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Season 07-08

Extract from Review 175

After our win in our 1^st game in the Summer League we slipped up somewhat with two home defeats – 3-6 v Bedford Arms, and 4-5 v Nightingale – before a resounding 9-0 win v Old George and then a 5-4 win v Canary Club. At the half-way stage we are in 2^nd place in Division 1. There’s always one team trying it on isn’t there…..well, in this league we have already had more than one instance of teams trying to get a result by foul means. Firstly we had the Canary Club trying to claim a game because the opposition ‘chalked too slow’ and also rubbed out the chalk scores when the chalker had reached the bottom of the chalk board….er, where-else was he supposed to chalk then? Then we have had the Bedford Arms trying to claim a game 9-0 ….even though the opposition called the game off in the morning of the match! In an attempt to get the 9-0 result the Bedford Arms went round to the other pub and got them to fill in a score card which indicated that all games had been played….when NONE had been played. And this in a league where games are not drawn out by the captains – oh no, the home team have to list their playing order and then give the away team the sheet so they can select their order of play ! All a bit strange to me.

Extract from Review 176

The 2^nd-half of the brief Summer League started for us with a cancelled game, with opponents, Sir John Barleycorn, unable to raise a team. We were awarded a 5-0 win. We then faced a trip to League leaders – and Winter League Champions – Bedford Arms…….without 3 regulars! We put on a terrific performance with each player putting everything into the game and we were duly rewarded with a 6-3 win – their first defeat of the season. Another cancelled game the next week – the Nightingale were unable to raise more than 2 players….so another 5-0 win for us. Disaster the next week as we were unable to raise 6 players…and at one time had only 3 present. Stan, Peter G, John Jaz & myself did our best but went down 3-6 to the Old George, who we’d beaten 9-0 just a few weeks before! Our final match is against Canary Club on 3^rd September.

The winter league is due to start again on 17^th September.

Extract from Review 177

The Winter League started on 17^th September.

THE FOX (a) -Our first game was away to newly-promoted Fox (from the village of Pirton). With holidays still being taken we had only 8 players available but still managed a 7-2 win – our only loser being Stan Kershaw, who didn’t really want to play anyway! [He’s an old boy and has trouble bending down to pick up ‘fall-outs’!] nothing too spectacular, but a good win.

CD (2-0), DW (2-1), Stan (0-2), BD (2-0), DP (2-0), PG (2-0), PMc (2-1), NB (2-0).

PAYNES PARK COWBOYS (h) – Simon Keel was back from holiday….but Peter Gooch had now gone on his! New signing Rory Josebury was available….but reluctant Stan had to play again! What a great win by 9-0 – losing only 3 legs all night. Barry was back in the ‘180’ bed….and Stan stunned everyone – including himself - by winning 2-0.

BD (2-1), PMc (2-1), RJ (2-0), Stan (2-0), NB (2-0), SiK (2-0), CD (2-0),DW (2-0), DP (2-1) .

So, top of the League already!

Extract from Review 178

Week 3 of the League season saw us come down with a bump after the excellent victories in the first two matches.

We had thought we’d overcome our ‘bogey’ with the Plume of Feathers (Ickleford), but we were obviously wrong. They have a much better side that last season but we were still very disappointed to lose 4-5, especially as they were one player short! I suppose the ‘draw’ could have been kinder, but…… We were missing one of our better players, Nick Bendon, who had returned late from his Great North Run.

Simon (0-2), John (1-2), Pete Mc (2-0), Stan (1-2), Dave P (2-0), Rory (0-2), Barry (2-0), Dave W (0-2), Colin w/o.

All teams had a bye in the Arlesey Cup Preliminary Rd. Two of our teams were drawn to play in the Memorial Trophy – both won 2-0, although one of the games was something of a struggle!

The KO Cup had us drawn against Sir John Barleycorn – and we finally won 3-2 in a close game. There was a surprise defeat for our pairing of Nick Bendon/Dave White, but our final pair of Simon & Dave Porter came through with a good win.

Top of table (at 28^th Oct)

P W L F A Pt

Canary Club 3 3 0 22 5 6

Sir John B’corn 3 3 0 21 6 6

Plume (Ickleford) 3 3 0 16 11 6

NHSSC 3 2 1 20 7 4

Extract from Review 179

Success continues to come our way in all competitions.

In the League we have had success v White Horse (6-3), Phoenix (7-2) & Plume of Feathers (Wymondley) (5-4) to remain 2^nd in the League. Barry Davies is top of the League Player of the Year stats and is set to make it a hat-trick of wins for us, having had players win this in the last two years. We have a couple of new players who will, no doubt, add to the competition.

In the Cup competitions, both our teams have won through to the next round of the Arlesey Cup Fours, and our ‘C’ team have won through in the Memorial Trophy Three’s.[ Our ‘A’ & ‘B’ teams play each other on 3^rd Dec!]

