Muscliff Park Petanque Club

WIZARDS V LOBSTERS

WIZARDS made the journey to Lymington last night to play LOBSTERS on their pleasant terrain.

Triples both went to Wizards, with Gilles ,Derrick and Steve winning 13-3, & J P, Roger and Keith the victors 13-6.

Steve and Keith let the side down, losing their doubles to some great pointing from Pat 13-6. But am pleased to say that J P and Roger romped home 13-5.

Gilles and Derrick, looking for a whitewash, made it difficult, being stuck on the famous 12, allowing their opposition to score 5 before, Gilles shot a holding ball from 9 metres, Derrick then finished the match 13-5.

Great win for Wizards, against a fast improving side.

Next week, last game of the season against Sealions away, tell you what Jennie, I’ll swop your match for ours!!
Steve

It was Carnival time at Muscliff last evening.

You have seen Neil's report about Magic's superb win against Seahorses, at that time top of the league, now let's talk about the Maniacs V Falcons - who were third and second in the league.

Things started badly for the home team. Claire, Jim and Margaret went down to two in the first triple. Aimee, Matthew and Keith were 3-9 down when they scored a magnificent six, 9-9, they won the next two ends, two points, 11-9, then they left the front open and the Falcons rushed through to score three and take the game.

2-0 is a lot worse than 1-1. The blue shirts of the Falcons were jubilant, high fives, hand shakes and back slapping all round - understandable, the Maniacs were disappointed but determined, someone said 'We've got a mountain to climb now'.

Matthew and David S started the ascent beating Steve and Adie, 13-5. Aimee, fresh from her exploits at the World championships, showed her class, shooting and pointing consistently and well, she nursed her partner along and they won, conceding a single point. The summit in sight.

Skipper Claire and Jim had fallen behind 4-8 to Adrian and Leo, in part because of a few low altitude rockets dispatched by Leo taking out their boule, but 'never say die', they persevered and played the basics well, they recovered to lead 10-8, again Leo was involved sending down a number of rockets skimming the grit but only troubling the back board of the terrain. The atmosphere amongst the supporters was electric, the Purple of Muscliff willing the home team on, the blue shirts praying for a power cut.

Maniacs were holding one in a congested head, Leo put up a boule which took point, Claire beat it threading her boule through the crowd, Leo could not beat that one. Holding one, three needed. Claire and Jim confer. Claire purposively strides back to the circle. We expected a point, no, Claire's boule flying through the air, no one breathed, boom first stop the Falcon's boule, it flew away out of the head. One had become three, the game and the match was won. Tremendous performance from our Skipper and Jim, a team victory out of defeat against good, experienced and determined opponents.

Highlight of the match can only be the coolness of our Captain in first taking on the shot and then achieving it, impressive. the overall come back was impressive too.

The result leaves Maniacs top, 8 wins from 11 games, Seahorses and Falcons close behind both on 7 from 10. The title will go to the team that finishes best, one game to go the the Maniacs and two for their rivals.

PS a bonus, Aimee has a birthday today, hope she has a fabulous time.

MAGIC V SEAHORSES

Magic sought revenge against Seahorses for their away defeat and achieved it!

The triples ended all square - one all. Trev, Debs and Sean fought a battle in what must be now hold the record for the longest triples game in the league - 2 hrs 2mins! A great win win 12-11 against Ray, Jonathan and Robin. Stuart, Graham and Neil’s game was over much quicker, a 7-13 defeat to Barbara, Colin and Richard.

All to play for!

Graham and Stuart produced the first win in the doubles, a magnificent 13-1 win against Richard and Jonathan.

The second win and the match came from Sean and Neil, 13-7 against Colin and Barbara. At 2-2 Seahorses scored 5 only for Magic to score 6 in the next end and then never look back.

Trev and Debs got locked into another battle, this time against Ray and Robin. This time they lost the battle 3-13.

A good win that secured our mid table position. Well done Team Magic!

MONARCHS V PARLEY ONE

Alas, a Tale of Woe! Monarchs returned to Parley to play their penultimate match of the season.

The triples did not start well with Ian, Carron and Geoff only managing to score one point. Meanwhile Simon, Marion and Jennie were 7 - nil down until they staged a comeback, eventually taking the lead 11 - 10. However, Parley One scored 3 in the last end to take the win.

The doubles did not go any better with Ian and Carron losing 13 - 0. Followed by Jennie and Geoff losing 13 - 3. Simon and Marilyn put up a fight but eventually succumbed to a 13 - 8 defeat. We pointed reasonably well, with boules on the coche but it was a story of Parley Shooters stealing the night.

Our last match is home against the Lobsters. With just one more league match, Monarchs and Wizards could be fighting for second place.

Jennie

Petanque England have announced the teams to represent the Country in the European Junior Champs in Greece 3-4.10.26. Two are from Muscliff, congratulations to Aimee and Matthew.
Some of you will also know George and Jayden who played in one of our melee’s and at a club night - congratulations to them too.

MUSCLIFF PARK AUGUST MELEE

16 competitors attended the August Monthly melee in much cooler conditions. The result was a win for Derrick Elsmore with 3 wins and plus 15, second was Sean Smith with 3 & plus 12 and 3rd Ian Clark, also 3 wins plus 8.
Full result below.

Two of Muscliff’s Div 1, NFPL sides clashed last night, Maniacs V Magic, with the crazy guys coming out on top.

The triples ended up 1-1, Aimee, Keith and David for the Maniacs won to three against Neil, Carol and Stuart but Sean, Trevor and Debra got revenge beating the Maniac’s Claire, Margaret and Jim 13-4.

The doubles stared well for the madmen. Claire and David; Jim and Chris both won conceding just one point between them thereby securing the match win.

The third double was a long attritional affair. Magicians Carol and Neil were 11-7 up when with some great pointing Maniacs took a five, 12-11 to Maniacs. Next end Carol put her first boule just in front of the coche, the Maniacs played five boule, got close but could not beat it. Carol stepped up with her second boule which nestled between her first and the coche to provide the winning shot.

Maniacs keep up the pressure on the top two league places with a 3-2 victory, but the Magicians showed their quality and potential.

Highlights of the match; a spot carreaux from Jim to win an end in the doubles, plus that final point from Carol, lots of pressure but she got it!