Burns Night Away to the Plough Horntails in the Cup

 It is very pleasing that the Plough has survived the pandemic and retains its friendly atmosphere with a very pleasant landlady. On the night there was an excellent Wainwrights beer and the quiz team are old friends and always a joy to play.

A special mention and thanks to Andy Ridgeway who at very short notice had provided all the questions  without which there would have been no games.

Once again Jack The Hat made up the Lemming's numbers but as all questions were conferred he wasn't much use. The Lemmings were on the back foot throughout a most enjoyable game despite many questions being within living memory but one in particular had everyone struggling - what is the name of the wrinkle in a cat's ears? Bob suggested the nine banded armadillo but  the answer was cutaneous marginal pouch but an answer of Henry's pocket would have been accepted!!! No-one got it.

The final score was 94 to the Plough to the Lemmings' reasonable 77 - the home team go through to the next round.

The visitors did not wait to enjoy the pub's hospitality (very generous pizzas) but in view of the date hopped into a taxi to the Tavern where Brian had laid on a Burns Supper, a most delicious haggis, creamy mash and excellent carrot and swede mash that was complemented with a pint of Salopian's  Oracle. Thank you so much Brian and Kay, to the Horntails for a very pleasant enjoyable game and to the Plough landlady for the friendly atmosphere.

 

18 January Home to the Nags Head

 The Nags are long-time opponents and friends and it is always a pleasure to play them. The Lemmings numbers were made u this week by Jack The Hat, a rather natty beanie that may well be invited to play again.

The specialist questions really impressed the Lemmings with different takes on familiar subjects, including a round on the 'Fifties and the General Knowledge were fine too. Nevertheless the Lemmings were thrashed in bot sets.

There was an interesting historical discussion on how long various players had been playing in the League - for decades some!!

Brian had prepared a really interesting range of sandwiches to round off the evening.

Inbdividual scores were Bobg 12/12, Sunil 9/3 and Nick 6/3 with 10/20 conferred and 7/3 pass overs.

Many thanks to Brian, to the Nags Head and the question setters and the questionmaster for the evening

FOND MEMORIES

 

It is not often we play in this wonderful country pub, but with many others we have fond memories of smoky rooms (not very fond really), pickled onions and the formidable Mrs Bailey who put up a spirited resistance to Robinsons Brewery who wanted to install handpumps when she wanted to collect beer in a jug in the cellar - and of course the magnificent huge till on the counter on which a second round of the same drinks was infinitely variable in price. And let's not forget the folk music nights!!Although since her passing there has been some modernisation it still retains a lot of that old world charm.

Along with many teams the Lemmings have suffered with the Covid pandemic and their numbers were made up this week by a beer mug called Andy - Andy was a friend, a neighbour and a regular at the Waters Green Tavern who always drank from his own pewter tankard - sadly he passed away (pre Covid) and one of his tankards seems a respectful way to remember him.

Both sets of questions were good with an interesting round on chefs with flowery names (unfortunately Nick went for Blumenthal instead of Nigella!!) but at the end of the Specialist the Lemmings were trailing with 35 to the Academicals 65. Little change in the General Knowledge where the home team triumphed with 98 to 47. Final score 165 to 84.

Individual scores were Bob 12/12 Sunil 6/12 Nick 6/6 Andy and Conferred 11/12 and just 2/5 pass overs.

A very pleasant evening on a rather misty night with lots of laughter and a splendid tray of delicious sandwiches from the landlord - many thanks to the landlord, to the home team and question master from Rushton Diamonds.

SORRY HAVING PROBLEMS UPLOADING PICTURES BUT WILL KEEP TRYING

Stung by the Horntails

 Once again the Lemmings were a player down and since the ashtray was not a lot of help last week we decided instead to to play with a pint glass. Our opponents were the Plough Horntails who incidentally we should have played in the last season before Covid brought everything to a standstill. We have known and played the Horntails over many years and it is always a very pleasant evening with laughter and jokes. I must also express my admiration and thanks to Heather from the Park Tavern who acted as question master with a gentle but firm hand spiced with humour.

The specialist questions were rather difficult but balanced and fair with a rather different round on film quotations. General Knowledge were not quite as interesting but again had been vetted well.

One answer was David Whitfield that stirred some queries, but I remember sitting in Granellis on Chestergate when a friend who had just been dumped kept playing one of his songs, probably Answer Me https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0qS2akliM_s

Bob and Sunil both put in really good scores but Nick and the glass didn't do so well and we trailed by 80 to 65 finishing 103 to the Horntails 137.

We finished with a splendid cheese tray - many thanks Brian, the Horntails and Heather