Top of table (at 28^th Oct)

P W L F A Pt

Canary Club 6 6 0 42 12 12

NHSSC 6 5 1 38 16 10

Bedford Arms 6 4 2 30 24 8

Sir John B’corn 6 3 3 31 23 6

Plume (Ickleford) 6 3 3 27 26 6

Extract from Review 180

We had a comfortable 5-0 win over Paynes Park Social Club in the Team KO Cup 1^st rd with our pairings of Rory & John, Dave P & Peter G, Stan & Colin, Dave W & Peter Mc, and Barry & Simon . We are now in the last-8 play-offs on 14^th January.

In the league we suffered our 2^nd defeat of the season in the top-of-the-table clash with Canary Club. There were many close games but the 3-6 defeat has left us 4 points adrift of the Canary Club. In our final match before Xmas we had a good 7-2 victory over Sir John Barleycorn. Dave Porter lost for the 1^st time this season. Into the New Year – would we have our usual ‘collapse’? Well, obviously not as we defeated current champions (and champs for about 5 years in the last 6) Bedford Arms. ‘Defeated them’ tells only half the story….we absolutely demolished them 9-0! Well done lads.

Top of table (at 8^th Jan)

P W L F A Pt

Canary Club 9 8 1 57 24 16

NHSSC 9 7 2 57 24 14

White Horse 9 6 3 42 38 12

Bedford Arms 9 5 4 40 41 10

Sir John B’corn 9 4 5 43 38 8

Plume (Ickleford) 9 4 5 41 39 6

Extract from Review 181

The last-8 play-offs in the KO Cup were held at the Hitchin Canary Club (Hitchin Town FC). In the qtr final we played Hitchin Bar ’85 and struggled somewhat against the Div 2 side. We went 2-0 up in games which both went the full three legs, but then lost the next two games. Fortunately our last pairing came good and we progressed to the semi-final where we played last weeks league opponents Bedford Arms – who we had beaten 9-0! Once again the reigning champions proved to be no problem and we went through 3-0 without dropping a leg. So, into the Final against the hosts. At 0-2 we looked to have shot our bolt….but we came roaring back to make it 2-2. Unfortunately we were unable to sustain this and we lost the last game to finish as runners-up.

In our next league match we had the return against the Bedford Arms – could we possibly repeat our great win of two weeks ago?. We soon found that it just was not our night and we lost 2-7! Our only winners were the dependable Barry Davies & Nick Bendon, though some of the others were a little unlucky to lose. We then faced what were the Fox….now the Cricketers and recorded a 6-3 win, but it was not all plain sailing against this village team that are hovering on the edge of relegation.

Top of table (at 31/01/08)

P W L F A Pt

Canary Club 11 10 1 72 27 20

NHSSC 11 8 3 65 34 16

White Horse 11 7 4 50 44 14

Bedford Arms 11 6 5 51 48 12

Paynes Park SC 11 6 5 44 55 12

Our own Barry Davies leads the Player-of-the-Year stats with 29 points from a max 30. Nick Bendon is joint 5^th with 23 points.

Extract from Review 182

Having beaten Paynes Park Social Club by 9-0 earlier in the season we had hopes of a comfortable win in the return match….but so had we when we played the return with the Bedford Arms, and we got stuffed in that one!

We needn’t have worried however as we triumphed by 8-1 – our only loser being the unlucky Kerry. It wasn’t our best performance by any means and there were a few ‘squeaky bum’ matches. Andy, Dave P, Rory, John, Nick & Dave W had put us 6-0 ahead – then along came Kerry – and we finished with wins from Simon & Barry. Another 2-0 win for Barry maintained his lead at the top of the League Player of the Year stats.

Our two teams failed to make the Final in the Arlesey Cup Fours – the ‘A’ team losing in the quarter finals to Bedford Arms ‘A’ and the ‘B’ team losing to the eventual winners – Canary Club ‘A’ – in the last 16….though they had ample chances to have won 2-0!

Nick Bendon has won his way through to the Final in the Captains/Vice Captains Cup – he scored 2 ’11-darters’ and recorded a ‘180’ on his way.

The Memorial Trophy Three’s saw our ‘A’ team reach the semi-final but then lose to The Cricketers ‘B’, whilst our ‘C’ team reached the Final, but then lost to the ‘A’ teams victors.

The Frank Waller Shield (Fives) had been won by us in each of the 3 years it had been running…but we couldn’t make it 4! Having beaten Plume of Feathers (Wymondley) in the Last-16 round, we were beaten by a strong team from the Canary Club ……though we gave them one hell of a game!

