Season VII

Publication of results for rounds eleven and twelve was delayed due to a lack of scoresheets, so here we go, three in one!  The telling off first, though.  Captains, please make sure all scoresheets are submitted, not just one – it’s amazing how often names or numbers are unreadable or some other information needs to be checked.  Also, please check all of your information on your own scoresheets then compare them with the other team – again, it’s amazing how often totals are miscalculated on both sheets??  What the heck, only one game to go!

In round eleven Tom of the Evicted ones checked out in straight legs against Kai of Cat’s Meow, but this would prove to be the only legs and only point of the evening for the visitors, in a game which saw also saw a 180 for Bill.   The other three games at the start of the Mickey Mouse all stood at home team four points and away team five points.  At Offshore, visitors Cat’s Job came away with their first victory since round five.  Starlight Blues also got past ACSP, but Silver Dollar managed to pull back for the draw against Texas Rangers.  None of this changed any standings in the overall league tables, but Texas Rangers do deserve credit for doubling their match points!

Cat’s Meow got their revenge on ACSP in round twelve, reversing the six point beating that they had at the hands of Kenny’s men earlier in the season.  Nok had a great night including twelve tons.  Texas Rangers achieved their second draw in two weeks, this time against Cat’s Job.  Despite having lost a few games through the season, the Rangers were the first to reach two thousand Mickey Mouse points, and did it in style reaching the number precisely!  Starlight Blues hosted The Evicted Ones, the game going eight – two to the home team.  This loss by the Evicted points left them one point behind Cat’s Job, who earned a point in their draw.  Offshore hosted Silver Dollar, with the home team winning six-four.

Another game was drawn in round thirteen, this time The Evicted Ones at home to Offshore, with the visitors gaining their draw by an extremely tight Mickey Mouse at 319-320.  That point for The Evicted Ones means they tie once again (but lead on points difference) with Cat’s Job who in a local derby lost eight – two to Cat’s Meow, the highlight being Noot (new to playing this season) beating individual number two Nok in straight singles!  Starlight Blues played at home, and Andy (he likes to be mentioned) was quite proud of his 180 in their eight – two victory over visitors Silver Dollar.  In the night’s other game, ACSP journeyed to Texas Lone Star to defeat the Rangers, though Matt and Gavin were both successful in their singles.

In the individual standings, there has been some catching up done, particularly by Mr Nok of Cat’s Meow, who is now only nineteen points behind Kenny after some impressive performances.  The top ten also happens to be the 100 club, from Kenny just one point short of two hundred, down to Mike just one point over the hundred.  Several people could potentially join the three figure party if they score well enough in the final round.  Andy has fought only half a season but still stands fourth.  Johnny stands seventh, which coincidently is where his team stands, but then, there are over seventy in the individual table!.  Each team is represented in the top sixteen, showing that the team standings don’t always tell the full story, with Gavin for Texas Rangers looking fairly securely inside at fifteenth, but “it ain’t over ‘till it’s over”!

So, only one more round to go.  One more match each for those players to reach their targets whether it’s a place in the top sixteen or whatever else.  And it should be a great one.  Cat’s Meow can’t be caught, so congratulations must go to Nok, Kai, Bill, and the others for winning the league.  They travel to Offshore for the final round.  Offshore will be no doubt hoping for miracles, or at the very least hoping for some exceptional performances.  If ACSP (who travel to Silver Dollar) lose, then an Offshore victory could see themselves promoted to finish second.  On the other hand, should Offshore lose and Starlight draw or win at Texas Lone Star (remember that points difference, now) then Offshore could drop a place and finish fourth.  Should Johnny’s boys and girls at the Dollar achieve a major turnover, then its even possible that Starlight Blues could leap from fourth to second on points difference.

Behind that intriguing three way battle for second place, lies another epic encounter.  With both Cat’s Job and The Evicted Ones having drawn recently, both stand on eleven points, with the latter leading on points difference, and the two teams facing each other in the final round.  Cat’s Job therefore need a victory to evict their opponents from sixth, whereas a draw would be sufficient to those Evicted Ones to keep at least their league position.