Hello to all you Barnet League followers. Week nine and yet again there was only one game in the first division, with two being played in the second. What’s up with these first division teams, we need to get back on track and reduce Margaret’s problems. Thankfully, three matches are scheduled for division one next week.

Division 1

Shillington White played Greenwood Peckers. Having played Black last week, Peckers now took on their stable mates looking for another win. Whites got on the scorecard first taking a single. They followed this with a triple and a further single to go five up after three ends. Peckers now had a nibble taking end four for a double to reduce White’s lead. The next four ends went alternately for a single each, with White’s still in the lead at 7- 4 after eight ends. Peckers now tugged at the worm and took a single and a double to level the score at seven all after ten ends. Whites then took a double to go back in the lead. Peckers now took a single, followed by a double and took the lead for the first time in this match at 10 – 9 with two ends to play. Whites got their heads down taking end fourteen for a double, restoring their lead by one shot. The last end saw White’s taking a further double and the win at 13 – 10.

With White’s retaining second spot in the table we look forward to next week, when we get the two Shillington teams playing each other, to see who will lead Division one going into the Christmas Break.

Division 2

Harpenden Blackbirds played St Margaret’s Wizards. Blackbirds got the early worm taking the first end for a double. Wizards then waved their wand and took a single and a double for the lead. However, Blackbirds lined their nest with two singles to regain the lead at 4 – 3 after five ends. Wizards now got the potions working, with end six seeing them double their score and taking the lead at 6 – 4. End seven saw Wizards take a further single. However, those Blackbirds with ruffled feathers now took two doubles to edge back in front at 8 – 7 after nine ends. Wizards threw a newt in the pot taking a single, levelling the match at 8 all. Blackbirds now rose upwards taking a single and a triple to take a 12 – 8 lead, the highest shot difference of the match so far. Ends thirteen and fourteen went for a single apiece, so going into the last end Blackbirds were flying high with a four shot lead. The last end and Wizards performed their best magic of the evening, taking a four to level the match at 13 all.

Cuffley Tonic played Greenwood Hawks. Tonic got the first score on the card taking a double. Hawks now swooped in taking a single. Tonic having been shaken, got those bubbles rising by taking two doubles and two singles to go 8 – 1 up after six ends. Hawks then took a triple to reduce the deficit but with Tonic replied with a double to maintain a 10 – 4 lead after eight ends. Ends nine and ten went for a single each. The following three ends saw Hawks starting to rise upwards, taking each for a single and reducing Tonic’s lead to 11 – 8. However, Tonic restored their effervescence taking a double and a single to win the match 14 – 8.

With Tonic having won six out of six and beating every other team in the second division, they are in a very strong position at the top. With Shillington Red playing Greenwood Hawks next week, second place will be up for grabs.

Watch this space next week for the last report of 2021.