Pool Match 26th July 2006 Home Versus BFSC

Bakers were hungry for revenge after an eight to nil defeat on BFSC's crown green bowls pool table earlier this year.

(see post http://bakerspool.blogspot.com/2006/03/match-report-march-3rd-away-versus.html)

The bakers opened the match with Danny and Denis in the doubles - Guess what.....

The first singles game resulted in another fine victory for Yon who took the first clearance opportunity available to win his frame at a canter. The next frame put Matt 'lightshade' Townsend in the spotlight, he changed his tactics slightly this week and took his time while considering his options and as a result closed down a victory. The highlight of the evening's break building followed, Tony Cossey produced a total 8 ball clearance directly after the opponents break off shot, absolutely god like (ok I do publish this blog so I must give myself some credit). This extended bakers lead to 3 frames to nil and our opponents were now on their heals. Scott Rose tried to push home the advantage after his opponent bungled a clearance attempt; however the frame ended in defeat after a weak safety shot. Mitch Dawson restored the bakers three frame advantage with his normal mix of pool skills and 'lady love', the opposition team did lodge a complaint about his shorts however. The ICEMAN Terry Greenwood entered the arena, however a close fought frame ended when he misjudged a cut in his intended clearance leaving his opponent to clear. Peter Kempster had suffered burns to his hands at work and played with bandages on the injuries which I am sure hampered his frame. Peter unfortunately lost a safety battle with his trademark 'mistake escaping a snooker', however this week he shocked us all by over hitting his snooker escape rather than the normal 1/2 an inch short effort. This left a tense last frame in prospect however Dale Bennett was well prepared (after several hours in a City pub) drinking a series of doubles at the bar. With his normal mixture of obscenities and ‘looks of disbelief’ to the heavens, he produced a decisive clearance with the thinnest of back ball cuts into the center pocket, revenge served cold one may comment after the 8 nil drubbing on the table of death earlier in the year.

Highlights
*Cossey hall of fame clearance
*Dales battle with 43 units of alchohol
*Yon's cool head
*Mitches shorts

Lowlights
*Peters hands and wrist's
*Iceman melting

Pool Match 19th July 2006 Away Versus Chequers

Bakers fought out hard fought 4-4 draw away at the high flying chequers, the first encounter this year ended in a similar result even though the teams are at opposite ends of the table. Another great opening by bakers to the match saw them establish a 3-1 lead by the halfway point, a cool clearance by Yon and an exceptionally casual 4 ball clearup in tough position by dale being the highlights. Scott Rose continued his good form by making a losing position into winning frame with a series of snooker escapes and good pots. Matt Townsend's opponent performed a miracle 6 ball clearance leaving Matt no chance in his frame. At position 6 was Terry 'The ICEMAN' Greenwood who produced the frame of the night to clear from 6 balls out (pausing several times to push his glasses back to the bridge of his nose) and secure the point for Bakers, this left Peter Kempster and Tony Cossey to secure the one frame needed for victory in the last two frames. Both frames were tight affairs with each going right down to the wire, Tony missed a the thinnest of cuts on the black, after over running a full table length positional shot. Peter in a nervy last frame missed another thin cut to leave his opponent a crucial pot on the black ball. The result could have been so much better but an away draw at the current league runners up was good result in the circumstances.

Highlights
*Yons new trousers, the last pair have retired after 65 years of service.
*Icemans clearance skills

Lowlights
*Pete
*Tony
*Pete again
*Tony again

Pool Match 11th July 2006 Home Versus Unicorn

Due to the away side not being to raise the required 5 players, Bakers enjoyed a walkover 8 - 0 home victory - Well turned up lads ! It Should be noted Yon had new trainers for the first time since the early 90's, his old ones have been donated to local asylum seekers as they had a family wedding to attend. 

League Table & POY Stats

Guys,

Here is the league table below, grim reading, we need to knuckle down. I think we should be more careful on a few things; Listed Below

(A) Snookers are cool if you are not going to clear up during your visit
(B) Getting the black should be your prime plan when ARE going to clear up, planning around that BEFORE you hit a ball is the key to the final visit (Having two visits in your pockets helps as well, see item 'A' above)
(C) To avoid nerves in your final visit, take your time to PLAN and THINK, PLUS try to 'stay in the moment' which means just take each shot like you were practicing and think ONLY about the shot, not the situation. Its tough to do, but planning and thinking will help the 'moment'. All you have to do in 'the moment' is Line up the shot, decide where you WANT the cue ball to finish, take your normal stance, aim at the spot on the cue ball you want to strike, push the cue thru straight and at the right pace THEN listen for the roar of your team :-)

We have 'chucked' several games this season where we have had leads and just let the game slip away, i fell into this trap at the white hart when i was thinking about my mum (in hospital) rather than the game and ended up potting too many reds from the break and spent the rest of the game looking at blocked pockets or snookers.

We either start pickup up points or its back to the 2nd division's venues.

League Table
Team (Points from 12 games)
1. Barking FC Carlings (28)
2. Chequers (26)
3. White Hart (23)
4. Cue Ball Daggers (23)
5. BPC Goodfellows (22)
6. Grove Social (18)
7. Dagenham FC (17)
8. Unicorn (15)
9. Barking FSC (10)
10. Cue Ball Bakers (10)
11. Roundhouse (8)
12. Admiral Vernon B (6)
13. Jolly Fisherman (2)
14. Beacon (withdrawn from league hence their results are void)

My conference calls in work last week cost me the lead in the POY, which is a good thing as we ALL need to try and win this, which will improve GAME results overall. Yon is doing REALLY well (luck) as he is playing at the tough number one slot, i have been picking myself against the top opposition players from the published stats (so pat on the back for me). Mitch is picking up his form now he has adjusted his cue, stuart keeps on grinding, Matt should read point C above, Dale turning up normally means he wins, terry is iceman status is melting so come on tel, scott is dropping away so we need to get jody to kick his backside, Denis and Danny should consider an alternative hobby :-) Peter just needs to stop trying to screw or swerve the cue ball on EVERY visit :-)

POY Stats for Bakers
1. Yon (27)
2. Tony (me)(24)
3. Mitch (20)
4. Stuart Mac (17)
5. Scott (16)
6. Terry (15)
7. Dale (12)
8. Matt (10)
9. Peter (9)
10. Denis (8)
11. Danny (5)