With sickness kicking in once more for the unfortunate Rose & Crown the account of tonight's match has kindly been written by John Goode.
Mercifully Badger showed up which just made 8 players.
Myself, David Noble, DD and Scotty went directly to Waverley as the last two had just got back from Heathrow after their Portugese golfing break, and David had collected them from the airport (at 1730!).
Although I recognised most of the Waverley players, I don't know their names, so this report will be a bit lacking in that respect!
Our first pair were the "tactical" DD and Alan Turner. Unfortunately DD's head was still somewhere between Lisbon and Heathrow, and they lost in straight legs, admittedly to reasonably good players. One down.
Next was myself and Wavy Davy. I wasn't as good as I should have been, and David wasn't as good as I should have been either. We lost 2:1. Two down.
Third pair was Scotty and Kevin. After a shaky start, losing the first leg, (with Kev struggling as he'd left his darts at home) he borrowed a lighter set (mine!) and things improved. They managed to win 2:1. Waverley 2, R & C 1.
Finally, The Dude and Badger. They won in straight legs (I think) with the Badger doing some great finishing. That man is proving a great asset to us! So, after a dodgy start it was 2 - 2 after the doubles.
In the singles we started with Kevin, who was back on form with my spare set of darts. He won 2:0 I think, with a final flourish (if that's the word)... requiring 55, he went for 15 and got 2; then went for 17 and got 3, leaving 50! There was a pause while we all offered a silent prayer, then BOSH, a bullseye! Wav 2, R & C 3.
Next, The Dude, who won, despite moaning that he was playing rubbish! Wav 2, R & C 4.
Finally, I went on and managed to win the first leg despite my opponent beng on 40 before I got a double start (Singles were 301).I lost the second leg, but managed to win the third. That made it Wav 2, R & C 5, and as it was gone 11pm we called it a night.
Monday 15 December 2008
Monday 8 December 2008
Sandridge Rovers (away 04.12.08)
It was another week of despair for The Rose & Crown as they crashed to yet another humiliating defeat, this time 5-3 at the hands of struggling Sandridge Rovers.
Having lost 6-2 in their previous two encounters and being continually plagued by injury and illness, the sparkle that was all so evident after brilliant performances against The Crooked Billet and The Inn on The Green was no where to be seen. The impetus had gone and along with it the confidence and the enthusiasm, replaced by a nervousness and edginess that would have a stadium full of Arsenal supporters salivating at the prospect of humiliating yet another unfortunate underachiever. But Sandridge Football Club was no place for jeering supporters. The harrowing sound of whistles and boos sent down to greet such individuals could not be heard on this cold (for some people) winters night. Instead the only audible sound to greet the players of The Rose & Crown was the eerie silence that trailed in the wake of a certain Grim Reaper as he scythed his way through the team.
This was the evening the lid was firmly nailed down on a plain and simple wooden casket that contained not that of the lifeless body of the Rose & Crown dart team or indeed the shiny tungsten barrels that they plied their trade with, This was the evening the notion of darts, the mere idea of darts, the pure thought of darts died for the Rose and Crown and there in lieth it’s soul.
For this we offer a small prayer.
Our Father who art made of tungsten,
Taylor be thy name.
Thy dart team come,
And victories won,
In St.Albans as well as in Harpenden
Give us this day our full team of eight.
And forgive us our missed doubles,
As we forgive those who miss doubles against us!
And lead us not into the second division,
But deliver us from relegation.
For thine is the dartboard, “The Power” and the oche.
For ever and ever. Amen
Having lost 6-2 in their previous two encounters and being continually plagued by injury and illness, the sparkle that was all so evident after brilliant performances against The Crooked Billet and The Inn on The Green was no where to be seen. The impetus had gone and along with it the confidence and the enthusiasm, replaced by a nervousness and edginess that would have a stadium full of Arsenal supporters salivating at the prospect of humiliating yet another unfortunate underachiever. But Sandridge Football Club was no place for jeering supporters. The harrowing sound of whistles and boos sent down to greet such individuals could not be heard on this cold (for some people) winters night. Instead the only audible sound to greet the players of The Rose & Crown was the eerie silence that trailed in the wake of a certain Grim Reaper as he scythed his way through the team.
This was the evening the lid was firmly nailed down on a plain and simple wooden casket that contained not that of the lifeless body of the Rose & Crown dart team or indeed the shiny tungsten barrels that they plied their trade with, This was the evening the notion of darts, the mere idea of darts, the pure thought of darts died for the Rose and Crown and there in lieth it’s soul.
For this we offer a small prayer.
Our Father who art made of tungsten,
Taylor be thy name.
Thy dart team come,
And victories won,
In St.Albans as well as in Harpenden
Give us this day our full team of eight.
And forgive us our missed doubles,
As we forgive those who miss doubles against us!
And lead us not into the second division,
But deliver us from relegation.
For thine is the dartboard, “The Power” and the oche.
For ever and ever. Amen
Monday 1 December 2008
Townsend Bowls Club (away) 28.11.08
After a weeks rest from the Hurley burly of the league, the Rose and Crown resumed their campaign with a tough encounter away to Townsend Tennis and Bowls club. The visitors have in recent times enjoyed some success against the former league champions, but the early season promise that saw the Rose & Crown competing for top slot has disappeared under a blanket of illness and injury. This perhaps was about as weak a performance as the visitors have produced in recent years and against a side that had to concede a game for not having the required amount of players, leaving unbeaten pairing John Goode and Paul Mullins on the sidelines.
The visitors looked a shadow of what they were early on in the season and the home side were quick to capitalize and were the much happier side having gone into the singles at two apiece, despite having to concede the final encounter. But this was only the start of the Rose and Crowns problems. Neil "The Dude" Crosby was woefully out of sorts as was "veteran" Tony Scott and each went down meekly both unable to recapture some of that early season promise. Paul Mullins so often this season able to produce the darts when in mattered fell short having had three darts to try and keep the visitors in the encounter and when Kevin Woods too succumbed the visitor's misery was complete.
A black day for The Rose Crown.
The visitors looked a shadow of what they were early on in the season and the home side were quick to capitalize and were the much happier side having gone into the singles at two apiece, despite having to concede the final encounter. But this was only the start of the Rose and Crowns problems. Neil "The Dude" Crosby was woefully out of sorts as was "veteran" Tony Scott and each went down meekly both unable to recapture some of that early season promise. Paul Mullins so often this season able to produce the darts when in mattered fell short having had three darts to try and keep the visitors in the encounter and when Kevin Woods too succumbed the visitor's misery was complete.
A black day for The Rose Crown.
Monday 17 November 2008
Evergreens (away 13.11.08)
New Greens Club, typical of so many clubs in the aera, dying institutions that have been, over the years pillaged by many management committee's who's legacies are reduced memberships, 1980's furniture and the obligatory cheesey disco every Saturday night. The fruit machines still rattle but not nearly as much as they used to, on line gambling has seen to that, these establishments simply can not cope with change and the very people who have the power to change, have been living in their own little bubble for the last 25 years, always sitting in the same seat, with the same friends, in fact all that has changed is their hair colour and waistline.
So you could be forgiven for thinking that the dart team would be very much along the same lines.
For a number of years now the Evergreen's have been niggling away at the mid-lower end of the table. They are a team of wily characters who, on their day are more than a match for anyone in the division and were indeed more than a match for the depleted Rose & Crown, who found their backs to the wall before even the first dart was thrown in anger. Injury this week took its toll, as once again Carl Bolding was unavailable for selection. But perhaps more surprisingly the late withdrawal of Paul Mullins due to illness was a big blow to the Rose & Crown. Mullins has been ever-present this season and his partnership with John Goode is still unbeaten and would surely be missed against the Evergreen's.
The early exchanges went as skipper Alan Turner would have predicted in so much as the Rose & Crown found themselves 1-0 down, the skipper once again partnering the Director of Darts who was unable to repeat last weeks heroics, the pair eventually slipping to an inevitable defeat.
But this has all been part of the master plan in recent weeks, so when the "Dude" and stand-in player "Badger" levelled the scoreline it was looking very much like another day at the office for the skipper and his team. But the next four games yielded nothing for the visitors and the Evergreen's had gained what was for them a first league win and a rather comfortable one at that, only Tony Scott was able to find a way though in what was a consolation only as the Rose & Crown crashed to a 6-2 defeat, their heaviest of the season.
So you could be forgiven for thinking that the dart team would be very much along the same lines.
