THE MINIATURE “A” VERSUS FINEDON (KNOCKOUT CUP) MATCH REPORT
23rd November 2015
A confident Miniature was facing Finedon Cons in this Quarter Final round of the 2015 Winter League Knockout Cup. Finedon were beaten fair and square in the league fixture on October 12th 51-29 and were not relishing another trouncing. Teeth were seen to be gritted by both teams!
Game One: Brendan v Barry –Brendan’s treat for every win from his Kirstie was firmly in his thoughts and stomach as he stepped up to kick off this match. Despite starting strong, Barry laid down his intentions with a nice 9 to go 1-0 up. Brendan returns the favour with his own 9 and another 8 to nose ahead. A whoops 4 from Brendan gains a groan from the Mini crowd. Game six sees Brendan get a 6 to bring the game to a 3-3 draw. Barry misses a sitter to allow Brendan in on a tie and its Brendan’s with a sweet 7. Three games on the trot give Brendan a 6-3 lead and a miserly 7 from him is enough to seal the win. 7-3. (Mini 7 – Finedon 3)
Game Two: Wendy v Joe – A wobbly 8 from Wendy starts the second match – is this the way this game will go? She goes 2-0 up with a brace of 8’s. Another 8 in game three is Wendy’s after an unfortunate 5 from Joe. Game four and Wendy hits a 13, its Joe that’s wobbling now. Clearing up on game five pushes Wendy 5-0 up. Its 6-0 with another 9 and poor Joe is sobbing into his cheeses! She wraps it up in style with a 13 in the last to leave Finedon shaking their heads and the Miniature shaking their booties! (14-3)
Game Three: - Pat v Stef – Two young ladies on a mission – Pat wanting to stretch the Mini lead and Stef wanting to rein some respectability back for Finedon. The game begins with grace and style not seen outside of a ballroom as both pirouette into a pair of 12’s to tie it. An unlucky 2 from Stef is not enough and its Pat’s to take the first. A tie in the next but it’s Stef who takes it. She follows this with a 9 & 8 respectively to take a 3-1 lead, including a horror 2 from Pat in the fourth game. Horror is far from Finedon’s faces as they eek a wry smile at the prospect of finally winning a game. Some sniper fire from Pat sees Stef inch further ahead. A tie in game seven is Pat’s. Game eleven’s a tie giving Stef a 6-5 lead and she finishes it with a stylish 12 to record Finedon’s first win 7-5. (19-10)
Game Four: Bryan v Heather – After witnessing a flurry of stacks on this table during practice, Bryan was sure he could stack up a few of his own in this first half finale. Heather, on the other hand, had other ideas. Despite Bryan winning the first he quickly succumb to Heather’s deadly aim. A tie in the second is Heathers after a sweet 7 followed by another tie and an ecstatic 8 to go 3-1 up. A tie in game five is not what Bryan wants as he again falls flat. The Mini crowd grow restless at the impending doom despite Bryan’s 11 in game seven. Heather snubs out any chance of a comeback with a fancy 14 in the last to end it 7-2 to Finedon. (21-17)
Game Five: Bill v Sam – We’re into the gritty stage of proceedings where any slip up will cost one team dearly. Both players renown for baring their teeth at the right time – Bill takes his out of his glass of water and the battle commences! Bill starts with his infamous opening 5 as he knows lulling his opponent into that familiar false sense of security will only pay dividends come the end game. An unlucky 6 from Sam brings it to 1-1. A double tie in the next is Bills after firing down an excellent 8. Game four and Sam takes it with a forceful 14. The next’s a 15 for Sam to inch ahead. Sam has a blip in game seven to allow Bill back in. Another Sam-blip in the ninth puts it at 5-4 to Finedon. At 6-4 to Sam Bill pitches in a 9 to pull it back to 6-5. Bill drags it back to a “Wembley” finish for Bill to finally lob his stack in, a sweet 16 to take the match 7-6. (28-23)
Game Six: Julie v Pete – The sixth game where men are men and the women are women, each ready to drive home their intentions. Unfortunately, Julie was stuck in first gear! She opens with an 8 and Pete’s poor throws in the next two games (a 3 & 1!!!) give Julie a mouth- watering 3-0 lead. The wheels start to fall off the bus as its Julie’s turn to throw some misguided cheeses. A 4 & 6 throws Pete a lifeline and, even though Julie takes game six, Pete finds second gear and begins to pick off Julie’s low scores. He wins a tie in game nine and easily stretches it to 6-4. He ends with a throbbing 13 to put the pressure on the away team. (32-30)
Game Seven: Julian v Nigel – With just a slender lead of two points the pressure was on both players. Nigel’s wry smile and Julian’s furrowed brow sets the tone as the game commences. Nigel immediately leaps into a 2-0 lead and upholds his surname (Steele) to take command. Julian then lobs in an 11 to bring it back to 2-1. A 9 from Nigel in the fourth gives him back his two point advantage for Julian to win the fifth with a shaky 7. Two more slender wins for Nigel sees him sit on a 5-2 lead as Julian becomes frustrated. He can’t shake off the curse of the 8’s as his last four throws are just that. Two successes and two losses means Nigel secures a 7-4 win to put them ahead for the first time in the match. (36-37)
Game Eight: Gary v Graham – Having led by eleven points and nine points at two stages of this match the Mini should have had this sewn up by now. It was left to both just to simply win – Gary to force the draw even if it ends 7-6, and Graham just to seal it for Finedon. Gary kicked off with win in the first to bring the match to a 37 each draw. Two 9’s for Graham turned the lead around once more. Game four saw Gary beat Graham’s unlucky 6 and a lucky 13 in the next gave Gary a slender 3-2 lead to once again draw the match. Graham pitches in with a superb 15 to take it back to all square before an 8 in game seven left it at 40-40. Then someone starts to noisily chew on their pork scratching’s just as Gary throws to make his cheese go porky. It’s all hush hush as Graham picks off another before the phantom scratching’s-nibbler strikes again – how can one concentrate? Graham finds his form and polishes off the last five games to win it for Finedon to give them a much needed and deserved win. (40-44)
Thanks to Finedon for their warmth and competiveness, always a pleasure doing battle with such a nice team and the best of luck in the semi-finals.