East Dorset beat Bristol 5-2
[<<] [>>] by David Williams
at East Dorset
16th May 2022
(AC - Mary Rose)
East Dorset names first:
AM
Doubles: Tom Weston 2.5 / David Williams 3.5 v Wayne Wiseman 0 / Martin Leach 0.5 + 10
Singles: Steve Leonard 5 v Richard Williamson 4 - 2 T
PM
Tom Weston v Wayne Wiseman +9
David Williams v Martin Leach - 3T
Chris Weedon 7 v Richard Williamson +1T
Result 5/2 East Dorset (2 w/o's)
On a chilly April morning with a cold wind off the sea, our visitors found the Parkstone courts slower than their home courts and in the doubles match David took the opportunity to get in early and take his ball round to peg. Tom was slow to start but eventually got going after his partners ball was pegged out by Martin; Tom finished in fine style with a plus 10 win.
Richard found the refurbished court 1 more to his liking and in a close match with Steve edged home plus 2 on time.
After lunch late comebacks were the order of the day when with time running out Wayne, one ahead, left Tom's balls well separated but Tom hit in and ran 7 hoops to peg out for a last-minute win, plus 9.
In the second-string game Martin managed to get round to peg and penult, and David's late break, after time had been called, couldn't quite get there for a plus 3 win on time to Martin.
This left Chris on a handicap of 7 taking on the morning winner Richard, with Chris 5 hoops behind and time running, out he managed to draw level and on 'golden hoop' was able to take advantage of oppo's blobbed hoop and claimed victory, plus 1 on time, and a good few points on his card.
This made up for a close win by Bristol in the first-round last year and I'm sure all players will have a lasting memory of a unique situation on the courts when a hare was being chased across the lawns by initially one rook but eventually a whole host of rooks; players and spectators rushed to the rescue of the hare which escaped into the bushes, thankfully. Now we know why apart from a 'Parliament' a group of rooks are aka a 'Clamour'!