For a number of years now the Evergreen's have been niggling away at the mid-lower end of the table. They are a team of wily characters who, on their day are more than a match for anyone in the division and were indeed more than a match for the depleted Rose & Crown, who found their backs to the wall before even the first dart was thrown in anger. Injury this week took its toll, as once again Carl Bolding was unavailable for selection. But perhaps more surprisingly the late withdrawal of Paul Mullins due to illness was a big blow to the Rose & Crown. Mullins has been ever-present this season and his partnership with John Goode is still unbeaten and would surely be missed against the Evergreen's.
The early exchanges went as skipper Alan Turner would have predicted in so much as the Rose & Crown found themselves 1-0 down, the skipper once again partnering the Director of Darts who was unable to repeat last weeks heroics, the pair eventually slipping to an inevitable defeat.
But this has all been part of the master plan in recent weeks, so when the "Dude" and stand-in player "Badger" levelled the scoreline it was looking very much like another day at the office for the skipper and his team. But the next four games yielded nothing for the visitors and the Evergreen's had gained what was for them a first league win and a rather comfortable one at that, only Tony Scott was able to find a way though in what was a consolation only as the Rose & Crown crashed to a 6-2 defeat, their heaviest of the season.
Thursday 6 November 2008
Challenge Cup (Home) Colney Heath FC
Barack Obama becomes the first black president of the United States on November 4th 2008, relegating the lipstick and senility of the Republican campaign to the political wilderness for the next four years. But what next for the defeated candidates, well it’s rumoured that Sarah Palin will be putting the pain of defeat behind her by heading to the Canadian north for a spot of seal culling with French President Nicolas Sarkozy, “sounds like fun” she told a Canadian comedian masquerading as the French supremo, whilst John McCain, so often plagued with bouts of involuntary dementia that was previously considered a pre-requisite for the job will cast his vote next Tuesday urging all America to get behind presidential candidate Ronald Reagan !!
So the fireworks of the American Presidential campaign fizzle out, as do the fireworks that celebrated the 403rd anniversary of the gunpowder plot (an attempt by Guy Fawkes in his own words “to blow the Scotch beggars back to their own mountains”). The weather having put paid to many local displays when traditionally the English public take to their wellington boots and brave the elements, quite often up to their knees in muddy fields and gardens all over country just to celebrate the foiling of this daring plot and to welcome their Celtic cousins to England.
The fireworks did however burn brightly in the Rose & Crown this week as they enjoyed a week off from the rigors of the league and were able to turn their attention to the challenge cup, playing host to third division mid table side Colney Heath Football Club.
Some of the players seemed to be firing more than fireworks, “He Do Jog On” evicting the visitors from their original vantage point relegating them to a back table with views only of the outside door and the well trudged route to the toilet, not a dartboard in sight. While others seemed only to be firing blanks, “Sonic Beryl” about as exciting in the pre-match tactics as a guided tour of Stevenage on wet Tuesday night!!
Castigated last week for the inaccuracies in the reporting of the pairings and duly admonished, the administrator of the blog is taking no chances this week and fear of further reprisals in the future has prompted, that any reporting pertaining to names of players this week will feature as aliases. The administrator hopes that these issues will be resolved for next week.
They say it’s a sign of a good side when you can win when playing well below par. This was certainly the case tonight as the Rose & Crown ,flying high in the first division were taken right to the wire by third division mid-table side Colney heath Football Club in the first round of the challenge cup.
The early signs were good when the home side once again without key players took an early 1-0 lead when stand in player Mark and “A Lank Lush” played out a marathon first pairing before finally holding their nerve to clinch what was to become a priceless victory by two legs to one, putting the home side into unfamiliar territory after the first game of the evening.
“That Stony Con” and “I wonks Dove” who have had almost unparalleled success this season continued their impressive start with a not so impressive display that just about did enough to put the Rose & Crown into what should have been a comfortable position against their lower league rivals. But when “Natal Rerun” and the resurgent if erratic “Sonic Beryl” came back empty handed the visitors could sense a possible shock in the making.
“He Do Jog On” who earlier had assumed the role of bouncer having swiftly removed the visitors from their preferred spot in the bar, was unable to reproduce anywhere near the same fearless level of aggression on the dartboard, as he and “Pull a Muslin” just about limped to a 2-1 victory to restore the home side’s two game advantage.
Leading 3-1 going into the singles surely the Rose & Crown would close the game out swiftly, the visitors however had other ideas and those that were so impressive the week before when taking a point from league leaders the Crooked Billet just couldn’t reproduce the form or character to bring a swift conclusion to this 1st round cup tie. Both “I Wonk Doves” and “Sonic Beryl” looked just mere shadows of themselves from last week as their meek displays enabled the visitors to draw level at three a piece. The visitors were now beginning to believe that this could be their night, a true giant killing in the making, the home side in contrast had much to contemplate, the skipper was looking a worried man as the thought of another year in the challenge trophy looked a distinct possibility. “That Stony Con” a stalwart who’s career has spanned four decades was spurred on by the ignominy of such thoughts and was quick to restore the home sides lead with another solid performance, continuing a run of form that has helped propel his side to the higher reaches of the league table that were for so many years out of reach to the village side. Long time skipper “Natal Rerun” who so often overlooks himself for such games stepped forward to the oche for a rare singles appearance looking to finally seal what would have been hard fought victory, but the visitors had yet another surprise up their sleeve that sent this encounter right to the wire as “Natal Rerun” failed in his bid to secure a victory that would surelyhave gone down as a collectors item!!
The tension in the bar was boiling over, the visitors having arrived by the coach load to support their side in hope more than belief did now believe and dared to cross the boundary that was drawn up by “He Do Jog On” earlier in the night, who could now, only suck the night air in through his teeth and bare the defiance shown towards him. The bar now had become swollen with the influx of regulars who come rain or shine to sample the local ales, each one of them unwittingly drawn into the night’s action, embroiled just by their mere presence in this local village pub. Could “Pull a Muslin” handle the pressure and put the tension to the back of his mind and send the home side through to the second round?
An unimpressive first leg went the way of the home side, “Pull a Muslin” playing well below his usual standard just about doing enough but offering some hope to the visitors. The away support had now encroached into the playing area, the high pitched whistle of “He Do Jog On” as he continued sucking the cold night air through his teeth bemoaning the defiance shown by the visitors could be heard above all as the players took to the oche for the second leg. After a steady start to the leg “Pull a Muslin” was left with 212 he produced probably the best three darts of the night as each one glided with unerring accuracy into the treble twenty, the first maximum of the night. A maximum is not always considered the best throw of the night but in the context of this epic encounter it’s timing was perfection ,leaving “Pull a Muslin” with double sixteen to seal the victory. The opposition, much to the annoyance of “He Do Jog On” had now well and truly invaded the playing area and each one was eager to shake hands and congratulate their opponent. Two darts later the green bed that encircled the double sixteen was pierced and the home side, after giving all a shock finally came through to book their passage into the next round.
So the fireworks of the American Presidential campaign fizzle out, as do the fireworks that celebrated the 403rd anniversary of the gunpowder plot (an attempt by Guy Fawkes in his own words “to blow the Scotch beggars back to their own mountains”). The weather having put paid to many local displays when traditionally the English public take to their wellington boots and brave the elements, quite often up to their knees in muddy fields and gardens all over country just to celebrate the foiling of this daring plot and to welcome their Celtic cousins to England.
The fireworks did however burn brightly in the Rose & Crown this week as they enjoyed a week off from the rigors of the league and were able to turn their attention to the challenge cup, playing host to third division mid table side Colney Heath Football Club.
Some of the players seemed to be firing more than fireworks, “He Do Jog On” evicting the visitors from their original vantage point relegating them to a back table with views only of the outside door and the well trudged route to the toilet, not a dartboard in sight. While others seemed only to be firing blanks, “Sonic Beryl” about as exciting in the pre-match tactics as a guided tour of Stevenage on wet Tuesday night!!
Castigated last week for the inaccuracies in the reporting of the pairings and duly admonished, the administrator of the blog is taking no chances this week and fear of further reprisals in the future has prompted, that any reporting pertaining to names of players this week will feature as aliases. The administrator hopes that these issues will be resolved for next week.
They say it’s a sign of a good side when you can win when playing well below par. This was certainly the case tonight as the Rose & Crown ,flying high in the first division were taken right to the wire by third division mid-table side Colney heath Football Club in the first round of the challenge cup.
The early signs were good when the home side once again without key players took an early 1-0 lead when stand in player Mark and “A Lank Lush” played out a marathon first pairing before finally holding their nerve to clinch what was to become a priceless victory by two legs to one, putting the home side into unfamiliar territory after the first game of the evening.
