Another year, another regional campaign, another chance to get through to the County finals.
It was a fantastic turnout by the men’s teams, but it gave a few problems to the team selectors as there were 32 players trying to get into the 22 places.
Men's A team..
The Men’s A team, (which should be re-named “Nuneaton A”) started a bit shakily going 5-1 behind before they found their form. At the end of the second section it was honours even at 11-11.
A much more positive performance in the third section saw Warks win 7-4 to go into the final furlong with an 18-15 lead. Knighty and Steppy increased the lead to 20-15, Bucks pulled one back, then “the Mank” and Paul Mason made it 22-16 leaving Warks needing one more frame for victory.
Bucks dragged it back to 20-22 before Chappers rounded off a brilliant, individual performance to get the match winner for Warks A. Final score Bucks A 21 – Warks A 23.
4 out of 4 was enough to earn Chappers the man of the match trophy, whilst there were 3 out of 4’s from Karl Knight, Lee Steptoe and Nige Griffiths. New recruit, Paul Mason, got 2 out of 2 on his debut.
Team: Karl Knight, Lee Steptoe, Paul Willis, John Martin, Keith Garner, Martin Kirby, Mick Richardson, Ian Jones, Mark Chapman, Nige Griffiths, Neil “Chicken” Randle, Roger Hunt, Paul Mason and Baz Hinde.
Men's B team..
A thankless task for the B team manager as he had to try and accommodate 19 players into 11 places due to everyone being “dead keen” and turning up for the first match of the season.
Warks B won the 1st section 6-5, but lost the 2nd section 5-6 to be 11-11 at the halfway mark.
V
arious
substitutions occurred at this point and Warks B went on to take the third
section 6-5 to hold a slender 17-16 advantage going into the last section.
Sam Mills, Ponty and Rob Butterworth all won to give Warks B a 20-17 lead, but it all went “pear shaped” as Bucks took 6 frames in a row to steal the match. Ben Gilbey won the final frame to make it 23-21 overall.
Wark’s downfall could have been attributed to several factors, mainly trying to cram too many players into the match, but then Leighton Buzzrd is a long way to travel without getting a game!
Roy Pontefract, Martin Groves and Mark Winham all got 3 out of 4 frames with Mark being given the Man of the match trophy by the Buck’s captain.
Team: Roy Pontefract, Martin Groves, Phil Parkin, Russ Blinco, Steve McKervey, Aaron Easson, Icky Singh, Scott Varden, Dave Collins, Andy West, Dave Easson, Rob Butterworth, Hitesh Gohil, Martin Tonks, Jason Page, Sam Mills, Ben Gilbey, Ant & Dec, My next door neighbour Dave, the cast of Hollyoaks, Leo Sayer, Bob Jefferies’s Cat, a dodgy looking bloke who we found in a lay bye on the A5 ………… and Mark Winham!
The Ladies...
They may not have won the match, but it was a monumental day for the Warwickshire Ladies team!
Welcome back Sara Brennan and Kirsty Campbell after some 3
years in self-imposed exile – within 5 minutes it was like they’d never been
away! Sheelagh Williams had turned up straight from the set of “The Wizard of
OZ” very resplendent in her Red Shoes ….. although I don’t recall Dorothy
drinking 2 litres of white wine in the original film!!!!
Hazel Payne had taken time out from her role of Youth B team captain to support the girls and it was a big “Hello and Welcome” for the new girls, Cat Jarvis and Lorna Kernaghan. 11 players – there’s something new for 2007!
A combination of nerves, out of practise, alcohol and the fact that we were playing the current regional champions, may have contributed the 9-2 hammering that the girls received in section 1, but they redeemed themselves in the 2nd section as they narrowly lost 6-5.
Bucks kicked into over drive in the 3rd section which they won 9-2 and with it, the match.
However, it wasn’t about the winning or losing, it was the first time for many a match that there was a great spirit within the team. Notable that the normally rowdy bucks girls were “Out Heckled” by Sara Brennan – must be those “Special needs shoes” …… certainly nothing to do with the 5 or 6 pints of lager she drank!
Ali Wilkins (sponsored by Smirnoff Vodka) got 3 out of 4, but the player of the match trophy went to “Lusty Fanbelt” (or Kirsty to her friends) for her 3 out of 4 …… what’s she gonna be like when she’s had some practise I wonder?
Team: Wendy Forde, Kirsty Campbell, Sara Brennan, Sheelagh “Dorothy” Williams, Hazel Payne, Cat Jarvis, Liz Cheetham, Lorna Kernaghan, Ali Wilkins, Tor Andrews and Katie “are my Boobs getting bigger” Bonham.
Next match is Oxford at home on April 15th ……………. Bring it on!