THE THREE COMPASSES VERSUSMINIATURE “A” MATCH REPORT
14thDecember 2015
The first turnaround game of the season and following the 41-48 reverse at the start of the season the Miniature were not being backwards in coming forward – we change the team around and decide to throw with our backs facing the table….what could possibly go wrong?!?!?!
Game One: Pat v Pete –Eager to stamp our authority on this match Pat stomps her way to the table as our first player.Not to be out-stamped Peter nimbly tiptoes in his hob nails to join her. Unfortunately, Pat’s not stamping the right tune and Peter marches into a rapid 3-0 lead. Pat answers with a brace of 9’s but it’s not enough as Peter replies with a 12 & 13 to make it 5-nil. The rest of the Three Compasses are quietly tapping their little feet at the prospect of another win to further their top-of-the-table position. Peter then throws a wobbly as a 9 from Pat gets her name on the board. Pat then wins the next 8-7 as the team’s toes start to curl but normal service is resumed as Peter tidies up the next two games to win 7-2. (Compasses 7 – Mini 2)
Game Two: Carolv Nathan – Two players with apt names at this time of the year – “Nathan” is Hebrew for giving and “Carol”……..no idea what that means! Anyway, Nathan was in no mood to give anything away and leaps majestically into a 2 nil lead. Carol hits her first 9 of the game to register her point to make it 2-1. She follows that with another 9 but Nathan blows that away with a sweet 16 – he’s in no mood for Christmas spirit as he then follows that with a pair of 8’s to go 5-1 up. Carol, with her lucky charm Graham in toe, picks up game seven then wins the next tied game on a 7. Carol’s luck and her unlucky charm then succumb to Nathan’s pin point accuracy as he finishes it to win 7-4.(14-6)
Game Three: - Bryan v Kate– Kate kicks off with a nervous 7 that Bryan sweeps away with a 10, this man means business. He follows that with a nice 9 before a tie in game three. Bryan is hardly seen in a collared shirt and we can see why – he’s rubbish at tie’s! Kate wins this one to make it 2-1 after Graham gives Bryan some of his expert advice resulting in Bryan bumping the front! Kate then finds a steady rhythm to win the next two including another tie. Game six sees Kate pitch in a lovely 14 to make it 4-2 to the Compasses. Game seven is a tie with both players hitting 7 and Bryan yet again falls to Kate’s good first cheese. Another tie is finally won by Bryan, mainly due to Graham now being back in his seat. The last two games go to tie’s again, Bryan finds the tiniest gap around a pair of standing pins and a dead to match Kate’s 6 then has the crowd aghast before lobbing a meagre 2 in the last to allow Kate to win this one 7-3. (21-9)
Game Four: Wendy v Rosie–It’s looking bleak for the Mini as game four rolls in. A slow start from both players sees Wendy take a 2 nil lead before Rosie picks up the third by one pin. An unlucky 6 from Wendy lets Rosie pull it back to 2-2. A tie in the sixth is Wendy’s with a 6. Wendy pitches in a nice 9 in the next that Rosie can only reply with a 3 and it’s evident that not all is well with Rosie. Ill health forces Rosie to concede the match. Everyone wishes her a speedy recovery. (24-16)
Game Five: Brendan v Joan–The Mini need to pull their finger out now as they face a trouncing and are given the best start as Brendan wins the first with a great 13. Unluckily for him it gives him a false sense of power as his battery goes flat and Joan picks up the next two games. Brendan then finds his reserve energy and plugs into winning the following four games. You can’t argue against Joan’s consistency as she keeps on hitting 7 – a total of nine 7’s in this match for her but she’s not in seventh heaven. Joan redeems herself with a 9 in game eight to make it 5-3 to Brendan before her 7’s finally reap reward – Joan wins the next two with 7’s against Brendan’s meagre 6’s to make it a “Wembley” finish. Brendan can see his Kirstie reward disappearing from his tongue as the thought of his cooked breakfast is slipping away. Somehow the imaginary smell of bacon and eggs waft into Brendan’s nostrils and he seals the win with a majestic 11.(30-23)
Game Six: Bill v Harold – The gap is down to seven points and Bill was our best hope of narrowing that down as much as possible. He starts with a 6 and “Tink” takes the first. Bill sneaks the second by one pin to bring it back to all square. Another 6 in the third from Bill gives Tink a 2-1 lead and the Compasses are relaxing back into match win mode. This is rubber stamped by Tink hitting a cool 17 but is countered by Bill’s 11 in the next. A 9 and a stack from Bill eases past Tink’s 5 & 6 to make it a close 4-3 lead to the Mini. An unlucky brace of 6’s from Tink allows Bill to extend his lead to 6-4 and the Compasses bum’s are itching. If Bill wins this by a comfortable margin and Julian pulls his finger out in the next game then this could go to the wire. A fight back fromTink including a 12 brings it to “Wembley”. Bill takes it by one pin to win 7-6. In a game of five stacks and averages over 8 this was always going to be close. It’s all set for a great finale. (36-30)
Game Seven: Julian v Richard – Both of these players have a reputation of hitting form when it’s needed and no more so than now. Julian leads the way with a winning 7 & 9 before Richard replies with two wins himself. Three games on the trot for Julian including a dozen in game six pulls him further ahead and by game nine it’s 6-3 to the Mini. Richard doesn’t appear to be playing at his full potential as we’ve seen him before and the rest of his team mates can sense this. Encouragement is echoed around their table as he takes game ten but it’s in vane as Julian wraps it up with a 9 in the last. Julian wins 7-4 and narrows the Compasses lead by just three. (40-37)
Game Eight: Gary v Steve–The Compasses save the best to last and Steve only needs four games to avoid a defeat. Gary is focused, though, and is determined to give it his best shot. Each and every team player is seen gripping the other one’s knees as Gary approaches the table. After a hearty handshake Gary notices that Steve’s grip is slightly quivering…. Is this a precursor for what’s about to come? A disappointing 7 from Gary’s first throw is not capitalised onby Steve as he throws a lowly 5 and you can hear breaths being drawn. A tie in the next is edged by Steve and he now only needs three games. Gary then moves up the gears to power through games three, four, five, six and seven registering three 9’s, an 8 and a sweet 14 to take a 6-1 lead. Could this be Compasses second only defeat of the season?Could Gary sweep Steve aside 7-1? Could Santa Clause really exist? As Gary was contemplating these Steve was finally in the groove and hits a pair of 9’s and a pair of 13’s. It’s almost impossible to play against such underhanded tactics and, as a reindeer flew past the pub window, it was Steve and the Compasses who were breathing a huge sigh of relief. Despite Bill, Wendy and Julian giving Gary bags of welcome encouragement it was not to be and that last win for Steve was enough. Gary finishes it to win the match 7-5 but it’s Steve who’s the happier. A great end to a great game, well done the Three Compasses. (45-44)
Thanks to the Three Compasses for their warmth, laughter and competiveness. Good luck in all your future matches and hoping all your remaining games are as enjoyable as this one was.
Report by Gary, photo by Wendy