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.