25th March–Home to th Ox-Fford C

 

 

The penultimate game of the season, and after a promising start the Lemmings have had a rather disappointing time of it. Tonight was against the Ox-Fford C and clearly it would take a miracle to change the Lemmings’ fortunes and save them from relegation.

They took their usual place in the Tavern feeling rather despondent, as if led like lambs to the slaughter. But then there was a ray of hope!! Only three players turned up from the Ox-Fford C as one of the team had fallen sick at the last moment and they had not had time to find a replacement. Perhaps miracles do happen – but it was a slender hope.

As the questions  began it was clear that they were very much to the Lemmings’ interests and they began to draw away leading by 21 points at the end of the Specialist with 69 to 48.

Peter the question master from the Dolphin then remarked that considerable work had been required to bring the General Knowledge questions up to standard, for instance several very obscure ones required the answer to be turned into the question. And now the visitors showed their mettle and they clawed back into the game, eating into the Lemmings’ lead. However the Lemmings recovered their composure and with much discipline managed to cling on losing the General Knowledge with 62 to 81 – but winning the game by two points, 131 to 129.

Individual scores were Bob 12/9, Wendy 15/9, Nick 9/12 and Tomo an excellent 21/12; conferred points were 6/15 with 6/5 pass-overs, the visitors picking up 4/10 pass-overs.

It was a most enjoyable game rounded off with a fine lamb curry from Brian with popadoms, naans and a fiery mango chutney. Thank you Brian, Peter and the Ox-Fford C for a splendid evening.

18th March–Away to the Knot Knowalls

 

Like old times – the original Lemmings team playing together again. And against one of our favourite teams, the Knowalls.

The Knot is a warm and welcoming pub and the grumpy mood from travelling there was soon dissipated.There was a novel start to the game in that the other Knot team (question masters) had asked Nick to bring along the questions and there was a little banter about opening the envelope before delivery. However this was not necessary as the questions had been delivered to the Waters Green Tavern uncollated and without envelopes and although the manager Stephen had valiantly sorted them into order there was still a transparent lack of envelopes. Undeterred, Nick wrapped the question papers in the Daily Mail thus serving the dual purpose of defending customers from its mindless bile.

Having settled in and collected our respective drinks we faced Round 1 from the jovial question-master. It was from this moment that things went downhill. There was nothing wrong with the questions, it was just that we didn’t know the answers and by the end of the Specialist we were lagging by 15 points, 52 to 37.

Undeterred and fortified with another round of drinks the Lemmings reminded each other that they have made up bigger deficiencies in the past and would do so again – and why not tonight??

Indeed the Lemmings began to claw back the points and at one point were just five points behind the home team – but it was not to be, once again the Knowalls lived up to their name and drew away ending the game with a clear lead of 19 points, 127 to 108.

No complaints and in any case what more proof could anyone ask that the Lemmings had not looked at the questions before handing them over to the question-master since each scored well below their average.

Individual scores were Bob 6/15, Wendy 6/15, Nick 0/12 and Tomo 9/9, conferred points were 9/11 with 7/9 pass-overs; the Knowalls picked up 9/11 pass-overs.

Nevertheless it was a very pleasant evening rounded off with fine sandwiches and excellent chips – many thanks to the Knot, the Knowalls and the laid-back question-master.

And finally although there were no serious objections to the questions, there is another nomination for the nine-banded armadillo!! Yes, “What was Sophie Ellis-Bextor’s first son called?” (Q33 General Knowledge – one almost wonders if this was a deliberate entry to the armadillo challenge!!). No doubt everyone was on the edge of their seat waiting to hear the answer which apparently was Sonny.

11th March–Questionmasters

 

Firstly a word of thanks to Mark Watson – the Lemmings have recently been struggling with absences, Nick being stuck in London for two months and Bob being away; nevertheless they managed to get together both sets of questions but with no regular reserves could not cover the four venues despite an appeal to each team in all Leagues and several personal approaches. Much against his better judgement, Nick was forced to disturb Mark who is recovering from serious surgery for advice and Mark managed to cajole his own team and the British Flag to cover their own game. We have always recognised that the smooth running of the Quiz League owes much to Mark’s skills but this was much beyond the call of duty and is very much appreciated and Nick again offers his apologies.

A word of appreciation is also due to the Harrington Academicals and the Nags Head who thoroughly vetted the questions and whose suggestions certainly improved thee Lemmings’ efforts and proved the worth of all Leagues being involved in the questions.

The games at the Knot and the Dolphin both seem to have been good-humoured affairs with much laughter and fun. Nick however was at the Weaver where the home team were in typical belligerent mood that reached a low point with complaints that there were four football questions in the Sport round (“Don’t you know any other sport?”) that spilled over into the next round (All Saints) with a petulant display of football teams beginning with St holding up the game. The Ox-Fford C retained their composure and usual light-hearted approach whilst cries of “Boring” and “crap question” peppered the rest of the game.

At the end of the Specialist the Weaver had a slight lead of 58 to 54 which they retained as the General Knowledge was a dead heat with 54 each. The Weaver pub has vastly improved following refurbishment and the refreshments were a generous selection of sandwiches with chips

4th March Cup/Plate semifinals

 

The Lemmings had already been knocked out of the Cup and Plate so it was a night off for the team.Nick watched the game between the Knot Originals and the sister team from the Waters Green Tavern the Rams – it was a very good game and Nick wished he was playing as the questions appealed to him.

If there is any further news I will update this blog.