Week 16, then, and 𝅘𝅥𝅮 it's getting very near the end 𝅘𝅥𝅮 as The Beatles sang on side 2 of Sgt Pepper's, so let's see what went down in division four this week.
We begin in Aldgate East where Bishop's Fist welcomed Bottoms Rock to the White Swan. The home side started the stronger, winning three of the four first-half rounds and were five points ahead by half time. They continued in the same vein in the second half, winning round five 7-2 but, although the visitors took the sixth and the eighth, it wasn't be enough and it finished 37-31 to the home side. Brian John led the way for the victors with 13(3) while Shanine Salmon was top Bottom with 11(4).
Back over to Cannon Street now where it was Common People versus Arrows Impossibility at The Bell. Despite the away side taking the first round 6-2, this was a much closer affair than the first match, and there was only a point separating the two teams at half time. Each team won two of the four second-half rounds, and it ended up 39-40 at the death. Vanda Shaw put in a very respectable 14(4) for Arrows, while David Bolsom led the charge for the hosts with 12(4).
Up to Kentish Town now where Doolittles entertained Outcasts at The Grafton. There was little to separate the teams for the first couple of round, but then something clearly kicked in for the visitors as they too rounds three and four 6-2 and 9*-1 respectively to lie a huge ten points clear at half time. They maintained the onslaught in the second half and, despite the hosts winning a couple of rounds, they couldn't find enough to overturn the deficit and the match ended in a 46-35 victory to the away side. Steve Tod impressed with 14(6) for the victors while Peter Colmans top-scored for Doolittles with 13(4).
Just across the way a bit next to the Gipsy Queen where Grinling Gibbons hosted Periodically Tabled. The first half went one way and then the next but it was the away side who took the lion's share and were five points ahead by half time. Rounds five and six were tied but the home side took round seven 7-4 to reduce their opponents' lead to just two points, but the away side held their nerve, taking the final round 8-4, including full house, to win by six points. Jack Hostick scored an excellent 16(6) albeit in a losing cause while Helen Lippell notched a magnificent 19(5) for the victors.
We head West now to Paddington where Hydra and Chocolate Fireguards assembled at the Fountains Abbey. This was yer proverbial "game of two halves" with the home side a couple of points ahead at half time, only for the visitors to switch up a gear after half time, taking all of the second-half rounds, and it finished 45-37 to the away side. Beth Younge put in a very respectable 14(4) for the victors while Lauren Gilbert led the way for Hydra with an also respectable 13(6).
Across town to Covent Garden next where Optimists welcomed Dense & Densibility to the Bow Street Tavern. The first two rounds were tied, but then the home side took rounds three and four 9-2 and 7-3 respectively to lie a whopping eleven points at half time. At this point, a lesser team might have rolled over and died, but the away side were having none of that, taking round five 9-5 including full house - was the comeback on? Round six was a tie, but the hosts took round seven 8-3, meaning that the best their opponents could hope for was mathematically possible if highly unlikely draw. As it turned out, Optimists took their first question in round eight for two points, killing off the match, which ended 48-35. Michael Baugh put in an excellent 15(5) for the home side while Matthew Spry put in a slightly excellenter 16(5) for the visitors, albeit in a losing cause.
Down to Waterloo now where Quizzard's Sleeve entertained Sigourney Beaver at the Duke of Sussex. The visitors went into the match safe in the knowledge that five points would guarantee them promotion to division three next season, irrespective of other results. Despite losing round one, they won the remaining first-half rounds and were six points ahead at the break. The hosts too round five, but Beaver took the remaining three in the second half, including a "killer" 9-2 with full house in the final round, and it finished 48-35 to the away side - job done! Duncan Ranton top-scored with 10(4) for the hosts while Dean Strachan put in a phenomenal 22(6) for Sigourney Beaver, the highest score in the division on the night.
Finally up to Regent's Park where it was Starfish against Hard Hat at the Kings Head. This was one of the closest matches in the division tonight, with the lead changing hands several times and never more than a handful of points between the two teams after any round. The home side began slightly stronger and were two points ahead at half time, and edging ever so slightly ahead in the second half to lie four points ahead going into the final round. However, the visitors took this 7-2 to claim a one-point victory, leaving their opponents the consolation of a close defeat bonus. Fintan O'Connor led the way for the home side with 13(5) while Steve Donoghue put in an excellent 16(5) for the victors.
Team of the Week Dean Strachan, Jack Hostick, Steve Donoghue, Matthew Spry v Tom Godfrey, Fintan O'Connor, Fiona Bruce, Lauren Gilbert
So.... while nothing is quite settled yet in D4A, Optimists look odds-on for promotion. But in D4B Sigourney Beaver are over the line and will ply their trade in division three next season. Huge congratulations to Dean Strachan and his excellent squad!
All eyes on D4A next week!
|