past them does not appeal.
I have been told by my teamates they were called cheats and ***holes this is not the sort of attitude i would expect from players of your level.
Due to your attitude and comments i am having to try and convince the team to carry on playing and not pull out of the league, so thanks very much for screwing up!

[milko]

Hang on there Richard, who started this problem in the first place.!!? Maybe I/we did say some derogatory comments in the heat of the moment to your team on the night (I/we apologise for that) but how would you feel if you went out for a match and didn’t get a game, when there was a chance for your opponents to play four games instead of three and they refused.

We feel you should use the 4 player rule as soon as and when it applies and not to use it to your advantage later on in the season. This rule was brought in to help teams out when they turn up short of a player, so that matches can be fulfilled without anybody not getting a game.

As for you saying about our attitude, it’s your teams attitude that needs looking at, not ours. Are you saying it’s o.k. to upset the opposing team and captain, when it could have been avoided, because that’s what your teams decision has done.

Now lets see how many times you turn up short for the rest of the season, if you decide to carry on.!

Also I don’t like the “screwing up” comment.




Keith.