Lashing By The Knot

This was always going to be tough one - despite some bad luck recently, the Knot were still top of the League and Art was top of the individual scores.
The Phoenix were in second place just one point behind, and with Bob and Tomo both in the top 10 individual scores. Our mascot Rosie (shamefully not credited last week!!) was unable to attend – a bad omen!!
The Harrington Academicals had set the questions that were fine and the questionmaster Graham from the New Castle was firm on timing which has been something of a problem this season.
The Phoenix played with great team discipline and there were no silly answers or points thrown away, but they were up against a very powerful team. Brian for instance scored a remarkable 45 with 18/27. Nevertheless there was much laughter and fun lubricated by the fine ales in the Tavern.
At the end of the Specialist questions the Knot had a lead of 61 to 52, and although the Phoenix fought back hard the Knot won the General Knowledge rounds with 89 to 78, the final score being 150 to 130.
Individual scores were Bob 12/18, Wendy 6/15, Nick 9/9 and Tomo 12/15; conferred points were 9/16 and passovers 4/5. The Knot picked up 6/9 passovers.
The Knot seem assured of promotion now having only failed last season because only one team went up – they are worthy of the A League and I don’t think they will come down at the end of the season.
Congratulations to the Knot and all the best next season. It was a great game!!

Thrills – Milan or Waters Green?

We sat down for this game with the knowledge that Manchester United were 1-0 down to AC Milan after only two minutes. But we knew the real excitement was to be in the Waters Green Tavern with the Phoenix playing the Plough Horntails in the semi finals of the Plate.
The questions are arranged in six groups of 20 and as all questions are conferred peer pressure halts any breakaway answers.The Phoenix took a small lead in the first two but scored very badly in the third spending the next two rounds trying to catch up. The penultimate round ended with the Horntails one point ahead and the last round was won by the Phoenix by just one point leaving the score a tie.
Scores for each round were as follows (Horntails score first):
13/17, 10/16, 14/5, 11/16, 18/11,17/18 making the scores 83/83.
As usual, the answer to the tie breaker was a finger in the air job and the Phoenix just managed to clinch it. A very exciting game and although one or two of the questions caused some discussion it was played in good spirits rounded off with a selection of sandwiches from Brian and Tracey.
Oh, and United won 3-2 with Rooney playing a blinder. David who???

AROUSAL AT THE PLOUGH

 

The Plough Taverners are old friends with a long history in the League. This was the second leg playing away from home.

Sadly Wendy was ill with bronchitis and could not make it, but Steve was on one of his very rare Tuesdays off and was able to step in as substitute at short notice.

The questions by the Lamb and the Church House Bollington were fine and very much the sort the Phoenix like, although there were some raised eyebrows. When Nick was asked “What is the common name for acetylsalicylic acid?” had answered with a confidence bordering on manic “Viagra”!!! (Should be aspirin). This led to a theme for the rest of the evening of ribald jokes (“so that’s why it doesn’t work!! etc etc). Steve rose in everyone’s estimation by scraping “The High Chapparal” from the inside of his skull.

At the end of the Specialist rounds, the Phoenix led by 61 to 52 and found the General Knowledge also to suit their interests, with Tomo continuing his streak of scores over 30.

Individual scores were Bob 9/9, Steve 18/9, Nick 12/15 and Tomo 15/18; conferred points were 4/11 and passovers 3/11.  The Taverners picked up 5/14 passovers. Final score 134 to 101.

It was a most enjoyable game with lots of laughter and fun expertly handled by the questionmaster Ed from the Church House Bollington all rounded off with a very generous massive platter of chips with bread and butter.

Thank you The Plough and Wendy – get well soon.

Stonewalling at the Flag

 

Playing away this week at the British Flag, a well-established Robinson’s pub beloved of sports fans because of the large screen. Hull’s draw against Chelsea on the night did not intrude into the quiz but brought cheer to the Manchester United supporters. The sole ale, Unicorn, was in good condition.

The Phoenix were still licking their wounds following defeat last week largely due, as Tomo pointed out on Facebook, to not following “team rules” – a three-line whip tonight!!

Following last week’s defeat the Phoenix had slipped to 4th in the League and the Flag were just two points behind but with a game in hand – an important game.

The questions were pretty good but there were no big scores in the Specialist subjects except for Tomo whose orange juice fuelled brain clocked up 15 points. Nick on the other had had scored nothing at all by the last specialist round, and was so anxious to break his duck that he broke ranks and gave a wrong answer – when a moment's thought would have given the correct one!! Custer’s first name, for chrissake!!!

At the half-way point the Phoenix were trailing 51 to 46.

The General Knowledge questions were more to the Phoenix’ liking and they slowly clawed back into the game with no further transgressions eventually finishing with a slight lead – 124 to 136.

individual scores were Bob 9/15, Wendy 6/21, Nick 0/15, Tomo 15/12; conferred points were 11/18 and passovers 5/9. The Flag picked up 5/7 passovers.

An enjoyable evening finished with a tasty selection of sandwiches.