LEAGUE TABLE (up to date)

P W L F A Pts

Canary Club 12 11 1 79 29 22

NHSSC 12 9 3 73 35 18

Bedford Arms 12 7 5 56 52 14

White Horse 12 7 5 54 49 14

Sir John Barleycorn 12 6 6 55 49 12

Plume (Ickleford) 12 6 6 55 52 12

Paynes Park SC 12 6 6 45 63 12

Phoenix 12 4 8 44 50 8

Cricketers (ex Fox) 12 3 9 37 71 6

Plume (Wymondley) 12 1 11 33 71 2

Remaining League matches:

03/03/08 Plume (Ickleford) (a): 10/03/08 White Horse (h)

17/03/08 Phoenix (h): 31/03/08 Plume (Wymondley) (h)

07/04/08 Canary Club (a): 14/04/08 Sir John Barleycorn (h)

Extract from Review 183

We have played three league games since the last report….and won them by 8-1 (Plume, Ickleford), 6-3 (White Horse) & 8-1 (Phoenix) to retain 2^nd place in the league. Barry Davies continues to be unbeaten – and now tops the Player-of-the-year stats by 5 clear points – whilst Pete McGuire has been playing some excellent darts. Nick Bendon has been battering the ‘Ton +’, and Andy Mair has at last found his form.
League leaders, Canary Club, were beaten for only the 2^nd time this season – 3-6 at home to Bedford Arms, which improves our chances of winning the league and makes the game on 7^th April all the more important.

LEAGUE TABLE (up to date)
P W L F A Pts
Canary Club 15 13 2 97 38 26
NHSSC 15 12 3 95 40 24
Bedford Arms 15 10 5 74 61 20
White Horse 15 9 6 71 59 18
Sir John Barleycorn 15 8 7 71 60 16
Plume (Ickleford) 15 7 8 64 70 14
Paynes Park SC 15 6 9 52 83 12
Cricketers (ex Fox) 15 5 10 50 85 10
Phoenix 15 4 11 49 82 8
Plume (Wymondley) 15 1 14 43 88 2

Remaining League matches:
31/03/08 Plume (Wymondley) (h) 07/04/08 Canary Club (a):
14/04/08 Sir John Barleycorn (h)

Extract from Review 184

Our final 3 league games produced 2 wins and 1 defeat – unfortunately the defeat was against league leaders, and now champions, the Canary Club.
Against the PLUME OF FEATHERS (Lt WYMONDLEY) we scored a 7-2 victory, with Andy Mair having the strangest of strange games: Lost 1^st leg, ‘brushed‘ opponent in 2^nd leg, lost 3^rd leg! The crunch game against the CANARY CLUB ended with a 3-6 defeat. Pete McGuire played some really excellent darts …but so did his opponent! We finished with a 7-2 win over SIR JOHN BARLEYCORN in which our Barry Davies suffered his only defeat of the season (plonker!) but still won the League Player of the Year title by 5 points.
The top 3 in the league was as follows:
P W L For Ag Pt
Canary Club 18 16 2 117 45 32
NHSSC 18 14 4 112 50 28
Bedford Arms 18 13 5 93 69 26

The Men’s singles were played down to the final on 28^th April – unfortunately none of our entries were too successful! We still have Men’s & Mixed doubles to play-off over the next few weeks, before Finals Night in June.

Extract from Review 185

We had 4 pairs in the Men’s Doubles play-offs held on Monday 12^th May.
Rory & John Josebury lost 1-2 in their opening game v Bricklayers Arms ‘A’.
Dave Porter & Andy Mair won their opening game 2-1 with Dave scoring a ‘140’ + ‘T’ and Andy scoring 2 x ‘T’.
They lost their next round match 1-2.
Dave White & Simon Keel won their opening two rounds by 2-0 – both recording a ‘Ton’ in the 2^nd game. They then lost in their Qtr Final by 1-2.
Nick Bendon & Barry Davies won all their 4 games by 2-0 to qualify for the final on 2^nd June.
The mixed-doubles play-offs were held on 19^th May with Andy Mair & sister Kerry Lowey (that’s Andy’s sister…she’s not a nun – well, not that I know of!). They had a ‘bye’ in the 1^st round and then lost a close 2^nd rd game by 1-2 – Kerry scoring a ‘129’ in the 2^nd leg. They had chances to have won the 3^rd leg.
The season will be finally finished on Monday 2^nd June when Finals Night is held. Local professional Denis Ovens has been booked to present prizes and to play the evening’s winners. Nick & Barry will be contesting the Men’s doubles final……Nick will be contesting the Captain/Vice Captain trophy, whilst we will also be collecting the League 1 runners-up cup and the Ron Abbiss Memorial Trophy runner-up trophy.
We have not bothered with this season’s Summer League as many teams seem to struggle to put out a full team during the summer holiday time.
We will be enjoying our end-of-season meal on Monday 9^th June with a short walk to the local Chinese Buffet, followed by pints back at the Four Emblems.