“That Stony Con” and “I wonks Dove” who have had almost unparalleled success this season continued their impressive start with a not so impressive display that just about did enough to put the Rose & Crown into what should have been a comfortable position against their lower league rivals. But when “Natal Rerun” and the resurgent if erratic “Sonic Beryl” came back empty handed the visitors could sense a possible shock in the making.
“He Do Jog On” who earlier had assumed the role of bouncer having swiftly removed the visitors from their preferred spot in the bar, was unable to reproduce anywhere near the same fearless level of aggression on the dartboard, as he and “Pull a Muslin” just about limped to a 2-1 victory to restore the home side’s two game advantage.
Leading 3-1 going into the singles surely the Rose & Crown would close the game out swiftly, the visitors however had other ideas and those that were so impressive the week before when taking a point from league leaders the Crooked Billet just couldn’t reproduce the form or character to bring a swift conclusion to this 1st round cup tie. Both “I Wonk Doves” and “Sonic Beryl” looked just mere shadows of themselves from last week as their meek displays enabled the visitors to draw level at three a piece. The visitors were now beginning to believe that this could be their night, a true giant killing in the making, the home side in contrast had much to contemplate, the skipper was looking a worried man as the thought of another year in the challenge trophy looked a distinct possibility. “That Stony Con” a stalwart who’s career has spanned four decades was spurred on by the ignominy of such thoughts and was quick to restore the home sides lead with another solid performance, continuing a run of form that has helped propel his side to the higher reaches of the league table that were for so many years out of reach to the village side. Long time skipper “Natal Rerun” who so often overlooks himself for such games stepped forward to the oche for a rare singles appearance looking to finally seal what would have been hard fought victory, but the visitors had yet another surprise up their sleeve that sent this encounter right to the wire as “Natal Rerun” failed in his bid to secure a victory that would surelyhave gone down as a collectors item!!
The tension in the bar was boiling over, the visitors having arrived by the coach load to support their side in hope more than belief did now believe and dared to cross the boundary that was drawn up by “He Do Jog On” earlier in the night, who could now, only suck the night air in through his teeth and bare the defiance shown towards him. The bar now had become swollen with the influx of regulars who come rain or shine to sample the local ales, each one of them unwittingly drawn into the night’s action, embroiled just by their mere presence in this local village pub. Could “Pull a Muslin” handle the pressure and put the tension to the back of his mind and send the home side through to the second round?
An unimpressive first leg went the way of the home side, “Pull a Muslin” playing well below his usual standard just about doing enough but offering some hope to the visitors. The away support had now encroached into the playing area, the high pitched whistle of “He Do Jog On” as he continued sucking the cold night air through his teeth bemoaning the defiance shown by the visitors could be heard above all as the players took to the oche for the second leg. After a steady start to the leg “Pull a Muslin” was left with 212 he produced probably the best three darts of the night as each one glided with unerring accuracy into the treble twenty, the first maximum of the night. A maximum is not always considered the best throw of the night but in the context of this epic encounter it’s timing was perfection ,leaving “Pull a Muslin” with double sixteen to seal the victory. The opposition, much to the annoyance of “He Do Jog On” had now well and truly invaded the playing area and each one was eager to shake hands and congratulate their opponent. Two darts later the green bed that encircled the double sixteen was pierced and the home side, after giving all a shock finally came through to book their passage into the next round.
Monday 3 November 2008
Crooked Billet (home) 30.10.08
It’s been a week of shocks, an inch of snow covered the ground for less than 2 days, almost bringing the country to its knees once more, prompting the statisticians to rifle through the archives in search of yet more useless facts that can be coupled to the weatherman’s immortal line of “since records began”.
Harry Redknapp signs for Tottenham sending them on an unbeaten 3 match run prompting the statisticians once more to proclaim that it’s their longest unbeaten run since the early spring of 2008!!
Lewis Hamilton wins the F1 drivers championship by nothing more than a width of a tyre tread and the ECB pimp out the England cricket team to an American billionaire. Who like Jack the Ripper, slits the underbelly and lets the contents of English cricket spill out under the dim lights onto the half o’ dozen or so American TV sets who have tuned in thinking it’s John McCain's latest campaign ralley
Perhaps though, the most shocking of all events this week was the visit of league leaders The Crooked Billet to the darting outpost of the Rose & Crown in St. Michael’s.
The Crooked Billet had previously dropped only 4 games as they laid their title credentials on the line, sweeping aside all before them with the most consummate of ease. They must surely have fancied their chances of inflicting a heavy defeat upon one of their main title rivals after the Rose & Crown suffered the indignity of defeat against the leagues whipping boys (albeit with only 5 recognised players) the previous week.
The away side were soon into their stride, dispatching skipper Alan Turner and the “Director of Darts” in two straight legs to take an early lead but this is a situation the home side have found themselves in all of their previous contests this season. But when the pairings of Neil Crosby and Dave Noble and Tony Scott and Kevin Woods both came back empty handed without so much as a leg to show for it, the alarm bells started ringing and even the statisticians were struggling to dredge up comparable facts.
Trailing 3-0 John Goode and Paul Mullins (who themselves) are undefeated as a pairing this season) were faced with the task of at least getting the home side on the board and with it saving some face. Two legs later the Rose & Crown were back in it, Mullins and Goode coasting to victory offering a glimmer of hope in an otherwise black start to the evening going into the singles.
Special mention here must go to the refreshments; yet again Ruth has outdone all other venues with her culinary delights with not one venue getting even close in the tasting stakes. A wide range of fillings complimented by the freshest bread in the league make this one of the most eagerly awaited points of the evening.
Now, Neil “The Dude” Crosby from somewhere has acquired a different outlook on the game this season and his cool exterior most certainly is alien to not only those of the Rose & Crown, but indeed all that know him. His cool exterior though, only masks what is boiling away underneath ready to be unleashed and this was perhaps the “Dude’s” finest hour this season if not his finest game. For once Neil showed a maturity that most had thought long since extinct and whilst the BBC toiled with those overpaid egos that did their talking over the phone, Neil most certainly did his talking on the oche, the wolfram said it all for him, its own words as crude and vulgar to the visitors as those of a BBC prime time entertainer. The final shaft of tungsten unerringly made its way into the double and the home side were well and truly back in the match, one down with three to play.
For Woodsie, his debut season for the Rose & Crown has somewhat been a baptism of fire. But as each week passes the confidence grows and grows and the latest in the long line of darting progeny that have been born from the Rose & Crown’s “Youth Academy” (which in the past has produced such legends as John Goode ad the self styled “Director of Darts) sits on the edge of Rose and Crown greatness and but for one dart on Thursday would surely have achieved this status earlier than could ever have been expected as he pushed The Crooked Billets very own darting superstar Linda Searle all the way in a nail biting three leg contest that ultimately secured the visitors a point. But it was a gallant effort from the “youngster” and the contest could easily have gone his way and perhaps on another day would have done so.
Trailing 4-2 you may have thought that the Rose & Crown would have folded but there is a steely determination and a never say die attitude that has emerged in recent weeks epitomised no more so than by stalwart Tony Scott who, in is own words on Thursday night was not feeling the full schilling but apart from a request for a glass of water mid way through this no nonsense contest you would never have guessed. A picture of concentration and focus, Scotty delivered an almost faultless display that drew as many gasps from the crowd as the request for water did earlier. His hapless opponent could only look on despairingly as Scotty pulled the Rose & Crown back within striking distance, one down one to play.
The home side thus became the first team this season to take more than two games against the league leaders but they harboured much grander aspirations than this and a point from this encounter was well within their grasp.
Once again it was down to Paul Mullins, who along with everyone else (the Badger not included) was so disappointing the previous week, but Mullins was quick to put that disappointment behind him and emerged victorious in two straight legs to secure a deserved point for the home side.
So the visitors leave the picture postcard part of St. Albans their tail between their legs having dropped their first point of the season the inquests may well have started before they left but for the Rose & Crown can they keep on going upsetting the odds and mount a serious title challenge?
Harry Redknapp signs for Tottenham sending them on an unbeaten 3 match run prompting the statisticians once more to proclaim that it’s their longest unbeaten run since the early spring of 2008!!
Lewis Hamilton wins the F1 drivers championship by nothing more than a width of a tyre tread and the ECB pimp out the England cricket team to an American billionaire. Who like Jack the Ripper, slits the underbelly and lets the contents of English cricket spill out under the dim lights onto the half o’ dozen or so American TV sets who have tuned in thinking it’s John McCain's latest campaign ralley
Perhaps though, the most shocking of all events this week was the visit of league leaders The Crooked Billet to the darting outpost of the Rose & Crown in St. Michael’s.
