Post by syorksbilliards on Aug 26, 2014 7:39:36 GMT
York v Sheffield 23/8/14
Bar Billiards in York has been going from strength to strength, its renaissance now taking in five venues and six tables. More exciting plans are also afoot as the league has successfully bid on another table that's hopefully to be placed in a new venue in the very near future. In fact, as I type this, I've had another local pub contact me to ask about joining the league!
With all this going on, we were pleased to get in touch with our Sheffield counterparts who are in the process of growing their own league from its current four teams which are situated at the Gardeners Rest and Cross Scythes, which provided Steve to captain the contingent. When we agreed upon a date, we decided to go round all of the York venues and take in a single long match of 19 games. I threw together a schedule, got sign off from the pubs involved and everything was set for a indulgent day of Bar Billiards.
We kicked the day off in the Fulford Arms around midday hoping to involve both the Uni and Fulford teams. Sadly the University presence was hit by the summer holidays but enough turned out to start things off. The Fully's two tables were in no mood to take any prisoners and six games were rattled through in surprisingly quick time (though clearly no quicker than intended for a fixed time game) to end up with a scoreline of 5-1 in favour of the hosts, landlord Chris knocking in a break of 590 in early exchanges. The question was if the home team really had that much skill advantage or if the quirks of the local tables happened to be playing in our favour.
Next up was a stroll to the Knavesmire, always a busy place to be on a raceday, so our trip was timed to take place after the racegoers were likely to have headed off to their day's revelries. Any thoughts we had of a big performance advantage were quickly dispelled as the visitors took all three games. Still, the standard was decent and the home side was clinging to a slender advantage as we took a short taxi trip to the home of York's most recently-installed table.
The Waggon & Horses are set to join the York league at its next staging and have had a table for only a very short time but we were met by the newly appointed team captain, Paul, alongside landlord Tom and other players. By this time, all our toil was requiring sustenance so the spread kindly put on by the Waggon was hugely well received. The sausage and onion sarnies in particular really hit the spot. Momentum in the match stayed with the visitors though who took the next two frames before a stunning shot from Steve Bradley (who, rumour has it, is soon to take over another York boozer) helped steady the ship for the home sides. Things were set at six all as we were ready to move on.
As we made our way round the city walls to the Phoenix, a new sense of determination was palpable from both sides, as was the appetite for the food waiting there. A good complement of Phoenix players were waiting and anxious to get stuck in so Ben and Karen got one on the board to take the lead back before the Sheffield lads took a convincing game to level and another (to zero points) to nudge ahead again. All to play for as we headed to the Golden Ball to face our destiny!
It was tough to fit the proverbial fag paper between the teams in the first game in the 'Ball; the visitors taking victory by a scant 30 points to put themselves in touching distance of glory. Graham and Tom stepped up to the plate for the home team against Lee and Eddie who did themselves proud and sealed things for Sheffield: a 10-7 victory.
I'd pressed Beth (the 'Balls pub manager) into action to present the trophy on the off chance York won (presenting it to myself would have looked odd) and she duly handed over the award to signify this achievement back in Sheffield. A high score award was doled out to Mick from Sheffield for his contribution of 650 to ensure all the prizes headed South.
We had a fantastic day, made some new friends and surely have created the appetite to run a return visit. Massive thanks to all the venues for making us at home and particularly to the guys from Sheffield for making the effort to come up and see us in return for a trophy that (I've got to be honest) didn't cost all that much.
See you next time!
Bar Billiards in York has been going from strength to strength, its renaissance now taking in five venues and six tables. More exciting plans are also afoot as the league has successfully bid on another table that's hopefully to be placed in a new venue in the very near future. In fact, as I type this, I've had another local pub contact me to ask about joining the league!
With all this going on, we were pleased to get in touch with our Sheffield counterparts who are in the process of growing their own league from its current four teams which are situated at the Gardeners Rest and Cross Scythes, which provided Steve to captain the contingent. When we agreed upon a date, we decided to go round all of the York venues and take in a single long match of 19 games. I threw together a schedule, got sign off from the pubs involved and everything was set for a indulgent day of Bar Billiards.
We kicked the day off in the Fulford Arms around midday hoping to involve both the Uni and Fulford teams. Sadly the University presence was hit by the summer holidays but enough turned out to start things off. The Fully's two tables were in no mood to take any prisoners and six games were rattled through in surprisingly quick time (though clearly no quicker than intended for a fixed time game) to end up with a scoreline of 5-1 in favour of the hosts, landlord Chris knocking in a break of 590 in early exchanges. The question was if the home team really had that much skill advantage or if the quirks of the local tables happened to be playing in our favour.
Next up was a stroll to the Knavesmire, always a busy place to be on a raceday, so our trip was timed to take place after the racegoers were likely to have headed off to their day's revelries. Any thoughts we had of a big performance advantage were quickly dispelled as the visitors took all three games. Still, the standard was decent and the home side was clinging to a slender advantage as we took a short taxi trip to the home of York's most recently-installed table.
The Waggon & Horses are set to join the York league at its next staging and have had a table for only a very short time but we were met by the newly appointed team captain, Paul, alongside landlord Tom and other players. By this time, all our toil was requiring sustenance so the spread kindly put on by the Waggon was hugely well received. The sausage and onion sarnies in particular really hit the spot. Momentum in the match stayed with the visitors though who took the next two frames before a stunning shot from Steve Bradley (who, rumour has it, is soon to take over another York boozer) helped steady the ship for the home sides. Things were set at six all as we were ready to move on.
As we made our way round the city walls to the Phoenix, a new sense of determination was palpable from both sides, as was the appetite for the food waiting there. A good complement of Phoenix players were waiting and anxious to get stuck in so Ben and Karen got one on the board to take the lead back before the Sheffield lads took a convincing game to level and another (to zero points) to nudge ahead again. All to play for as we headed to the Golden Ball to face our destiny!
It was tough to fit the proverbial fag paper between the teams in the first game in the 'Ball; the visitors taking victory by a scant 30 points to put themselves in touching distance of glory. Graham and Tom stepped up to the plate for the home team against Lee and Eddie who did themselves proud and sealed things for Sheffield: a 10-7 victory.
I'd pressed Beth (the 'Balls pub manager) into action to present the trophy on the off chance York won (presenting it to myself would have looked odd) and she duly handed over the award to signify this achievement back in Sheffield. A high score award was doled out to Mick from Sheffield for his contribution of 650 to ensure all the prizes headed South.
We had a fantastic day, made some new friends and surely have created the appetite to run a return visit. Massive thanks to all the venues for making us at home and particularly to the guys from Sheffield for making the effort to come up and see us in return for a trophy that (I've got to be honest) didn't cost all that much.
See you next time!
