Ending the season on a high-ish.

Everyone has players they don't like to play - bogey players that they never seem to be able to beat. The same is true of teams, but of course for every bogey team you have, you are someone else's bogey team.

Our final game of the season saw the Lady Haig visit us knowing that (a) they had to win convincingly to have a chance of the title or even second place, and that (b) we had already beaten them 8-4 earlier in the season.

We were down the bare six players - as usual the three amigos (Craig/Tiz/Burkie) had not bothered letting us know if they were around or not so when 8PM rolled around and they weren't there it was Lee, El-chill, Fitz, Mike, Swanny & myself in the headlights.

We started well. Swanny versus Stuart and I made Stuart a 7-3 favourite. Early doors Swanny made a mockery of those odds but not in a good way - his first four visits were awful. Luckily Stuart never got a clean shot at the black and when it came time to clear-up, Swanny obliged in style - he cleared his six balls and the black for 1-0.

Mike & Fitzy lost and then I was up against Ben. I fancied my chances - he is one of their weaker players and I have been in good form of late. We played about for a bit in the early stages, but once I had knocked the black near to one of 'my' pockets I was in control. I picked off my last few balls for 2-2. 2-2 became 4-2 as Elroy & Lee put a "W" on the scorecard against their names.

Second half, and in the run up to the final game only Lee & I had won putting us 6-5 up. I had beaten Peter Shields - a win I was well happy with, especially after John Townsend had kindly taken ten minutes out of his life to educate me of the inadequacies of my game (I am too slow apparently). I sunk my second black of the night and punched the table (lightly) in delight and gave it a "get in" (under my breath).

Last game, Fitz versus Steve. The decisive moment (and perhaps the lowlight of the evening) came when Steve Townsend kindly gave Fitzy two shots with 4 yellows and the black remaining. Having polished off the yellows in double-quick time ("fitzy time" that is) he has the black on the side cushion and two shots on the black.

With his first he doubles it off the side cushion, and ends up nearly trebling it in the middle pocket. The black is so close to the middle bag that if the music had been any louder the vibrations would have made it drop. Unfortunately the white ends up tight on the side cushion leaving Fitzy a thin cut to nick the black in and give us the frame.

*multiple choice pool quiz*

The black is over the middle bag and you have a fine cut to win the game. Do you:

a) Take your time and gently nick the black in, risking the white rolling off?

b) Thump it in taking the table roll out of the equation, but risking the in-off?

c) Do neither of these things, instead electing to completely miss the black and lose the game?

Answers on a postcard.

So 6-6 and our season is over. We have six weeks 'til the summer season starts, and by then I will have published my review of the season, the final averages, and also confirmed the kitty for the "Rising Potters Annual Shin-dig".

Watch this space, and happy potting.

Massive In Iver

With the plea's of Mr K J Wallis ringing in my ears ("if you nick a couple of frames off them it would help us a lot") the Rising Potters headed to Iver for the penultimate game of the season knowing that we weren't going to finish last but that the title was in the balance and we could help decide which way it went.

Little did Mr Walls know that, with our team at least, "ask and ye shall get budg" was the moral of the day.

In fairness to us we were up against the team who were not only at the summit of our division, but whose ranks included at least seven county A & B players and a 'semi-pro' (whatever that is) in Mr Tony "Fisher" Price.

It started badly when tizz lost the first frame. He had more chances than he would normally need to win four frames, nevermind one, but in the end he deserved to lose.

I played second, and for the first time in a while I can say I was genuinely massive. Maybe it was the pressure of playing me, but my opponent broke off and flew the white off the table. Nice. As I perused the table I started to think "if I get this first pot in I have got game on". Seven balls later and I was on the final black and had set myself up for a dolly in the middle! Fabulous clearance and we are back at 1-1.

*I guess irony can be pretty ironic sometimes*

Second half started and we were 5-1 down. Tizzy lost again after his opponent broke and cleared up - 6-1. I played next, and with the break and my "eye in" I was confident of doing some damage. However the pool gods had other ideas. As the white flew across the room and nestled in the fireplace off my break I had that sinking feeling that goes with the knowledge that my opponent has two shots, ball in hand, and a dolly clearance. My fears were justified as matey-boy cleared the lot.

7-1 became 11-1 with only Elroy getting near the black in his frame - perhaps my rendition of Guava Jam inspired him. Maybe not.

Only Lee "most underrated player in the league love you captain fantastic" Greenwood stood between us and the ignominy of an 11-kev defeat.

With the typical mixture of steely determination & iron will - plus an opponent playing like a man with no thumbs - Lee won and we left the Fox & Hounds to celeberate what looks like the championship for them (Irish drew 6-6) .

Keith asked for a couple of frames - and a couple was all he got.