The Crooked Billet had previously dropped only 4 games as they laid their title credentials on the line, sweeping aside all before them with the most consummate of ease. They must surely have fancied their chances of inflicting a heavy defeat upon one of their main title rivals after the Rose & Crown suffered the indignity of defeat against the leagues whipping boys (albeit with only 5 recognised players) the previous week.
The away side were soon into their stride, dispatching skipper Alan Turner and the “Director of Darts” in two straight legs to take an early lead but this is a situation the home side have found themselves in all of their previous contests this season. But when the pairings of Neil Crosby and Dave Noble and Tony Scott and Kevin Woods both came back empty handed without so much as a leg to show for it, the alarm bells started ringing and even the statisticians were struggling to dredge up comparable facts.
Trailing 3-0 John Goode and Paul Mullins (who themselves) are undefeated as a pairing this season) were faced with the task of at least getting the home side on the board and with it saving some face. Two legs later the Rose & Crown were back in it, Mullins and Goode coasting to victory offering a glimmer of hope in an otherwise black start to the evening going into the singles.
Special mention here must go to the refreshments; yet again Ruth has outdone all other venues with her culinary delights with not one venue getting even close in the tasting stakes. A wide range of fillings complimented by the freshest bread in the league make this one of the most eagerly awaited points of the evening.
Now, Neil “The Dude” Crosby from somewhere has acquired a different outlook on the game this season and his cool exterior most certainly is alien to not only those of the Rose & Crown, but indeed all that know him. His cool exterior though, only masks what is boiling away underneath ready to be unleashed and this was perhaps the “Dude’s” finest hour this season if not his finest game. For once Neil showed a maturity that most had thought long since extinct and whilst the BBC toiled with those overpaid egos that did their talking over the phone, Neil most certainly did his talking on the oche, the wolfram said it all for him, its own words as crude and vulgar to the visitors as those of a BBC prime time entertainer. The final shaft of tungsten unerringly made its way into the double and the home side were well and truly back in the match, one down with three to play.
For Woodsie, his debut season for the Rose & Crown has somewhat been a baptism of fire. But as each week passes the confidence grows and grows and the latest in the long line of darting progeny that have been born from the Rose & Crown’s “Youth Academy” (which in the past has produced such legends as John Goode ad the self styled “Director of Darts) sits on the edge of Rose and Crown greatness and but for one dart on Thursday would surely have achieved this status earlier than could ever have been expected as he pushed The Crooked Billets very own darting superstar Linda Searle all the way in a nail biting three leg contest that ultimately secured the visitors a point. But it was a gallant effort from the “youngster” and the contest could easily have gone his way and perhaps on another day would have done so.
Trailing 4-2 you may have thought that the Rose & Crown would have folded but there is a steely determination and a never say die attitude that has emerged in recent weeks epitomised no more so than by stalwart Tony Scott who, in is own words on Thursday night was not feeling the full schilling but apart from a request for a glass of water mid way through this no nonsense contest you would never have guessed. A picture of concentration and focus, Scotty delivered an almost faultless display that drew as many gasps from the crowd as the request for water did earlier. His hapless opponent could only look on despairingly as Scotty pulled the Rose & Crown back within striking distance, one down one to play.
The home side thus became the first team this season to take more than two games against the league leaders but they harboured much grander aspirations than this and a point from this encounter was well within their grasp.
Once again it was down to Paul Mullins, who along with everyone else (the Badger not included) was so disappointing the previous week, but Mullins was quick to put that disappointment behind him and emerged victorious in two straight legs to secure a deserved point for the home side.
So the visitors leave the picture postcard part of St. Albans their tail between their legs having dropped their first point of the season the inquests may well have started before they left but for the Rose & Crown can they keep on going upsetting the odds and mount a serious title challenge?
Sunday 26 October 2008
Sandridge Rovers (away) 23.10.08
In a time when the stock market has seen its spectacular fall matched only by that of the decline of Tottenham Hotspur, the Rose & Crown have found themselves rather unusually challenging for the top spot in the division and had high hopes of securing such a dizzying position at the pinnacle against Sandridge Rovers on Thursday night.
But a spectacular high as seen so often can be followed by a fall equally, if not more spectacular. This was the case on Thursday night as the Rose & Crown crashed to their first defeat of season.
The team found themselves with fewer players for this encounter than willing investors of an Icelandic bank. In fact such was the state of play that the villain of “Fugitive” could have counted all the players on his non prosthetic.
Never the less the team rallied and after securing the services of Paul “Badger” Smith they went with high hopes and a low carbon tyre print.
Already trailing one to nothing by default, the Rose & Crown without Kevin Woods, Dave Noble, Carl Bolding, “the Director of Darts” and Tom Wilson were forced to juggle things about and it looked as if things may well pay off when skipper Alan Turner and new signing “Badger” secured a two leg to one victory to put the Rose & Crown level after the doubles.
It was not to be however, and just like the Northern Rock there was nothing else they could borrow and the collapse came sooner rather than later with only Tony Scott offering any resistance on their way to a 5-3 defeat against a side favoured by many for relegation. At times it was painful to watch as the away team not only struggled against their opponents but also against themselves , one suspects a case of trying to hard. A collective case of not wanting to let each other down in the end resulted in a case of letting themselves down but that’s just inexperience of being in such a lofty position and something from which they must learn if they are now to go on and get anything out of the rest of the season.
Focus must now switch to a home encounter against the Crooked Billet a team they are more than capable of beating, and one can only hope that the Rose & Crown have more players than Tottenham have points for this encounter.
But a spectacular high as seen so often can be followed by a fall equally, if not more spectacular. This was the case on Thursday night as the Rose & Crown crashed to their first defeat of season.
The team found themselves with fewer players for this encounter than willing investors of an Icelandic bank. In fact such was the state of play that the villain of “Fugitive” could have counted all the players on his non prosthetic.
Never the less the team rallied and after securing the services of Paul “Badger” Smith they went with high hopes and a low carbon tyre print.
Already trailing one to nothing by default, the Rose & Crown without Kevin Woods, Dave Noble, Carl Bolding, “the Director of Darts” and Tom Wilson were forced to juggle things about and it looked as if things may well pay off when skipper Alan Turner and new signing “Badger” secured a two leg to one victory to put the Rose & Crown level after the doubles.
It was not to be however, and just like the Northern Rock there was nothing else they could borrow and the collapse came sooner rather than later with only Tony Scott offering any resistance on their way to a 5-3 defeat against a side favoured by many for relegation. At times it was painful to watch as the away team not only struggled against their opponents but also against themselves , one suspects a case of trying to hard. A collective case of not wanting to let each other down in the end resulted in a case of letting themselves down but that’s just inexperience of being in such a lofty position and something from which they must learn if they are now to go on and get anything out of the rest of the season.
Focus must now switch to a home encounter against the Crooked Billet a team they are more than capable of beating, and one can only hope that the Rose & Crown have more players than Tottenham have points for this encounter.
Friday 17 October 2008
Royston Club (Home) 16.10.08
Despite the "credit crunch" the Rose & Crown continue to field a near full strength side every week and this week was certainly no exception. With most of the big names on show the Rose & Crown were able to dispatch the 1st division newcomers the Royston Club if not with ease but with a functional performance of tungsten hurling.
Before i go any further I should explain perhaps what "credit crunch" is.
A credit crunch is often caused by a sustained period of careless and inappropriate lending which results in losses for lending institutions and investors in debt when the loans turn sour and the full extent of bad debts becomes known. These institutions may then reduce the availability of credit, and increase the cost of accessing credit by raising interest rates. In some cases lenders may be unable to lend further, even if they wish, as a result of earlier losses.
The real reason for this however is not what is outlined above, a more likely cause for the worlds current financial status is in the most part due to Carl Bolding being unable to bend down and pick his wallet up off the floor thus leading to a lack of revenue flow into the largest of the worlds financial institutions.
Anyway on with the darts.
It is often said that the hallmark of a good side is that of a team that wins when playing badly. This could certainly be said of the Rose & Crown this week and the 6-2 scoreline may have flattered them ever so slightly.
Brimming with confidence after recent performances the home side looked complacent for the first time this season and perhaps should have been made to pay for the hesitancy in finishing the newcomers of.
Carl Bolding replacing the the Director of Darts was unable to help the in form skipper Alan Turner in the first of the doubles. the pair eventually going down in a tense third leg that perhaps they should have won and indeed skipper Alan Turner would have be bemoaning the fact that they really aught to have won it.
At this stage it's worth noting that the Rose & Crown have surrendered the first game of each of this seasons matches so far and gone on to record some impressive results.
