Thursday 25 May 2023, saw the 2nd leg of the friendly against our friends at Royal Wootton Bassett PC (RWB). As in the first leg, the format was two rounds of doubles and two rounds of triples, that’s 20 games per leg or 40 in total, all of which would be timed. Monkstone (MPC) had won the first leg by 13-6 but RWB were expected to put up a stronger showing on their own terrain. Our team comprised:
Roger Griffin, Bernard Adshead, Vickie Adshead, Roger Green, Gill Clark, Ash Seath, Beryl McCarthy, Ian McCarthy, Steve Hawkey, Gill Greenwell, Frances Ralph & Robin Ralph.
After a very warm welcome from Alan McInnes and his team, Roger Griffin presented Alan with a Monkstone PC pennant, and, having enjoyed coffee and biscuits, we started the first round of triples.
The pistes were hard after the recent hot weather and were graded with differing sizes of gravel. After some tight play, however, honours were even at the end of the first round with a score of 2-2 in games, and a points difference of 40-35 in RWB favour.
On to the 2nd round and again neither side could gain an advantage with another tie and a points difference of 35-33 in RWB favour.
Triples Scores: RWB 4 [75] – 4 [65] MPC
We then broke for an excellent lunch, provided by members of the RWB club, and a swift half. In the afternoon the first round of doubles got underway and RWB took the lead on the day taking this round by 4-2 in games, with a points difference of 61-53 in RWB favour.
MPC now had some work to do but a look at score board and with the help of an abacus, they calculated that 1 more win was needed for a draw and 2 for a win due to the 6 game lead from the first leg. RWB were determined to stop us and but MPC managed to pull out all the stops to take the round 4-2 in games with a points difference of 57-55 in their favour.
Doubles Scores: RWB 6 [116] – 6 [110] MPC
So the day ended with honours even.
Second Leg Final Scores: RWB 10 [191] – 10 [178] MPC
Which meant that MPC had maintained their 6 game advantage from the first leg and won the match overall.
Final Match Scores: RWB 17 [364] – 23 [387] MPC
Goodbyes were said with a promise to meet again next year to continue this very enjoyable competition.
Score Sheet
