Last night (24th September) saw eight more teams fight out the second week of our new season of the Barnet League. Not only did we have four mats of competition we also had mats five and six full of people having roll ups. The hall was buzzing as was the competition on mats one to four. Following last weeks exciting start we were guaranteed to see a change in competition leader.
Mat one had the two St Margaret’s teams playing each other for their first match of the season. We had ‘Mars’ team of Derek, Paul and Jim playing ‘Mercury’s’ team of Lyn, Rebecca and Darren. Mercury started well with a double and followed this with a second double. End three and Mars fought back by taking a triple. Mercury now dug in taking a single followed by two doubles and a further single to be 10 – 3 up after seven ends. Mars dug deep and took a single on end eight but Mercury increased the pressure taking a triple and a double they had a 15 – 4 lead after ten ends. Mars attacked again taking another single, Mercury’s reply was to take a further two doubles for a 19 – 5 lead with two ends to go. Mars pushed again on the penultimate end only to see Mercury take the last end for a double and the win at 21 – 6.
We then had both Greenwood teams playing on Mat Two. Peckers had Audrey, Sue and Brian playing stable mates Hawks: Barry, Val and Darren. Hawks got up and running with a single. Peckers replied by taking a double and they followed this with a single. Keeping the game very tight they continued by taking a further three singles to be 6 – 1 up after six ends. End seven and Hawks got nearest the jack, taking a single to reduce their deficit. Peckers came straight back, taking another single followed by a double they had stretched their lead to 9 – 2 after nine ends. The Hawks got their heads down and attacked end ten by taking a triple, they followed this with two singles and the game was turning round. The Hawks continued the attack on end thirteen by taking a double and it was nine all with two ends to play. Not wanting to be outdone Peckers matched Hawks double and had a two-shot lead going into the last end. The last end was hard fought with Hawks succeeding in holding shot. Unfortunately it was just for a single giving Peckers the win at 11 – 10.
Mat three had Shillington Red’s Derek, Michelle and Trevor playing Northiam East’s Mike, Jan and Martin. East started well by taking a double, they followed this with two further doubles then applying some pressure they held a five and followed this with a hot shot six to be 17 – 0 up after five ends. The Reds got stuck in taking a single and followed this with a second single. East came back and held end eight for another single which The Reds matched on end nine. East dug in and took a another double and followed this with a single to be 21 – 3 up after eleven ends. The Reds got going again, taking all of the four remaining ends. Taking two singles and finishing with two doubles, they had managed to win seven of the fifteen ends but East had the win at 21 – 9.
Our last competition mat of the evening, mat four had our two new teams playing each other. We had AFC Falcons Gordon, Neil and Bev playing their second game of the season against Potters Bar Kestrels Anne, Pam and Steve on their first ever visit to Hatfield. The first end saw Falcons wade in by taking a four. They followed this with a single and a second four. Kestrels now took control of the mat for end four and took a single on this their inaugural game. Falcons came straight back taking a triple and three singles to increase their lead. End nine and Kestrels came back to win their second end. The Falcons replied and managed to hold the remaining six ends and take the win at 26 – 2.
Well, what a week and we have plenty more to go yet. All teams have now played at least once. Congratulations to Potters Bar Kestrels on their first of hopefully many visits to the Hive. Northiam East’s win on mat three takes them to the top of the table. Greenwood Peckers now have second spot with these two being our only teams to have won two games. Close on their heels are Shillington Black and St Margaret’s Mercury who have both only played one game and have got a better shot difference. Next week sees five mats in use for our competition. With ten of our eleven teams playing we can be sure of a lot of movement in the table next week. If you are not playing next week then come along for a roll-up or just to watch. Get there early though, the roll up mat will be first come first served, although there will be plenty of seats if you want to watc