Woodsie and Scotty levelled the match but again it was a tense third leg that could easily have gone either way but in the end to the delight of the home side the chalkboard had a mark for each side.
Now, the “Dude” has often been accused of petulance during his time at the Rose & Crown and the Blue Anchor before that but perhaps fatherhood has put a different perspective on things for the young man from Cornwall. The tantrums do not seem as forthcoming as once they were and even seemed to have been replaced with a levelled headiness very seldom, if indeed ever seen before. Partnered by a quieter than usual Dave Noble, the “Dude would need this new found calmness. The pair toiled for three gruelling legs battling the tension and nerves before coming out with a fortuitous victory that on another day would surely have gone the other way.
Thanks to the “Dude” and Dave the home side took the lead for the first time leaving the way open for John Goode and Paul Mullins to put the Rose & Crown into an unassailable lead going into the doubles. The now reliable pairing of John and Paul were keen to oblige and, although this probably was not their most convincing of performances, (in truth it would have to be said it wasn’t the toughest of opponents for them either) the pair eased to a 2-0 win and thus opening up a two game lead going into the singles.
Not for the first time this season the Rose & Crown had put themselves into a commanding position going into the singles, good for them but for Kevin Woods this meant that the opposition have been forced to go on strong in the opening single and the Royston had to continue in the same vein if they were going to get anything at all out of this match.
In yet another hard fought encounter “Woodsie couldn’t close out the game, again going down 2-1 in the opening singles, a game that not so long ago the “Dude” would be champing at the bit for but with his new found coolness and calmness of mind. He eased himself into the second slot and again despite what was a nervy encounter for all those looking on, the “Dude” for the first time this season came away with maximum points winning both doubles and singles and at the same time earning the home side at least a point with “Scotty” and Mullins still to play.
Leading 4-2 “Scotty” strolled up to the oche with an air “undefeatability” about him when he strode back having secured the two points thoughts were now turning to the next weeks game a game that could see the Rose & Crown go clear at the top of the table for the first time this season.
Mullins was to send the visitors packing with their tails between their legs after a 6-2 defeat, but in truth it could have been different, on another day against another team earlier chances could have been taken and the result could well have been reversed. But with a 6-2 win under their belts they just send out a warning shot to those who may have thought it is all just a flash in the pan.
Before i go any further I should explain perhaps what "credit crunch" is.
A credit crunch is often caused by a sustained period of careless and inappropriate lending which results in losses for lending institutions and investors in debt when the loans turn sour and the full extent of bad debts becomes known. These institutions may then reduce the availability of credit, and increase the cost of accessing credit by raising interest rates. In some cases lenders may be unable to lend further, even if they wish, as a result of earlier losses.
The real reason for this however is not what is outlined above, a more likely cause for the worlds current financial status is in the most part due to Carl Bolding being unable to bend down and pick his wallet up off the floor thus leading to a lack of revenue flow into the largest of the worlds financial institutions.
Anyway on with the darts.
It is often said that the hallmark of a good side is that of a team that wins when playing badly. This could certainly be said of the Rose & Crown this week and the 6-2 scoreline may have flattered them ever so slightly.
Brimming with confidence after recent performances the home side looked complacent for the first time this season and perhaps should have been made to pay for the hesitancy in finishing the newcomers of.
Carl Bolding replacing the the Director of Darts was unable to help the in form skipper Alan Turner in the first of the doubles. the pair eventually going down in a tense third leg that perhaps they should have won and indeed skipper Alan Turner would have be bemoaning the fact that they really aught to have won it.
At this stage it's worth noting that the Rose & Crown have surrendered the first game of each of this seasons matches so far and gone on to record some impressive results.
Woodsie and Scotty levelled the match but again it was a tense third leg that could easily have gone either way but in the end to the delight of the home side the chalkboard had a mark for each side.
Now, the “Dude” has often been accused of petulance during his time at the Rose & Crown and the Blue Anchor before that but perhaps fatherhood has put a different perspective on things for the young man from Cornwall. The tantrums do not seem as forthcoming as once they were and even seemed to have been replaced with a levelled headiness very seldom, if indeed ever seen before. Partnered by a quieter than usual Dave Noble, the “Dude would need this new found calmness. The pair toiled for three gruelling legs battling the tension and nerves before coming out with a fortuitous victory that on another day would surely have gone the other way.
Thanks to the “Dude” and Dave the home side took the lead for the first time leaving the way open for John Goode and Paul Mullins to put the Rose & Crown into an unassailable lead going into the doubles. The now reliable pairing of John and Paul were keen to oblige and, although this probably was not their most convincing of performances, (in truth it would have to be said it wasn’t the toughest of opponents for them either) the pair eased to a 2-0 win and thus opening up a two game lead going into the singles.
Not for the first time this season the Rose & Crown had put themselves into a commanding position going into the singles, good for them but for Kevin Woods this meant that the opposition have been forced to go on strong in the opening single and the Royston had to continue in the same vein if they were going to get anything at all out of this match.
In yet another hard fought encounter “Woodsie couldn’t close out the game, again going down 2-1 in the opening singles, a game that not so long ago the “Dude” would be champing at the bit for but with his new found coolness and calmness of mind. He eased himself into the second slot and again despite what was a nervy encounter for all those looking on, the “Dude” for the first time this season came away with maximum points winning both doubles and singles and at the same time earning the home side at least a point with “Scotty” and Mullins still to play.
Leading 4-2 “Scotty” strolled up to the oche with an air “undefeatability” about him when he strode back having secured the two points thoughts were now turning to the next weeks game a game that could see the Rose & Crown go clear at the top of the table for the first time this season.
Mullins was to send the visitors packing with their tails between their legs after a 6-2 defeat, but in truth it could have been different, on another day against another team earlier chances could have been taken and the result could well have been reversed. But with a 6-2 win under their belts they just send out a warning shot to those who may have thought it is all just a flash in the pan.
Saturday 11 October 2008
London Road away 09.10.08
"A dart shall only score if the tip of the dart remains in (or touches) the face of the dartboard within the outer double wire and, having been "called", is retrieved from the face of the dartboard by the player throwing that dart."
The definition of a scoring dart (above) as laid out by the Darts Regulation Authority, something perhaps that Kevin Woods, aka "Woodsie" should read and digest before his next visit to the oche.
Having earlier sent Carl Bolding into a blind panic with a 180 in the pre match game of tactics costing him yet another pound, Woodsie could hardly keep the tungsten in the board as the Rose and Crown came away with a deserved point at London Road on Thursday.
Confident on the back of an impressive win last week the Rose and Crown travelled to London Road, not a happy hunting ground for them in recent years, but this is a Rose and Crown side filled with confidence and a belief that on their day they are capable of inflicting defeat on anyone, and after last week who is to ague with that.
The director of Darts proved perfect foil once again as he partnered skipper Alan Turner and despite their loss the evening was set up perfectly, the skippers tactical nous once again in it's own right worth a leg.
For the Rose and Crown the game was now underway, John Goode and Paul Mullins who have been so impressive this season continued from where they left off last week. Despite gifting the opposition the first leg Mullins and Goode cranked up the heat on their hapless opponents and eased to victory in the next two legs levelling the scores at one apiece.
Enter "Woodsie" and "Scotty" a new pairing this year and a fruitful one so far for the Rose and Crown. "Scotty's ability to pick his partner of course is legendary and having partnered Tom Wilson for the last three years he was quick to snap up the emerging talent of "Woodsie" and in light of "Woodsie's" earlier 180 (which bolstered the much beleaguered lottery fund) "Scottie" appeared to have it spot on once again. "Woodsie" had other ideas and seemed to have forgotten the basic rule of darts, that of which states that a dart can only score if it is in or touching the face of the board, "Woodsie" seemed to prefer his darts on the carpet and must surely be nursing a sore back this weekend from the constant bending down to retrieve them from the floor. Even with so many points scored on the floor "Scottie" and "Woodsie" did enough to put the visitors in to 2-1 lead.
The home side roared back, the impressive Kim Wiffen eased the home side level dispatching "Daddy Dude" and "Wavey Davey" with ease.
"Woodsie" once again had the task of taking the first single, and once again found himself up against stiff opposition and against what appeared to be a schizophrenic attitude towards the dartboard ...... "the one on the wall or the one on the floor...The one on the wall or....." it was never really clear which one he opted for and this proved to be his downfall eventually falling behind and handing the initiative to the home side who took the lead for a second time.
The once eager to play first singles, Neil Crosby was even reluctant to fill the second slot preferring to take his chance later in proceedings until his options were pointed out to him "Would you prefer to play Roache, Wiffen or Ralph" he was asked. Having been earlier dispatched by Kim Wiffen Neil picked the best option and went onto beat Gary Roache to once again level the match.
