11th December–Home to the Nags Head

The arctic cold that had gripped the country for a week had enveloped the town in its icy breath leaving fog and slippery roads in the town and surrounding villages; yet still the intrepid stalwarts of the Quiz League ventured out to play the final games in the first half of the season.

The Phoenix were drawn against the Nag’s Head, a team with much experience sitting in fourth position in the League.

As always, much depends on how the questions suit the teams’ strengths and the Phoenix very much liked the Specialist rounds (Nick even got two sports questions right!!!) – but The Cock who had set them let themselves down very badly by not submitting them for vetting by the two teams not playing in the A and B Leagues and this is a timely reminder that the rules state that this should be done. Had they done so some awkward blunders could have been avoided: Beethoven’s Piano Sonata No 8 is actually the Pathetique and not the Emperor that is a concerto and numbered 5; halva (not havla!) can be made from sesame seeds  but lots of other things too; and the last set (It’s Not About Parrots) has the same answer to three completely different questions. No doubt there are other blunders that could so easily have been avoided. Even so, at the end of the Specialist the Phoenix had stolen a lead of 63 to 40.

The General Knowledge were much more consistent (having been vetted by The Weaver) and to the Phoenix’ strengths allowing them to extend their lead with 73 points to 64 with a final score of 136 to 104. Individual scores were Bob 9/9, Wendy 12/9, Nick 15/12 and Tomo a very strong 15/18; conferred points were 4/12 and passovers 8/13. The Nags picked up 4/8 passovers.

It was a good game played with good spirit overseen with humour and laughter by visitors from the Knot who had struggled in from the wilds of Staffordshire and had set the General Knowledge questions. They were question masters for the night that ended with a splendid supper of burgers and chips.

Many thanks to Brian and Tracey, to the Nags Head and to the questions masters.

4 December Away to the Plough Horntails

 

After several home games the Phoenix were away at The Plough, shrouded at night in a sepulchral green glow. It is a very friendly community pub with a strong emphasis on football – indeed our mascot Bosley was greeted as an old friend and strutted around as though he owned the place!

Our opponents have been old friends over the years and it was good to see them again.

Both teams liked the questions that produced some remarkable scores, in particular Malcolm from the Horntails who scored an outstanding 42 nearly getting a full house in the General Knowledge dropping only one question (just after being told he was on the way to getting a full house!!). And playing in position 3 – a great achievement!!

Both sets of the questions were pretty good with just one or two provoking discussion, in particular one in the picture round – question 3. It was an unusual situation at the start of the game in that the Phoenix’ sister team The Rams was top of the League with 9 points whilst the Phoenix were just three from bottom with 5 points – only 4 points in it; as usual all to play for.

At the end of the Specialist the Phoenix were ahead by 59 to 38 but there was a storming recovery by the Horntails (especially Malcolm) in the General Knowledge that ended with 71 each.

Individual scores were Bob 12/18, Wendy 15/9, Nick 6/9 and Tomo 9/18; conferred points were 7/16 with 10/6 passovers. The Horntails picked up 7/5 passovers. Final score135 to the Phoenix and 114 to the Horntails. It was a most enjoyable game with jokes and laughter rounded off with a chicken curry and rice – many thanks to the Plough and the Horntails.

And a special thank you to the question master who was obviously suffering discomfort, and particularly from Nick for not striking through the questions as they were asked making scanning and editing them for the blog an easy task.