Monkstone Pétanque Club

With the end of the 2021 Super League season approaching, Round 5 was played out in the rain on Tuesday night and in slightly better weather last evening.

As has become the norm, Marauders v Minotaurs took place on Tuesday in constant rain which generally was light but there were a couple of heavy showers. In the first pair of games Minotaurs, Jayne & Bernard, very quickly found themselves 0-8 down against Marauders, Phil & Gill. Minotaurs, needing to do something, swapped the order of play and then only conceded one more point to take the game 13-9. On the other piste Marauders, Tom & Amanda, were struggling against Pete & Rose but the stuck to the task and slowly clawed their way back into the game before eventually running out winners by 13-11 in a very exciting finish leaving the halfway score at 1-1 [22-25] with a small points advantage to Minotaurs.

On the restart, Jayne & Bernard crawled to a 6-0 lead over Tom & Amanda taking one point at a time. Marauders then won a couple of ends before Minotaurs took a 4 and closed out the game 13-5. In the final game Pete & Rose were struggling against Phil & Gill finding themselves 5-12 down. When they took a four there was a glimmer of hope but losing the next end gave the game to Marauders by 13-9. The overall score was 2-2 [40-46] which at least improved Minotaurs points difference on a night when a win would have secured them the Super League title for the second year in succession.

Last night Meteors played Monarchs. Rob and Melys took an early lead for Meteors against Sean and Mike, and never looked back. They maintained the pressure for a thumping 13-2 win for Meteors, evidence that the Meteors are a force to be reckoned with. In the other game, Meteors didn’t really get started and Ben and Steve went down 1-13 to Monarchs two Rogers. So at the turnaround the score was 1-1 [14-15] – game on!

After the break, the two Rogers took on Rob and Melys and won 13-1. Could Meteors Ben and Steve beat Sean and Mike and squeeze a draw? The signs were good when Meteors took an early lead, but Sean and Mike then pulled off a six pointer and eventually won 13-5. The final result was a 3-1 [41-20] win to Monarchs.

So on to the climax of the season in two weeks when Minotaurs v Monarchs will decide the winners of the 2021 Super League. Its too close to call who will pick up the title and will depend on which team rises to the occasion.

A tremendous turn out today with 32 players competing for the 2021 Club Doubles on a cold but bright November day. Before the play started the pairs were decided by a random seeded draw which put an experienced player with a less experienced player – the groups being generally decided by those who played in the league this season.

Round 1 saw 13-1, 13-3 and 13-4 wins but these were all surpassed by Gill Clark/Ian McCarthy and Tony Smith/Barbara Kensett who both recorded 13-0 wins.

The second round got underway and at the end of it there were only 2 teams who had not recorded a win. Gill/Ian and Tony/Barbara both came away with another win making them the only teams on 2 wins although Gill/Ian held a points advantage.

The two pairs on 2 wins both held their nerve to register wins in the third round but Tony/Barbara were unable to overturn the points advantage held be Gill/Ian who were declared the winners. Well done to them both and especially to Ian for his first competition win. After a slight computer operator glitch and a recount the top 3 were confirmed as:

WINNERS – with 3 wins (+29), GILL CLARK & IAN McCARTHY

RUNNERS-UP – with 3 wins (+16), TONY SMITH & BARBARA KENSETT

3RD PLACE – with 2 wins (+14), JAYNE DUNN & ANDREAS SISO

Thanks to everyone who supported today’s competition and CONGRATULATIONS to GILL & IAN.

Round 4 of the 2021 Super League was played out on Tuesday night and last night and produced a few surprises.

First up was Meteors v Minotaurs on Tuesday which, on paper, seemed to suggest a comfortable win for Minotaurs but it proved to be anything but. Vickie & Pete had got a very close game against Ben & Rob under control when needing one point they had three boule in hand. They failed to take it and Marauders punished them to come back and win 13-12. In the other game Katrina & Richard kept a tight reign on Jayne & Bernard. At 8-8 and with the possibility of Minotaurs going 0-2 down, Meteors left the door open and Minotaurs experience finally showed when they pointed in 5 for a 13-8 win.

In the second pair of games, Ben & Rob were leading against Jayne & Bernard but their challenge faded and Minotaurs pulled away to to win 13-6. On the other piste Katrina & Richard were leading Vickie & Pete for most of the game but again just fell short at the last hurdle and went down 10-13. The score, 3-1 [51-37], flattered the Minotaurs as Meteors had made them sweat on a cold night.

Last night Marauders took on Monarchs and Monarchs were immediately in trouble with Tom & Amanda racing to a 13-4 win against Roger & Mike. Meanwhile the two Gills were giving Tony & Sean a run for their money before finally succumbing 10-13 for a score of 1-1 at the halfway point.

In the reverse games, Roger & Mike went down 4-13 to the Gill combo whilst Tony & Sean were again put under pressure by Tom & Amanda with Monarchs just squeaking through for a 13-12 win leaving the final score 2-2 [48-34] and a very creditable draw and points win for the Marauders.

18 Members today competed for the prestigious 2021 President’s Cup on a very balmy November day. The contest ebbed and flowed as can be seen from the full results below. After 3 rounds only 2 people finished on 3 wins with another 8 on 2 wins.

In 3rd place with the best points difference of those on 2 wins was (relative) newcomer, KATRINA MUNROE

In 2nd place on 3 wins (+8) was BERNARD ADSHEAD

And in 1st place on 3 wins (+20), with a great display of pointing, to help her partners, was SANDY WARNER who is also the first lady to win the President’s Cup.

Thank you and well done to all who took part and CONGRATULATIONS to Sandy.