Charity Cup 2006-7

The new season got underway last night.

Handcross 'Z' v Windmill (Burgess Hill)

Alan Downs 5930, Russell Jennings 3720

tommo 4970, Lynne Storr 3450

Johnny Haigh/ margo 3020, D.Rankin/M.Power 3710

Barry Timson/
Mick Holmwood 4500, Janie White/ J.Arnold 3800

Mick Holmwood 4480, Andre Layzell 2160

So, the mighty Z's off to a fine 4-1 start (could have been 5-0 had margo not suddenly downed the black, but we can't be too greedy, now !)

Mick Holmwood's long-awaited comeback went very well considering his last Mid-Sussex game was ten seasons ago, and he hadn't lifted a cue since playing Billingshurst in 1999/2000.

[Sparky]

The Victory lost 5-0 to The Brewers

I don't have the scores and prefer not to try and remember :(

sparky said:

The Victory lost

Good example of an oxymoron.
Never mind, Sparky - early days yet.

[fazza]

I know a few oxys, but very few morons

Week 2.

Clayton & Keymer Royal British Legion v Handcross 'Z'

Ted Stringer 2270, Mick Holmwood 5320

Jenny Edwards 4710, Barry Timson 6630

Paul Moyes-Robb/
Peter Edwards 3600, Johnny Haigh/ John Turner 2950

David Page/Jenny 1770, Barry Timson/Mick Holmwood 6400

David Page 3140, "tommo" 5050

So, the mighty Z's continue their fine 4-1 start with more of the same !
Game two was the best - Jenny at one point overtaking Barry with a fine break of 1800 on a table where you had to be accurate. Barry had to really dig in to turn the game around.

[iang]

Saints 3 Handcross 2.
First 2 to saints thanks to Peter Geal & Mick Joplin.
A close 3rd doubles with Shaun & mick just taking it from Chris Kirkham & Ian G.
The Skinners saved the day for us in the next & a fine 8000 finnish from dazza. :) :) in the last

Week 3.

White Horse 4 Handcross Z 1

C.Mansfield 3670 J.Haigh 2080

I.Turner 2760 J.Turner 2560

C.Mansfield/B.Coleman 2550 B.Timson/M.Holmwood 1560

J.Ruffell/I.Powell 1410 C. & M. Thompson 1480

J.Ruffell 2960 C.Thompson 1510


The kindest thing I can say about a table which is uphill, rolls left, has dead cushions and is slow as buggery :( , is that it is “challenging” – and the League Champions were found wanting in the challenge, not for the first time recently, either, at this venue. My adoring public (- a bit of Fazza creeping in there) ;) will already be laughing their socks off at our scores, but would you believe that they included handicaps – and as visitors we had the break in each game ? :-[

In this competition the captains nominate player(s) before each frame – and by the end of the evening the ‘plan’ had been modified several times ! (We were not only “Colemanated”, and "Turned" over - but had our feathers well and truly “Ruffled”…..) 8-)

Plan A had been to put the two Johns on for the third game to make the most of what they had learned from games one or two, but both were shaking their heads and didn’t relish another go on it. So on to Plan B, which was that I would team up with the missus in game four and bring our ‘star’ doubles act of Barry and Mick on a game early – but these guys suffered also.

At this stage I should say that the last part of Plan A was to play either myself or the missus in the final singles game – she if the table was difficult (as she would have a good start from the handicap and was capable of adding 450 or 600 to it from the break) - or me if the table was easy and - playing off scratch – I would try to chase down the handicap as I had first break.

But so far Plan A had shown no signs of fruition, hence Plan B, which now included an extra option of Barry or Mick for the deciding Singles – whichever player had enjoyed the table the most.

Plan B was then thrown into turmoil when the missus and I somehow managed to win game four on the last ball :o, so there were now four candidates for the last singles. A bit of ‘player power’ now ruled – neither John H or John T had wanted to play a doubles, now neither Barry nor Mick felt disposed to play a singles ! ::) To make matters worse, Margaret was not happy with her tip, having miscued a couple of times, fortunately not with fatal consequences.

So from my original Plan of maybe not playing at all, the poor old captain found himself nominated by his team to play a second game (= Plan C), and was armed with much useful information on how best to approach it.

The consensus was that the break was impossible, therefore I should go one-up and split for the entire game. We started, and I got the one-up playing it really hard and applying a lot of LEFT-hand side ! Yes. This left the object ball over towards the middle – in position for a ‘Cambridge’. Instead I whacked it three-quarter ball for left hand 50 and right hand 20, which worked. 170 break so far. Next shot, one up with left again, slightly thinner. This left ball perfect for the ‘Oxford’ – which went down a treat. Break now 420. I’m on a roll, the theory working. Another one-up made it 470, but the object ball ran nearer the fifty pocket. I eyed it up for a 50-10 split but didn’t trust it – table rolled left, remember. The last thing I wanted now was to slew through the peg. So I potted a couple more fifties before the ball drifted onto the cush, I couldn’t judge the angle correctly, and – end of break, still well short of the handicap.