With Derek and Ralph and Kim Wiffen to play for the home side and Mullins and "Scotty" for the visitors this had all the hallmarks of another Derek Ralph , Tony Scott epic in the seventh game but when Kim Wiffen took to the oche a whisper of surprise echoed around the the now silent arena for surely Kim would be taking the last single, but not to be not on this occasion.
Kim Wiffen was soon into his stride and despite a nervy finish to the leg managed to check out with "Scotty" trailing in hi wake. "Scotty" came back well and took the second leg and for a moment looked like setting up the visitors another astonishing victory but Kim Wiffen, showed his 20 odd years of super league and county darts experience to clinch a point and set up the home side for an expected two points.
The Rose and Crown though are a different side these days and have a steely determination about them, an attitude of never say die.
Needing this one for the draw Mullins let his intention be known early in the first leg as he rattled in his first maximum of the season on his way to taking the first leg against "Big Bird" Derek Ralph. The difference in attitudes towards this latest maximum could hardly be different On the one hand Tony Scott beamed from ear to ear as the lottery fund was bolstered by a second maximum in one evening (a rule only recently relaxed to swell the lottery funds) and on the other hand, Carl Bolding, who had not only suffered at the hands of the Icelandic banking collapse but who was now also forced to cough up his second pound of the evening at a time when he would usually be at home sat by candle light counting his own stock pile of fifty pence pieces, each one carefully labelled, who payed, what date etc etc. Meanwhile the darts continued in earnest, Derek Ralph pulled a leg back to set up an intriguing final leg of the Night. Mullins went straight off with his first dart and never looked back and was on to a double before Derek was out of the 200's. Lacking his usual accuracy Mullins let Ralph back into the leg and indeed Ralph had a chance at double ten before Mullins closed out with an "understacker" into the centre of the double one to secure the point for the visitors.
The definition of a scoring dart (above) as laid out by the Darts Regulation Authority, something perhaps that Kevin Woods, aka "Woodsie" should read and digest before his next visit to the oche.
Having earlier sent Carl Bolding into a blind panic with a 180 in the pre match game of tactics costing him yet another pound, Woodsie could hardly keep the tungsten in the board as the Rose and Crown came away with a deserved point at London Road on Thursday.
Confident on the back of an impressive win last week the Rose and Crown travelled to London Road, not a happy hunting ground for them in recent years, but this is a Rose and Crown side filled with confidence and a belief that on their day they are capable of inflicting defeat on anyone, and after last week who is to ague with that.
The director of Darts proved perfect foil once again as he partnered skipper Alan Turner and despite their loss the evening was set up perfectly, the skippers tactical nous once again in it's own right worth a leg.
For the Rose and Crown the game was now underway, John Goode and Paul Mullins who have been so impressive this season continued from where they left off last week. Despite gifting the opposition the first leg Mullins and Goode cranked up the heat on their hapless opponents and eased to victory in the next two legs levelling the scores at one apiece.
Enter "Woodsie" and "Scotty" a new pairing this year and a fruitful one so far for the Rose and Crown. "Scotty's ability to pick his partner of course is legendary and having partnered Tom Wilson for the last three years he was quick to snap up the emerging talent of "Woodsie" and in light of "Woodsie's" earlier 180 (which bolstered the much beleaguered lottery fund) "Scottie" appeared to have it spot on once again. "Woodsie" had other ideas and seemed to have forgotten the basic rule of darts, that of which states that a dart can only score if it is in or touching the face of the board, "Woodsie" seemed to prefer his darts on the carpet and must surely be nursing a sore back this weekend from the constant bending down to retrieve them from the floor. Even with so many points scored on the floor "Scottie" and "Woodsie" did enough to put the visitors in to 2-1 lead.
The home side roared back, the impressive Kim Wiffen eased the home side level dispatching "Daddy Dude" and "Wavey Davey" with ease.
"Woodsie" once again had the task of taking the first single, and once again found himself up against stiff opposition and against what appeared to be a schizophrenic attitude towards the dartboard ...... "the one on the wall or the one on the floor...The one on the wall or....." it was never really clear which one he opted for and this proved to be his downfall eventually falling behind and handing the initiative to the home side who took the lead for a second time.
The once eager to play first singles, Neil Crosby was even reluctant to fill the second slot preferring to take his chance later in proceedings until his options were pointed out to him "Would you prefer to play Roache, Wiffen or Ralph" he was asked. Having been earlier dispatched by Kim Wiffen Neil picked the best option and went onto beat Gary Roache to once again level the match.
With Derek and Ralph and Kim Wiffen to play for the home side and Mullins and "Scotty" for the visitors this had all the hallmarks of another Derek Ralph , Tony Scott epic in the seventh game but when Kim Wiffen took to the oche a whisper of surprise echoed around the the now silent arena for surely Kim would be taking the last single, but not to be not on this occasion.
Kim Wiffen was soon into his stride and despite a nervy finish to the leg managed to check out with "Scotty" trailing in hi wake. "Scotty" came back well and took the second leg and for a moment looked like setting up the visitors another astonishing victory but Kim Wiffen, showed his 20 odd years of super league and county darts experience to clinch a point and set up the home side for an expected two points.
The Rose and Crown though are a different side these days and have a steely determination about them, an attitude of never say die.
Needing this one for the draw Mullins let his intention be known early in the first leg as he rattled in his first maximum of the season on his way to taking the first leg against "Big Bird" Derek Ralph. The difference in attitudes towards this latest maximum could hardly be different On the one hand Tony Scott beamed from ear to ear as the lottery fund was bolstered by a second maximum in one evening (a rule only recently relaxed to swell the lottery funds) and on the other hand, Carl Bolding, who had not only suffered at the hands of the Icelandic banking collapse but who was now also forced to cough up his second pound of the evening at a time when he would usually be at home sat by candle light counting his own stock pile of fifty pence pieces, each one carefully labelled, who payed, what date etc etc. Meanwhile the darts continued in earnest, Derek Ralph pulled a leg back to set up an intriguing final leg of the Night. Mullins went straight off with his first dart and never looked back and was on to a double before Derek was out of the 200's. Lacking his usual accuracy Mullins let Ralph back into the leg and indeed Ralph had a chance at double ten before Mullins closed out with an "understacker" into the centre of the double one to secure the point for the visitors.
A sign of the times
A week after upsetting the odds with a win against the Inn on The Green, it only gets tougher for the Rose and Crown who's next opponents were the London Road Club, it has to be said at this stage that the standard of the St. Albans Darts league has improved dramatically in recent years but as to what this can be attributed to is any ones guess. Could it be the untold "riches" of what the 1st division offers that has seen an influx of both players and teams from outside the area ply their trade here in St. Albans.
Teams such as "The Black Boy" who were filled with darting superstars such as Chris Mason and of course more recently Mark Walsh aka "Walshie". Then there is "The Inn on The Green" largely made up of those from the surrounding leagues of Watford and Luton. All have come here from more familiar surroundings to seek further fame and fortune amongst the throngs of local tungsten hurlers here in St. Albans.
Well whatever it is it certainly has brought the best out of some of the more local players and the Rose and Crown is no exception to this.
If you were to say at the beginning of this season that the Rose and Crown would have five points from a possible six after after games against the Inn on The Green, Bricketwood and London Road, all of whom are packed to the rafters of superleague and county payers, I'm sure this would have been met with much scepticism, especially in view of the fact that the Rose and Crown have achieved this without Tom Wilson, (who has been sorely missed, not just for his darting abilities but for his all round contribution to the team), but achieved it they have and everyone of them has stepped up to the plate when called and raised their game.
In recent years players such as John Goode has come from nowhere to be a regular member of the team and his partnership with Paul Mullins has certainly accounted for many more notable scalps than that of themselves. Then there is the "Director of Darts" who seems to strike "fear" in to the heart of the opposition with his off the oche antics but provides perfect foil for the likes of Tony Scott and Neil Crosby and the emerging talent of Kevin Woods that follow him onto the oche.
As the standard of those coming into the league from all around improves so does that of the local players and for this there is no substitute, as was demonstrated last Thursday as the Inn on The Green imploded, unable to accommodate the egotistical personalities that made for a disfunctional and disjointed outfit that could only fight amongst themselves, a team of little equilibrium unbalanced and out of tune. Compare that to their victors that night who, in stark contrast to them have no such egos to feed, each slipping into his place in the side, guided effortlessly by the skipper, standing as one and supporting each other.
