Last Sunday Monkstone PC entertained the Barristers, a team from the Temple Bar pub in Ewyas Harold in Herefordshire who play in Division 3 of the Marches league. On a glorious, sunny, if somewhat chilly, day a Monkstone team of Division 2 & 3 players took on the visitors in a match modelled on the Cup for Clubs format of singles, doubles & triples although it was decided that each game would only attract 1 match point. The games were played in reverse order to the Cup for Clubs with the triples being played first and ending with the singles.
Monkstone got off to a good start with Sean Smith, Rob Harris and Carol Maroney winning 13-4 but Phil Roberts, Gill Clarke and Judith Smith were unable to keep the momentum going down 10-13. All square at the end of the triples. The doubles started badly for Monkstone with first Carol and John Xiberras going down 11-13 followed by Lynda Hodges and Rob succumbing to the same score. Sean and Phil managed to pull one game back, winning 13-10.
So it was into the final round with Monkstone 2-3 down overall and needing to win four of the six singles to take the match. Monkstone made an excellent start with Judith and Gill winning 13-4 and 13-5 respectively but this was soon cancelled out by Lynda losing 10-13 followed by John going down to the same score. Phil brought the overall score back to 5-5 with a solid 13-6 win.
The script couldn’t have been written better with Sean nip and tuck with his opponent in what he didn’t know was the deciding game. With the score standing at 9-9, Sean seemed to lose his concentration and went down 9-13 leaving the Barristers as the 6-5 winners.
Congratulations to Bill Sparey and his team on their fine win. Everyone agreed that it had been a very enjoyable day and it was resolved to arrange a return fixture in Herefordshire next year.
Thanks to Joy Griffin and Vickie Adshead for providing the delicious leek & potato soup which warmed all the players up in the chill wind.
The team captains Bill Sparey and Roger Griffin (non-playing)