My opponent seized his opportunity to rub my nose in it in revenge for the earlier doubles defeat, and with some flowing play (totally alien to what had gone before) built up a good lead. Half way through the game all the balls were on the table and in the most awkward of places and I felt I had no hope. I therefore switched to playing left-handed – which for me is rather like driving a car without any brakes. The balls started flying in all over the place and one that I’d caught far too thin even shot straight back down the 200 ! But it was too little, too late. It summed it up for me when I stepped up to play left-handed and thought better of it as there was a nice juicy in-off for the 100 hole begging to be played. So I played the normal shot and it went nowhere near. :-X

Anyway, despite the defeat we all enjoyed our evening in a masochistic sort of way: As our opponents were careful to point out to us, the game is not just about players getting the break and winding in huge scores on an easy table. :-/ This was more how I imagine “Alternative Rules” would be played, ie balls in a cluster down the middle of the table and no advantage in having the break. We cannot wait for our return visit in the League on 15th November. :P Oh deep joy ! :-*

[Q]

The last time I played there, singles match last season the table was OK, a bit slow but fairly true... I wonder who's been messin'

Handcross 'A' beat Watermill at home last night, either 3-2 or 4-1 I cant remember.

Why is it that I prefer away games now? I really dont like our top AT ALL.

[fazza]

tommo said:

Week 3.

White Horse 4 Handcross Z 1

We cannot wait for our return visit in the League on 15th November. :P Oh deep joy ! :-*

I wondered if you could take your PC with you to next week's match so that you can keep us all up-to-date with proceedings during the night. This is not very detailed. ;D


...and thanks for the mention, but you are probably free to have a go if your opponents are not forum members. ???? ;)

Well, no-one can accuse me of boosting my posting tally with one-liners ! ::)

I put a lot of effort into that one, and it now stands there as a little bit of history. 8-)

An outsider to the Mid Sussex League would be able to view in and see :
1. Mention of a really difficult or challenging table;
2. A strange case of players not wanting a second go on it.
3. How we took our medicine well and did not refuse to play on it.
4. How although I hate the system of the captain pre-determining the order of play, now that I've become the captain I'm really getting into it. :o

......and an insider to the league might gain a couple of useful tips on how to play (or not play) the table. :-/

If the opponents join the Forum (I did tell them of its existence and a couple of them have home computers) and read the post, then so be it - I'm never one with anything to hide. Like your goodself, Pete, happy to be controversial. ;)

No, regrettably I can't offer a running commentary from a match, I have no laptop and my PC is at home and my arms won't stretch that far ! ;D

[Herr von Puebik]

I thought it was an excellent, well informed report Tommo but you forgot to mention the sandwiches and the bus ride home ;D ;D

I'll give myself a Tart point for that before you ask :P

[Sparky]

We played the Hurst Club last night (lost 5-0.............silence :'()
BUT the FOOD was GREAT :D (returns to depressed state :'()

Tommo liked your report, except that it brings back nightmare memories of the old top, cannot understand why they put up with it now they have new top that can be set up.

sparky said:

BUT the FOOD was GREAT :D (returns to depressed state :'()
Tommo liked your report, except that it brings back nightmare memories of the old top, cannot understand why they put up with it now they have new top that can be set up.

Well I wasn't really expecting a discussion on this one, but firstly to say that Sparky's right - the food at Hurstpierpoint Club is THE BEST - spicy sarnies, onion bhajias etc etc. :-* (Kipling points for mention of food ?) ;)

Mine hosts at the White Horse usually look after us very well, but I can hardly believe it's a new top with those hard cushions. I really used to like the old table too - John Turner and I once scored 20k there in two frames in a doubles match.

An added thought - maybe when the Victory play there, Charlady could bring her iron along and find an excuse to do one of Sir Trevor's shirts on it before the match commences. ;)

[Sparky]

tommo said:

An added thought - maybe when the Victory play there, Charlady could bring her iron along and find an excuse to do one of Sir Trevor's shirts on it before the match commences. ;)

Coo I don't think so, as I got a hard time from someone after setting the table up for the Ladies One-day Comp when they all got the break and decent scores, noticed the table returned to it's old state the next time we visited....anyway since when did Sir Trevor of the Apple get his shirts ironed for him ;D

Okay then, another idea............perhaps you should pop down there with your tenon saw and while no-ones looking saw an inch each of three of the legs, which should stop it playing uphill and to the left (providing that you pick the right three of course). ;D

[Sparky]

Mmmmm.....you could be onto something
( but thinks..... has Tommo been to the Victory with his tenon saw....that would explain our appalling recent results in the Charity...must check my legs for uniformity ;D )
Oh by the way Tommo have you had a chance to go to the Victory for a meal recently as the chef has changed and the food is quite good again.
(will he fall for this subtle ruse?)

