It's a game of two halves

Quick update on our last two matches, and the lastest on the "Battle of the Budg".

I missed last weeks league match against the Fox & Pheasant. We lost 7-5. Tizz won twice, Daryl won twice and Burkee won once. A quick piece of mental arithmativ will tell you that everyone else lost.

This week was the first leg of our first round cup-tie with Rob Uzzell's Old Windsor Club. We have drawn them in the first round of the cup for the last four years. We have lost to them in the first round of the cup in the previous three. Without Mike & Elroy we tied the game 6-6 so it's all set-up nicely for the second leg.

If we lose next week, the thing that will keep my interest this season is the "Battle Of The Budg" - that is to say who will finish bottom of the averages. At the moment you can't get a fag-paper between Swanny and Mike "Dessie" Salmon. They have both lost every single game this season.

Back to last night - I was mildy massive but ended up losing. Pat Phelan is one of the players I hate playing - primarily because he loves playing me. He always wins and last night was no exception.

The game was only five visits. He broke and didn't pot. I potted three and ran out of position. He potted all his and rattled the black. I cleared up my three balls but missed the crucial last ball with the black hanging. It was a near-straight shot and I missed by some way. It was very disappointed but Rob was kind enough to point out after the game that I played well, and in fact I got a massive kick on the white on the crucial pot. I didn't notice it - but then I wasn't looking at the white!

Generally I think that is where I am going wrong. On crucial pots I am so desparate for the ball to go in I move whilst on the shot. I hope to work on it throughout next summer.

Next week is the second leg of the cup, Mike and Elroy "Rod" Hull will be back for us. Despite that I think there is a chance to cause an upset.