Four maybe Five years ago virtually the same group of players just about avoided relegation, over the last couple of seasons John Goode has found himself beating the likes of Kim Wiffen and Gary Roache as the Rose and Crown mix it with their more illustrious counterparts.
Teams such as "The Black Boy" who were filled with darting superstars such as Chris Mason and of course more recently Mark Walsh aka "Walshie". Then there is "The Inn on The Green" largely made up of those from the surrounding leagues of Watford and Luton. All have come here from more familiar surroundings to seek further fame and fortune amongst the throngs of local tungsten hurlers here in St. Albans.
Well whatever it is it certainly has brought the best out of some of the more local players and the Rose and Crown is no exception to this.
If you were to say at the beginning of this season that the Rose and Crown would have five points from a possible six after after games against the Inn on The Green, Bricketwood and London Road, all of whom are packed to the rafters of superleague and county payers, I'm sure this would have been met with much scepticism, especially in view of the fact that the Rose and Crown have achieved this without Tom Wilson, (who has been sorely missed, not just for his darting abilities but for his all round contribution to the team), but achieved it they have and everyone of them has stepped up to the plate when called and raised their game.
In recent years players such as John Goode has come from nowhere to be a regular member of the team and his partnership with Paul Mullins has certainly accounted for many more notable scalps than that of themselves. Then there is the "Director of Darts" who seems to strike "fear" in to the heart of the opposition with his off the oche antics but provides perfect foil for the likes of Tony Scott and Neil Crosby and the emerging talent of Kevin Woods that follow him onto the oche.
As the standard of those coming into the league from all around improves so does that of the local players and for this there is no substitute, as was demonstrated last Thursday as the Inn on The Green imploded, unable to accommodate the egotistical personalities that made for a disfunctional and disjointed outfit that could only fight amongst themselves, a team of little equilibrium unbalanced and out of tune. Compare that to their victors that night who, in stark contrast to them have no such egos to feed, each slipping into his place in the side, guided effortlessly by the skipper, standing as one and supporting each other.
Four maybe Five years ago virtually the same group of players just about avoided relegation, over the last couple of seasons John Goode has found himself beating the likes of Kim Wiffen and Gary Roache as the Rose and Crown mix it with their more illustrious counterparts.
Saturday 4 October 2008
Inn on The Green 2nd October 2008
They don’t like it up ‘em
They certainly didn’t like it up ‘em! The division 1 champions quiet literally kicked off their season with a shock defeat at the Rose and Crown.
Trailing 3-1 after the doubles the visitors rallied to 3-3 before an inspired Tony Scott set up this victory for the home side with a 100 checkout to edge The below strength Rose and Crown in front by one with one game to go. And with Paul Mullins well on his way to sealing an impressive win, the visitors imploded, Mullins could only look on as scenes more akin to the playground of the local primary school some 400 yards down the road unfurled themselves in the public bar.
The visiting side arrived with an arrogance that bordered on cockiness as they asserted their presence in the bar . A Side comprising of the best that Watford has to offer with a smattering from neighbouring county Bedfordshire and with the odd home grown individual somewhere in their midst have certainly been what you describe politely as nomadic in their ways and these nomadic tendencies were plenty evident in this picturesque part of St. Albans on Thursday night. A chorus of loud and abusive language played itself out accompanied with lewd comments that pertained to their previous visit to these parts which was so evidently fresh in their minds.
Heightened by taking the first doubles of the night the champions were in a boisterous mood and the cockiness had now spilled into complacency and the talk was turned to last Mondays “Super League” exploits The fact that Tony Scott and Kevin Woods had levelled the match with another impressive performance went barely un-noticed and when Neil “The Daddy Dude” Crosby and Dave noble edged the home side in front for the first time, heads barely turned. But when the “evergreen” John Goode and Paul Mullins took the final doubles encounter of the evening without affording their more illustrious opponents a shot at a double, heads nearly rolled.
Consigned now to the confines of history was the arrogance and cockiness that proceeded this spectacular downfall (one would usually describe it has a “fall from grace” but the Inn on the Green are anything but graceful). Desperation had now begun to manifest itself in the heart of the visiting team and despite pulling back the next two singles to level the encounter the mood had changed .
Enter Tony P Scott. With a chance to secure what would be an historic point, Tony drew on his experience to guide the wolfram into the board with unerring accuracy, each one a dagger bursting through the over inflated egos of the visitors culminating in three superfluous flighted arrows to checkout on one hundred and thus securing the point, but deep down I think everyone in the pub knew that this was going to be the Rose and Crown’s Night and Tony had set up the inevitable victory.
Mullins took to the oche very much unaware of what was about to unfold and as he was seemingly coasting to victory in the first leg the visitors heard the bell that heralded playtime.
Now Neil “The Daddy Dude” Crosby is known for his antics and almost certainly has been guilty of casting out his infantile educational tools from his perambulator a little too hastily at times, but even he was aghast as the visitors mix of egotistical arrogance and cockiness erupted into an early pantomime production of “I’m better than you” , “Oh know your not”. Followed quickly by frantic arm flapping and jostling that nearly caused them all to disappear into the fireplace and up the chimney.
Unfazed, as the visitors hurled their handbags at each other Mullins kept his cool and strolled to an easy victory to cap a wonderful evening for the home side.
They certainly didn’t like it up ‘em! The division 1 champions quiet literally kicked off their season with a shock defeat at the Rose and Crown.
Trailing 3-1 after the doubles the visitors rallied to 3-3 before an inspired Tony Scott set up this victory for the home side with a 100 checkout to edge The below strength Rose and Crown in front by one with one game to go. And with Paul Mullins well on his way to sealing an impressive win, the visitors imploded, Mullins could only look on as scenes more akin to the playground of the local primary school some 400 yards down the road unfurled themselves in the public bar.
The visiting side arrived with an arrogance that bordered on cockiness as they asserted their presence in the bar . A Side comprising of the best that Watford has to offer with a smattering from neighbouring county Bedfordshire and with the odd home grown individual somewhere in their midst have certainly been what you describe politely as nomadic in their ways and these nomadic tendencies were plenty evident in this picturesque part of St. Albans on Thursday night. A chorus of loud and abusive language played itself out accompanied with lewd comments that pertained to their previous visit to these parts which was so evidently fresh in their minds.
Heightened by taking the first doubles of the night the champions were in a boisterous mood and the cockiness had now spilled into complacency and the talk was turned to last Mondays “Super League” exploits The fact that Tony Scott and Kevin Woods had levelled the match with another impressive performance went barely un-noticed and when Neil “The Daddy Dude” Crosby and Dave noble edged the home side in front for the first time, heads barely turned. But when the “evergreen” John Goode and Paul Mullins took the final doubles encounter of the evening without affording their more illustrious opponents a shot at a double, heads nearly rolled.
Consigned now to the confines of history was the arrogance and cockiness that proceeded this spectacular downfall (one would usually describe it has a “fall from grace” but the Inn on the Green are anything but graceful). Desperation had now begun to manifest itself in the heart of the visiting team and despite pulling back the next two singles to level the encounter the mood had changed .
Enter Tony P Scott. With a chance to secure what would be an historic point, Tony drew on his experience to guide the wolfram into the board with unerring accuracy, each one a dagger bursting through the over inflated egos of the visitors culminating in three superfluous flighted arrows to checkout on one hundred and thus securing the point, but deep down I think everyone in the pub knew that this was going to be the Rose and Crown’s Night and Tony had set up the inevitable victory.
Mullins took to the oche very much unaware of what was about to unfold and as he was seemingly coasting to victory in the first leg the visitors heard the bell that heralded playtime.
Now Neil “The Daddy Dude” Crosby is known for his antics and almost certainly has been guilty of casting out his infantile educational tools from his perambulator a little too hastily at times, but even he was aghast as the visitors mix of egotistical arrogance and cockiness erupted into an early pantomime production of “I’m better than you” , “Oh know your not”. Followed quickly by frantic arm flapping and jostling that nearly caused them all to disappear into the fireplace and up the chimney.
Unfazed, as the visitors hurled their handbags at each other Mullins kept his cool and strolled to an easy victory to cap a wonderful evening for the home side.
Saturday 27 September 2008
"The Daddy"
All at the Rose & Crown Darts team would Like to congratulate "The Daddy" Neil "The Dude" Crosby and his lovely young lady Mel on the birth of their first son.
Good luck guys..wishing you all the best
Good luck guys..wishing you all the best
Bricketwood Social Club (away) 25.09.08
The Rose and Crown kicked off the 2008-09 St. Albans Darts Winter League with an impressive 6-2 win away at Bricketwood.