[Colemanator]

Hmmm, this B Coleman fellow, is he worthy of the 'Colemanator' tag 8-) :D

Well, he'd be way down the pecking order. Maybe Colemanator 3 ? ;D

[Q]

Actually he's mustard ;D

All the results so far, courtesy of Roy Wells :

Charity Cup
Week 1 Hurst Club 2 Handcross S C 3
Victory 0 Brewers Droops 5
St Francis 2 Watermill 3
Greyhound 3 CKRBL 2
Plough 3 White Horse 2
Handcross Z 4 Windmill 1
Week 2 Handcross S C 2 St Francis 3
Brewers Droops 4 Hurst Club 1
Watermill 5 Victory 0
CKRBL 1 Handcross Z 4
White Horse 3 Greyhound 2
Windmill 1 Plough 4
Week 3 Hurst Club 5 Victory 0
Handcross S C 3 Watermill 2
Brewers Droops 3 St Francis 2
Greyhound 2 Plough 3
CKRBL 4 Windmill 1
White Horse 4 Handcross Z 1

P W pts
Pool 1
Brewers Droops 3 3 12
Watermill 3 2 10
Handcross S C 3 2 8
Hurst Club 3 1 8
St Francis 3 1 7
Victory 3 0 0


Pool 2
Plough 3 3 10
Handcross Z 3 2 9
White Horse 3 2 9
Greyhound 3 1 7
CKRBL 3 1 7
Windmill 3 0 3

Handcross Z 3, Greyhound 2

Table played a bit iffy and was a real challenge for both teams. The first game was as close as the scores suggest, and in the second one 16-year old Luke Morrell made his league debut.
Admittedly he was given a 3k start under handicap rules, but played sensibly throughout and wasn't at all phased by the occasion, running out a worthy winner.
The Zeds then managed to take both the doubles, but Neil Burchell on his second go with the break proved he had read the table and won the final singles at a canter.

MrMike007 2760, Paul Goodwin 2750
Alan Downs 2700, Luke Morrell 4210
Johnny Haigh & margo 2990, Peter & Neil Burchell 2190
Barry Timson & MrMike007 2600, Paul Goodwin & Luke 1770
Barry Timson 530, Neil Burchell 5640

Plough next week with Semi-Final places up for grabs: As far as we know, White Horse and Clayton & Keymer are still in the running.

[Chunky Monkey]

Last night Hurst club played away to the saints, the table was back to its old tricks, reverse break etc etc. unfortunatly for hurst no one plays the break reversed, but i was the only player to get both balls down off the break going the normal way with lots n lots of left and side.

St Francis 4 Hurst Club 1

Chris little 2650 V Roy 810
(870) (290)
Shaun Morris 5170 V BB REAPER 290
(580) (290) i black pegged but was about 3k down anyway
Chris Little/Pete Geal 4610 V Roy/Father Hall 1990
(870) (290)
Shaun/Mick Batcholar 1870 V Mother Hall/BB REAPER 2100
(580) (290)
Pete Geal 2780 V Father Hall 580
(1160) (580) Father Hall also had a black peg needing to sink the 200 to draw the match.

Also unlucky to England in the cricket last night against Sri Lanka

tommo said:

Plough next week with Semi-Final places up for grabs: As far as we know, White Horse and Clayton & Keymer are still in the running.

Found out tonight that it was Plough 5, Clayton & Keymer 0. :o :o
Which means that the Plough are virtually home and dry, with the Zeds, the White Horse and the Greyhound chasing the other semi-final place in Pool 2.
Perhaps Sir Jock 'o' the Strap will have some news from the other Pool for us.

[Sir Jock o The Strap]

Yeah baby

Can't post the scores cause I lost ma wee book, but:

Watermill 1 Brewers Droops 4

awkward table, difficult break, virtually a half ball cut wi loads o top left. I found it, after about three attempts. Other than that a decent showing from the Brewers in the face of much complaining from a couple o players in the Watermill regarding their handicaps being altered. You know who you are, get over it.

XX

(Moderated by Q)

[iang]

Victory 1 Handcross 4
not going to talk about scores thats too boring.
just move straight on to the food excelent as always real hot dogs & onions & 2 of the biggest bowl of cheesy chips you could wish for I couldn't resist them. 8-)

Latest info, courtesy of Roy Wells :

Charity Cup

St Francis 4 Hurst Club 1

Watermill 1 Brewers Droops 4

Victory 1 Handcross SC 4

Handcross Z 3 Greyhound 2

Windmill 3 White Horse 2

Plough 5 Clayton & Keymer RBL 0

Latest table :

Pool 1
Brewers Droops 4 4 16
Handcross S C 4 3 12
Watermill 4 2 11
St Francis 4 2 11
Hurst Club 4 1 9
Victory 4 0 1

Pool 2
Plough 4 4 15
Handcross Z 4 3 12
White Horse 4 2 11
Greyhound 4 1 9
CKRBL 4 1 7
Windmill 4 1 6

***Anyone got the full set of tomorrow's fixtures ?***
Pool 1 looks to be as tight as Pool 2, with Brewers virtually there and three teams vying for the other semi-final place.

[Q]

Just looked at my list....
Theres something wrong with it... according to me Hurst are at home to Watermill AND away to Victory.

Looking for another copy.....

[Q]

OOOeer something went wonky then, post it once... it appears 3 times

[Sparky]

My list has

Hurst at home to Watermill

and

Victory at home to St Francis

Do you want me to post this three times too ;D ;D ;D