Monkstone Pétanque Club

The shocks continued in this week’s Super League matches. On Wednesday, Marlins who could not buy a win before Christmas, took their second win in three games over the only teams who had not lost a game before the break when they overcame Meerkats (3-1) lifting them up to 4th in the table.

The week commenced with Mercenaries going down (0-4) to Mustangs although Meerkats remained top of table.

On Tuesday, Mammoths pipped Misfits (3-1) lifting them one place to 3rd in the table. Finally, on Thursday, Mavericks took on Marvels in the rain after all the other matches had been played on fine, if slightly chilly, evenings. The conditions proved too much for Marvels who lost (0-4).

Into the second week of the Super League after the winter break. where Mustangs and Meerkats, the only 2 unbeaten teams in the first half of the season fought out a draw (2-2) which, as Mustangs had lost last week, left Meerkats as the only unbeaten team.

Misfits gave Mercenaries a sound thrashing (4-0) to lift them off the bottom of the table but more significantly dented Mercenaries chances of catching the leading 2 teams, Meerkats and Mustangs

In the remaining two matches, Marlins continued there improved start to part 2 of the season by holding Marvels to a draw (2-2) whilst Mammoths overcame Mavericks (3-1) which meant Mavericks slipped to the bottom of the table.

The results are already showing that the teams that were at or near the bottom over Christmas are not giving up the fight and with only 3 points covering third place to seventh place, one win, or loss, can have a big effect on a team’s league position.

The 2nd Leg of the annual winter friendly took place at Caerleon on Sunday 9 February. The first Leg at Monkstone before Christmas was a very tight affair with Caerleon leading by 2 points at the end. It seemed that there was all to play for and Monkstone were optimistic of wresting the cup back from Caerleon.

On a fine but blustery day things didn’t quite turn out as might have hoped. I was going to point out the highlights but there weren’t many other than the excellent pointing from Sharon who was a late replacement for Vickie who was not well. In the opening singles, which she had never played competitively before, she took Tansy Mayfield to the wire before going doe 11-13 at the end.

So its just well done to the few Monkstone winners and congratulations to Caerleon, winners overall by 75pts to 39, in retaining the cup for another year.