19th February Plate Semi Final

This week the Lemmings were host to the Harrington B team – bridges had already been built as with them we are providing the questions on 5th March and vetting is well advanced.

As usual the Lemmings tried to manoeuvre the visitors towards the open fire which provides a very efficient distraction as the smell of burning flesh fills the pub. Sadly they spotted this and moved further away, There were compensations however as they had brought along Lola a delightful (and very well behaved) chocolate labrador that in turn provided a distraction for the Lemmings!! Nick wrongly said Eric Clapton had sung about her but was gently corrected – it was The Kinks!. Not a good start!!

The questions (Rushton Diamonds and Park Taverners) were very good and only a tiny handful was not got by both teams and the rounds were fairly evenly matched.

After the first round of 20 questions the Lemmings had stolen a slender lead with 20 to 15 but the next round was level with both teams scoring 20. The round leading up to the half-way mark saw the Lemming graze through with 14 to 13 – a narrow lead of 6.

The second half was a little more favourable to the Lemmings who got 22 in the first round to the visitors’ 16; next twenty was 18 to the visitors; and the final round saw the Lemmings seal victory with 20 to 13 and a final score of 114 to 93.

Tim from the Park Timers controlled the game with good humour and the evening was rounded off with an excellent cheeseboard with grapes, chutney and fresh baguettes. Many thanks Brian, to the visitors and to Tim for a very pleasant evening.

5th February Home to the Harrington Academicals

A game we’d been dreading – when we played the Academicals in the first leg the Lemmings were given a sound thrashing by over 50 points and at the last reckoning the Academicals were sitting proudly at the top of the B League having lost just one game, But bloodied but unbowed the Lemmings welcomed the visitors to a glowing fire, an excellent selection of fine ales and smiling faces behind the bar.

The Specialist we thought to be very good, with a round in which all the answers were fish-related and a good varied selection for the others. Fortunately they fell very much in line with the Lemmings’ interests and they had built a surprising lead of 58 to the visitors’ 33 at the break.

The General Knowledge were not so well received especially having avoided football in the Sports round the GK was rather top heavy with soccer questions of one form or another.However both teams played on gamely in excellent spirits – there were two occasions when possible contentious points were awarded to the opposing team with good grace.

Again the Lemmings did well taking the GK with 73 to the visitors’ 63 and taking the game with 137 to 96.

Individual scores were Bob 3/15, Becky 3/6, Nick 18/9 and Tomo 9/12; conferred points were 15/20 with 10/11 pass-overs. The visitors collected 1/5 pass-overs.

It was a very pleasant evening rounded off with a vary varied cheeseboard from Brian with fresh baguette and biscuits with chutney – many thanks for Brian, to the Academics and to Anne the patient and genial question master