DREAM TEAM STAR MANMatt (Serious) Hook
(Couldn't carry Harrod but saved me from getting a draw!)
Well guys as the weekend sportsman (Paul) said last week, we have a touch match facing us as we battle our arch rivals the Ex-servicemens HG. A victory would be a brilliant result for us and open up a 3 point lead at the top. I seeked some vital words of wisdom from Hos and Hos up the bar before we left, to draw on some of their HG destroying experiences!
PS - Can you stop winning guys or you'll knock us off top spot! Good stuff!
As me and the Skip (Craigo) had already discussed they would be at full strength. This is despite Andy Honeyman's best efforts to disrupt our preparations leading up to the game confirming that Danny would be working away (NOT!) and Jimmy would be combing his guinea pigs (NOT). They still had the mighty Nigel/Neil/N/Nibs/Nibby Niblett to bolster their side if they happened to be short of players!
With a call from Bardy (Danny) during the day to confirm he would be working late I knew that we would be fielding the 'weekend sportsman' (Paul) in the doubles, and the hopes of winning away from home seemed to fade away (if it was a scratch snooker tournament I may have fancied you for this one buddy)!
The draw was done after tinkering with the doubles for a bit and it seemed to be fairly favourable to us, notably as Kelly made the doubles (but so did Natural [Ed] and Weekend [Paul])!
Early victories for us in the doubles from Smasher (Craig) and Liquids (Kelv) + Dunston (Al) and Skip (Craigo) saw us take a 2 - 0 lead with good doubles still to come. The unfortunate thing of what was to come is that Cobby (Me) and Serious (Matt) were not paired together and that both of our partners produced the most awful display of darts I can remember since Liquids (Kelv) performance at the Ole Frank last year and his double one marathon!
The Natural was really off form in the doubles and my 60, 100 combinations were never enough to keep us alive. We nearly got a shot at a double but it wasn't to be! Then came the demise of the weekend sportsman (Paul) which some critics say was the most appalling performance they have seen by a professional since Alan Glaziers performace against Bobby George in the News of the world final 1978/79 or more recently Roland Scholten's game the night before. Serious (Matt) didn't miss much and must have been averaging 40+ per dart, which should be enough to carry any partner! However, this was no ordinary partner as he could barely scrape 30 per throw!!! A chance to redeem himself in the closing stages of the leg saw his double 4 attempt firmly hit the 13! The score was now at 2 - 2 and with Weekend (Paul) and Natural (Ed) still to play singles it seemed a difficult mountain to climb!
Ping pong in the singles as we traded the first 4 legs. Brilliant performances from all 4 guys and unlucky to lose two of them. Awesome display from Smasher (Craig) winning with ease in his match against Thatch. Natural (Ed) put the doubles behind him and played a blinder against Jimmy. Two missed darts at D18 gave Jimmy the chance to checkout on 116 and square the match up at 3 - 3. If Natural (Ed) can turn his game around was there any hope for the Weekend sportsman (Paul)??? An outstanding display it has to be said as he hit back to back 140's against Tasker, and the second one was in reply to Taskers 180. Advantage back to us and critics said it is the best comeback from a player or team they have seen since Liverpool vs. Milan in the European Cup final back in 2005! Liquids up next against Mr Invincible (Andy Honeyman) and leaving himself on 56 as Andy took out a top finish (can't remember as I was in the loo) it seemed slightly unjust!
4 - 4 and our big guns to draw on! Well I mean our big guns and me. I was hoping for the first three singles to take it 7 - 4 then I wouldn't need to win on last!!!
Dunston (Al) up first and gets away first throw with his classic middle of the 20 marker followed by double top. A tight finish to the leg but a victory nevertheless! 5 -4 and all of us are getting pumped up now! Skip (Craigo) was up next looking to secure the draw and improve a little on his doubles display. A professional job done to get down to the double and BOOM! 6 - 4. Sensing victory (provided Serious (Matt) could win his match) we supported our player like a gladiator about to be mauled by a lion. Trouble starting in this leg saw the ever popular P Broggs take the advantage in the leg and he was first to the double. Two darts wasted and we were praying Serious (Matt) could finish off the job after hitting a 140 to leave a 78 finish. 18 hit, yes. . . . .20 hit, yes. . . . SH#T! the double top was blocked. 1ft to the right or 2ft to the left were his options? The difficult option to the left was chosen and we all held our breath (well mainly me as I was up next) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The dart was released and it seemed like ages to hit the board. a turn of the head from serious and a Bob Anderston style figure in my direction was evidence enough that we had secured an emphatic victory with one match to go and hopefully improve our leg difference!
Result 7 - 5 (I wonder what happened in the final leg?)
Keep this up boys
Capt Cob (Linx)
Vice Skip
