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Week fifteen, and although the top of the table seems to have settled down, it's still all to play for at the bottom. Will anyone manage to pull away from the danger zone? Let's take a look.
To the basement (or is that dungeon) of the Rose and Crown, and league leaders Amoebas hoping to consolidate their position against TEAiM, now fully over their shaky start to the season. The visitors inched ahead in the first round, but Amoebas responded with a full house in round two to draw level. TEAiM put their feet down, and were three points ahead at the changeover. Nothing really changed for the next two rounds, until TEAiM earned their full-house bonus, and it was all over bar the shouting. Just the third defeat for Amoebas this season, and at 52-46 they even missed out on the close point. TEAiM's victory was very much helped by Oliver Levy's 16(6).
Next, to the Crosskeys, where Fray Bentos took on a three-person Gnus On A Raft team. Bentos immediately took advantage, starting with a full house, following up with another one in round three and leading by a massive nineteen points at half time. Despite their obvious handicap, the Gnus found their feet in the last two rounds, but by then it was far too late. 51-33 to Bentos, and Nic Mortimer's 13(6) topping the individual scores.
At the Bow Street Tavern, Mealy Bugs were hoping to leave the bottom of the table, although they could have chosen easier opposition to try it against, as they were playing Atletico, who seem welded to third place right now. The Bugs were looking pretty good for the first three rounds, but Atletico managed a turnaround in round four to pull away by three points at half time. Everything stayed level for the next two rounds, with the Bugs making up an extra point to go into the final round just two points behind, and hoping for an upset. They would have pulled it off too, but for Daniel Adler's knowledge of 80s dance hits. 47-46 to Atletico, a consolation point for the Bugs (which given the Gnus' misfortune helped them up a position), and a table-topping score of 16(6) for the aforementioned Mr Adler, although Alex Furby's 14(6) deserves a mention too.
Amoebas' rivals at the top, Misfits, welcomed Jacob's Crackers to their Spread Eagle home. Things went the home team's way right from the start, with them winning all of the first four rounds, capping the achievement with a round four full house and going into the second half nine points ahead. Another full house for them in round five, and although the Crackers managed to restore some of their dignity before the end the Misfits won 52-41 to leapfrog the Amoebas at the top. Both Thomas de Bock and Marianne Fairthorne managed 14(6), but the Crackers' Brendan Curtis pipped them on bonuses to win the table 15(6).
Last, but certainly not least, at the Betjeman Arms Telstars and Pineapple met to see if they could pull away from the relegation scrap. The home team had a good first round, but Pineapple responded straight away, kept up the pressure, and were two points ahead when the order swapped. They immediately lost that lead, and fell even further behind to have their opponents three points ahead going into the final furlong. It was a close run thing in the end, but Telstars taking the match 46-45 drew them level on the points table with Crackers, and both teams might be feeling optimistic about avoiding the drop now. Dom Tait took the individual honours again, hoovering up the bonuses with a 16(5).
With just three weeks to go, Misfits are in the driving seat to be playing in Division 1 next season, but Amoebas can be forgiven if they feel confident about joining them. At the bottom, the four-way battle looks as though it might be down to three, with Telstars and Pineapple clawing away from Jacob's Crackers, Mealy Bugs and Gnus on a Raft. Of those three, the Crackers look like they might have the easiest fixtures, judging by the current state of the table. It's going to be a tense few weeks for some, for sure.
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