25th February Question Masters

After a night off last week, the Lemmings were question masters this week covering three venues, The Harrington Arms Gawsworth, the Robin Hood Rainow and the Chester Road Tavern.
Nick was asking at the latter, where the Nags Head, pushing the top of the table, were playing the home team who are fighting valiantly. There was some discussion (particularly from the away team) about the sinking of the White Ship, one of the History questions, but Wikipedia (the go-to resort for objections) shows this was the touchstone for that period of British history known as The Anarchy. Nevertheless the atmosphere was friendly and rounded off with a generous selection of sandwiches.

Similar objections were made at the Harrington Arms in a good-spirited game.

11th February Away to the Nags Head

Fortunately it is only a short walk from the Tavern, where the Lemmings gather, to the Nags, as it was in the tail end of storm Ciara, bitterly cold, howling wind and sleet. But the Nags is a wonderful old market pub, several storeys high with marbled floors several rooms one a huge area at the back where the game was played.The home team are old friends and adversaries sitting comfortably in second place in the League - it would never be easy even though as home team the Nags had to provide the question master.

Both sets of questions had been set by the Dolphins and were OK but the Nags quickly took control taking the specialist rounds with 79 to 57. Hoping to improve the Lemmings were disappointed to finish the General Knowledge with a similar deficit of 97 to 73 with a final score on the results sheet of 166 to 130 (although Nick's notes show the Nags had 176).

Even so, it was Bob's turn to shine with a best-ever personable best of 45 - congratulations Bob!!

Individual scores were Bob 18/27, Sunil 6/3, Nick 6/9 and Tomo 12/15 - conferred points were 11/13 with 4/6 pass-overs while the home team took 4/13 pass-overs.

The evening was rounded off with a splendid warming feast of pies, pasties and chips with gravy - many thanks to the landlady, and to the Nags for a worthy win.

4th February - Home to the Harrington Academicals

This was a battle for mid-table positions but the Lemmings remembered their previous meeting in the first half of the season when they lost by 55 points! On that occasion Bob was not playing, this time we were without Tomo who had been sent off to Wimbledon by his office and both Becky and Sunil were playing. Fortified by a roaring fire and excellent ales the Lemmings prepared for battle.

The questions had all been set by the Weaver and were very good but the Lemmings stuttered from the start and struggled to hit their stride losing the Specialist rounds with 43 to 55 - but they've made up such a difference before.

Unfortunately the Lemmings still struggled with the General Knowledge (that illicitly included a couple of collective nouns for animals) losing 83 to 46 - almost as bad as the previous encounter.

Individual scores were Bob 15/15, Sunil 3/0, Nick 12/3 and Becky 3/6. Conferred points were 10/14

with pass-overs 0/8. The Academicals picked up 7/17 pass-overs. Final score 138 to 89.

The conferred and pass-overs bring out clearly the struggles of the Lemmings and the superiority of the visitors.

Nevertheless it was a most enjoyable game, rounded off with a tasty selection of sandwiches - many thanks to the Academicals, to Brian and to Keith, question master from the Rams.