Andrew Gregory won the Newport B-Class

[<<] [>>] by Andrew Gregory at Newport
28th June 2023 (AC)

Six souls gathered for the Newport B-Class. The Manager decreed an all-play-all block, with no time limit.

By Saturday lunchtime 2 games had finished, while Brian Havill and Andrew Gregory had reached 6+6 v 3+rover. Gregory had just conceded contact, and as a change of innings is a good time to do so, the game was pegged down.

It was a B-Class, so while there were some good breaks there was lots of interactivity. Half the games were won by the higher handicap, and at the end of the first day everyone had lost at least one game.

Going into the final round, 5 of the 6 players could yet win the event. The Manager was hoping that Ken Jones or Heather Bennett would win their respective games to yield at worst a 2-way tie. But Alan Clark broke his duck against Ken, and Gregory played unexpectedly well v Heather.

There were now 4 players on 3 wins, but there was still that pegged down game. Eventually, Gregory reached 4-back and peg. He misapproached 4-back, roqueted a ball near second corner, took off back to the hoop, and finished.

I cannot claim to be the best player of the weekend, but I was certainly the luckiest. In my game with Cliff Jones, I pegged him out. Twice in the endgame Cliff ran two hoops in consecutive strokes. After rover, Cliff made a roquet, took off to the peg, and missed. A few turns later, I sheepishly won +1.

Winner: Andrew Gregory 4/5

Runners-up: Heather Bennett, Cliff Jones, Ken Jones 3/5