Mens A Team Report – Greg Gamlin


Bristol A 24-20 Cornwall A - After two very good sets 7-4 & 8-3, the whole team thought we were cruising for a 30 point win and expected to achieve it too!! Cornwall had other plans….. a great run from them certainly put the frightners on all of us, as Flacky put on us on the hill at 22-20 I’d wandered what had gone wrong?? But two solid and awesome frames from Tim Robertson and Mark Wood edged the gap to a 24-20 win, I think we’ll settle for that one lads.  Cornwall clearly had more strength about them then last year and it was a good match. We know we have the side in both teams to go to Yarmouth this year, but what we musn’t do is expect to win, we have to fight for every match and every frame and this was a reminder of that.


Man of the Match -  With both Ben Flack and Tim Robertson getting 4 from 4 its always difficult to select the man of the match seeing they were both so flawless, however being Tim’s first match as an official A team player and seeing the awesome finishes he took out, I name Tim as my man of the match, he showed true character and was finishing some awesome finishes! Something else mate!!!

A few others I would just like to give recognition too, Obviously Flacky as awesome as ever with yet another 4/4, Paul Elliott who managed 3 and losing the other to a break dish! Ken Edwards consistent as ever with yet another 3 from 4.  And finally Mark Wood who at the beginning of the day wasn’t sure whether he could play due to back problems and having struggled so much last year, he pulled he socks up re lit his fire and pulled off a great 3 from 4.  Well done to all the team you all deserve a pat on the back for digging deep against a reluctant  Cornwall side.

 

Next Match - Away to Devon and with Devon getting a big result in Dorset  this will be a massive game to the year, as they all are, but Devon are the team to beat and we need to just stick with them, away to Devon is the toughest on the calendar, but lets go away and give 100% and turn these punks over, I wont rest until we go to Yarmouth!!   Finally good luck to all the boys in the B team who are going to Yarmouth end of Feb, come back National Champions boys!!! And don’t forget Rossi fancy dress for you fucker!!!!

 

 

Mens B Team Report – Lee Rossiter

Bristol B 27-17 Cornwall B – What a great start to the season lads.  Before the day started you would have taken any kind of win against quality opponents.  But it was clear to see from early on that our class was going to shine through.  We kicked off with a 7-4 first set win which was followed

up with body blowing 8-3 2nd and 3rd set wins giving us a 23-10 lead.  I have to say my only ‘room for improvement’ area of the day was letting these guys back in.  We had a disappointing 4th set, going 7-2 down before Kevin Smith and myself won the last two frames of the day to lose the set 7-4,

wrapping up a 27-17 victory.  In reflection it was a great result but it could have been 30 or even more.  Its not a criticism, its just an observation

and an area I feel we can improve on.  I wouldn’t be doing my job if I wasn’t  looking for ways we could improve and our 4th set performance does

need to be improved. In our last three competitive matches we have lost the 4th set each time. I don’t know the cause, it could be complacency or it could be the booze but Im asking you all to make an extra effort, whether that be taking extra time on your shot or cutting down on the pints. Lets

face it you cant drink and drive because it affects your reaction speed and senses.  Im not saying don’t drink, Christ Id be lynched! But driving is a

lot like pool.  Im all up for having a laugh but at the end of the day Im here to massacre our opponents and we missed out on a massacre here. 

Lets make sure we work 100% right until the end of the match.  

Man of the Match – Lots of good performances and I have a massive selection headache next month, which is a great position to be in.  In all 5 players achieved 3 wins from 4 frames (Mark Stevens, Alex Leggate, Colin Chilcott, Kevin Smith and yours truly. Man of the match goes to Marcus Foster who managed a 4 out of 4 on his debut.  The nerves were there, as you would expect! Hell I still get them now, but he to achieve what he

did in his first game is second to none.

 

Next Match – I cant hype up Devon away enough.  It’s the biggest game of our season and we haven’t won there for getting on 10 years!!.  Last season saw us going in to the final set  leading 17-16, only for us to go down 8-3 to lose the match 20-24.  Granted it didn’t effect us qualifying for

the Nationals but it  just confirms my point about our last set performances.  Something happens when we get to 3pm.  Our performance drops, just slightly, but its enough to let the big two (Devon and Cornwall) pounce on us.  Lets put an end to it, starting now!

 

Ladies Team Report – Tina Harrison

 

Somerset Ladies 28-16 Bristol Ladies – It’s such a shame we got off to such a slow start because once we got going (which wasn’t until the last

leg!) – we were playing well. We lost the first leg 9-2, second leg 7-3 and third leg 9-2. We won the last leg with a convincing 7-3! It’s usually the opposite way around for us Ladies, we make a good start and then trail off. You couldn’t knock the opposition though, Somerset are a good side

and we did beat a few good players on the day. I must commend our team spirit again which was second to none – we really are getting a quality

team together, supporting each other and cheering each other on. This year was never about winning but about building a team and getting the team spirit flowing. I think we have all achieved that and should be proud of ourselves.  

Lady of the Match – Take a look at the rankings. Looks like no-one can catch Super-Kate in 1st place but it’s all open for second at the moment between Zoe, Merran Sue and Myself! I’d like to welcome Jess Hopkinson to the team who was thrown in at the deep end and played all 4 games for us. Unfortunately she didn’t manage a win on the day but was soooooo close on all of her games (you know what you need to practice Jess). I am confident that with a little more experience Jess could become a key player – watch out girls! Well done to Vicky G with 2 frames and a win over Captain Kate Yarde (quality player). Ali, Merran, Vicky C and Kate also took 2 frames each which was great. I have to mention myself as I played the best pool I have played for ages, managed a 3 out of 4 and I know a few of you decided I should name myself Lady of the match but I can’t do that! 

My Lady of the Match goes to Sue Foord for showing unbelievable commitment to the Bristol Ladies Pool Team. It’s not all about the winning for me (this year!) but Sue's commitment to the team this season and in particular for the Somerset game is second to no one. Thanks for your continued support Sue.


Next Match – Final game of the season! We are at home against Cornwall and I would love to get a win at the end of the season just to prove what

a team we have become and get us ready for next year. I need as many of you Ladies there as possible please. We also have an important job to do cheering on the mens sides as they have the chance to qualify for the Nationals – it all rides on the day and I know the atmosphere will be fantastic. Almost as important is the fact that it’s Kates birthday so we all need to be there to help her celebrate (although she is not allowed a drink until after

her games!) I will arrange a practice session with some coaching help there for us again as that was a huge success last time. I have booked

Thursday 15th November and would like as many of you as possible there, please let me know if you can make it.  

 

 

A Team

Pos

Team

PL

Pts

1

Devon

9

278

2

Bristol

9

267

3

Somerset

9

236

4

Dorset

9

186

5

Cornwall

8

155

6

Wiltshire

8

151

 

 

B Team

Pos

Team

PL

Pts

1

Bristol

9

273

2

Devon

9

265

3

Cornwall

8

225

4

Somerset

9

225

5

Dorset

9

163

6

Wiltshire

8

117

 

 

Ladies Team

Pos

Team

PL

Pts

1

Dorset

9

283

2

Devon

9

272

3

Somerset

9

259

4

Cornwall

8

184

5

Bristol

9

145

6

Wiltshire

8

130