The "dead rubber" in Group 2 of the Team KO competition, between Princeville and St Andrews B was cancelled this week, as the latter were unable to raise a full team. Also, as it was a match of no real consequence, the decision was taken that a re-arrangement wasn't necessary. Littlemoor, having already won both their matches, were already qualifiers from this Group for the final.

So, there's just the one match to report on this week... In Group 1, St Andrews A had already defeated Bradford Deaf Centre. Their opponents this week were league leaders Congs, who had surprisingly lost to the Deaf Centre last week. So, the situation was that all St Andrews A needed to do was to win to qualify for the final. The other scenarios, should they lose, were described in last week's blog (which can still be read). 

As it turned out, Congs actually won, but not by enough... they needed to win by 51 or more, but the final overall score was 792-779. Conceding 265 on the handicap differences to St Andrews A, it was always going to be a bit of an uphill struggle for Congs. 

The playing order was Neil Lee (h/cap 90) against Congs Phil Hirst (70) which Phil won 137-124. So, this was a net win for Neil (by 7). John Oyston (130) was then up against Congs John Hirst (90). It was the Congs man who came out nicely on top in this one with a 145-43 win giving his team a net win of 62 and thereby getting Congs into the lead and much closer to their desired target. Next was St Andrews A's Graham Pearson (75) against Richard Bowes (-80) giving a 155 advantage back to St Andrews A. However. although Richard still won by a handy 145 (254-109) including a break of 48, it still gave St Andrews A another chance to get back in. The final game was Congs Mick Hirst (45) against Nigel Brayshaw (95) (difference 50). Mick won this, but as it was by just 131-113, it wasn't quite enough to beat St Andrews A by 51 or more, nor were Congs able to prevent St Andrews A from scoring the 702 they needed to overhaul Braford Deaf Centre's aggregate. Thanks to Richard Bowes for supplying me with details of the playing order... His Facebook comment sums up the result well... "Despite not making the final, we've come away pleased with turning a 265 deficit on handicap into a 13 point win, it just wasn't quite enough."

So, well done to St Andrews A who have now qualified for the final. They last won this competition in 2011, but will be up against last season's winners, Littlemoor. There's a lot of water to go under the bridge between now and the final though, as it will not be played until the 25th April next year. 

This coming Thursday, the 28th December, will see the Preliminary Round matches for the Pairs competition. At Littlemoor, Dave Howarth and (our newcomer from Rochdale) Sid Ash, take on Nigel Brayshaw and Neil Lee. Ian Ford and Jeremy Dixon, of the Deaf Centre, will play Graham Pearson and Gary Rogers and at Congs, father and son combo John & Phil Hirst will welcome the Deaf Centre pairing of Brian Robinson and Ijaz Hussain. Please remember that the rules of this competition are that the two higher handicap players, play each other first. Their handicaps go on the scoreboard before the match starts. There is no time restriction and they will play until one of them reaches 200. The balls are left where they were at the end of the first game. The next player on will be the partner of the first player to win. The handicaps of the second two players are added to the scoreboard and the match proceeds until one of the second players reaches a total of 400. 

If you can arrange for your Individual Merit matches to be played on the 28th December as well, there is nothing to stop you from doing that. If it cannot be played on that evening, please contact your opponent and make arrangements to agree on a mutually agreeable date. 

Finally, I'd just like to wish all our players and readers of this weekly blog and update a very enjoyable Christmas and a prosperous New Year.

Dave Howarth

League Secretary