"Smack my Bitch up" played at 102 decibels to an all but empty venue in which it was just as difficult to hear yourself speak as it was to breach the security system to enter the venue. In fact one could argue that the security system was in place to stop those already inside from leaving rather than preventing the throngs of thirsty people outside from getting in!!
Heaven forbid that someone who is "not from round 'ere" should stumble accidentally upon this place and dare ask for half a lager. One could almost imagine the welcome from the disgruntled group of regulars and committee members who vote unanimously to sentence the hapless passer by to "death by carrot crunching"! So it was little surprise when the home side, facing defeat after impressive performances by Kevin Woods (on his winter league debut for the visitors) Paul Muliins, Tony Scott and John Goode, were forced to bring out the carrotsand celery sticks, loaded with a sour cream and chive dip in a vain attempt to salvage something from a miserable start to the season. Unfazed the below strength, the visitors dodged the crudites and romped to victory, Kevin Woods laying down his marker to the skipper and firing a warning shot to the absent Tom Wilson and Neil Crosby, with another accomplished performance in the singles to put the game beyond the home side and setting up Paul Mullins to secure the victory.
"Smack my Bitch up" played at 102 decibels to an all but empty venue in which it was just as difficult to hear yourself speak as it was to breach the security system to enter the venue. In fact one could argue that the security system was in place to stop those already inside from leaving rather than preventing the throngs of thirsty people outside from getting in!!
Heaven forbid that someone who is "not from round 'ere" should stumble accidentally upon this place and dare ask for half a lager. One could almost imagine the welcome from the disgruntled group of regulars and committee members who vote unanimously to sentence the hapless passer by to "death by carrot crunching"! So it was little surprise when the home side, facing defeat after impressive performances by Kevin Woods (on his winter league debut for the visitors) Paul Muliins, Tony Scott and John Goode, were forced to bring out the carrotsand celery sticks, loaded with a sour cream and chive dip in a vain attempt to salvage something from a miserable start to the season. Unfazed the below strength, the visitors dodged the crudites and romped to victory, Kevin Woods laying down his marker to the skipper and firing a warning shot to the absent Tom Wilson and Neil Crosby, with another accomplished performance in the singles to put the game beyond the home side and setting up Paul Mullins to secure the victory.
Friday 22 February 2008
London Road "A" February 21st 2007
It has to be said that the previous week probably will not be remembered for the darts match it’s self but more perhaps for the pre match warm up which usually involves the St.Michael’s game of tactics. A game that over the years has seen Tony Scott excel time and time again, and even more so after the famous cry of “I’ll play with Tom” echoed around the walls of the Blue Anchor public bar. But it has to be said of late Mr. Scott has not had it all his own way and with a shake up amongst the team after the departure of Chris Wilson that saw Paul Mullins transferred across the public bar divide, it could be said the pendulum has swung. Trailing by three games and £1.50 out of pocket the arrival of doubles partner Tom Wilson prompted the cry of “double or quits” Ming was having none of it and before you could say “turn the music down” “Scotty” was in for three quid!!
Tonight’s match saw the Rose and Crown visit the London Road Club, who in recent weeks had dumped them out of the challenge cup after trailing four- one. Tony Scott described it as the worst feeling he had experienced in darts in forty years. Neil Crosby decided that throwing darts he couldn’t beat so he’d use his mobile phone instead!!
After two epic encounters already this season this looked like being another mouth watering occasion. Having undergone a dramatic transformation in recent years the London Road Club was no longer a dark and dingy shell with nicotine stained glasses and carpets that you wiped your feet after you had left. This was now a bright vibrant looking establishment that had seemed to even reflect upon the dart players themselves. Gone were the days of Liam Kennedy and to with them the hostilities that surrounded them.
This now was an evenly matched eagerly awaited tie of two teams of players with the up most respect for one another. This is how darts should be played, competitively and fairly.
For The Rose & Crown skipper Alan Turner deserves great credit for the way the doubles partnerships have worked out this season. The loss of Chris Wilson was a big blow and his fruitful partnership with “The Dude” would be difficult to replace. But the re-emergence of Paul Mullins and the resurrection of his partnership with John Goode which took them to the quarter finals of the St. Albans doubles in two consecutive years has helped ease the blow of Chris’s loss and it has been on very few occasions that they have not gone into the singles on an even keel. Last night was no exception and although Paul and John could not continue there amazing season, succumbing on this occasion to an inform Kim Wiffen, the Rose & Crown still went in level after the pairs. Neil Crosby returning after two weeks in exile and Carl Bolding scraping home in a game that would not be described as a classic and Tom and Tony once again chalking up another impressive victory.
So it was down to the singles. Having been four- one up against the home side in the cup the Rose & Crown went on to crash out of the competition five – four losing the last four singles and when “The Dude” succumbed in the first it was looking ominous for the visitors once more. Tony Scott was looking in fine form even after losing the first leg he looked in good touch and hitting a maximum in the second looked to have set him up to level the game but some quite brilliant darts from his opponent tore it away from him in spectacular style, replying with his own maximum and then checking out 150 left “Scotty shell shocked and the team trailing four – two.
Tom Wilson produced a trade mark performance to put the visitors back in the frame with just one to play leaving it up to Paul Mullins to try and salvage a point.
In what was a classic encounter thus far the final match up lived up every bit to what had preceded it but alas it was a bridge to far for both Paul and the Rose & Crown as Kim Wiffen kept a cool a cool head to seal victory for the home side
Tonight’s match saw the Rose and Crown visit the London Road Club, who in recent weeks had dumped them out of the challenge cup after trailing four- one. Tony Scott described it as the worst feeling he had experienced in darts in forty years. Neil Crosby decided that throwing darts he couldn’t beat so he’d use his mobile phone instead!!
After two epic encounters already this season this looked like being another mouth watering occasion. Having undergone a dramatic transformation in recent years the London Road Club was no longer a dark and dingy shell with nicotine stained glasses and carpets that you wiped your feet after you had left. This was now a bright vibrant looking establishment that had seemed to even reflect upon the dart players themselves. Gone were the days of Liam Kennedy and to with them the hostilities that surrounded them.
This now was an evenly matched eagerly awaited tie of two teams of players with the up most respect for one another. This is how darts should be played, competitively and fairly.
For The Rose & Crown skipper Alan Turner deserves great credit for the way the doubles partnerships have worked out this season. The loss of Chris Wilson was a big blow and his fruitful partnership with “The Dude” would be difficult to replace. But the re-emergence of Paul Mullins and the resurrection of his partnership with John Goode which took them to the quarter finals of the St. Albans doubles in two consecutive years has helped ease the blow of Chris’s loss and it has been on very few occasions that they have not gone into the singles on an even keel. Last night was no exception and although Paul and John could not continue there amazing season, succumbing on this occasion to an inform Kim Wiffen, the Rose & Crown still went in level after the pairs. Neil Crosby returning after two weeks in exile and Carl Bolding scraping home in a game that would not be described as a classic and Tom and Tony once again chalking up another impressive victory.
So it was down to the singles. Having been four- one up against the home side in the cup the Rose & Crown went on to crash out of the competition five – four losing the last four singles and when “The Dude” succumbed in the first it was looking ominous for the visitors once more. Tony Scott was looking in fine form even after losing the first leg he looked in good touch and hitting a maximum in the second looked to have set him up to level the game but some quite brilliant darts from his opponent tore it away from him in spectacular style, replying with his own maximum and then checking out 150 left “Scotty shell shocked and the team trailing four – two.
Tom Wilson produced a trade mark performance to put the visitors back in the frame with just one to play leaving it up to Paul Mullins to try and salvage a point.
In what was a classic encounter thus far the final match up lived up every bit to what had preceded it but alas it was a bridge to far for both Paul and the Rose & Crown as Kim Wiffen kept a cool a cool head to seal victory for the home side
Sandridge Rovers February 14th 2007
So it was back to the relative comfort and homely surroundings of the Rose & Crown and without a win in the last two matches pressure was beginning to mount and what many regarded as a home banker had now turned into a must win game for the home side.
Under strength in recent weeks due to the unexplained absence of Neil “The Dude” Crosby, who had not been seen since yet another defeat at the hands of Kim Wiffen, The Rose & Crown had it all to do. But once again Tom Wilson and Tony Scott and Paul Mullins and John Goode provided the springboard from which the home side could launch it’s recovery and after going in three – one ahead after the doubles the game was there for the taking.
It was left up to Tony Scott to seal a well earned victory in a match that was not without controversy, gamesmanship and bad sporting conduct.
Under strength in recent weeks due to the unexplained absence of Neil “The Dude” Crosby, who had not been seen since yet another defeat at the hands of Kim Wiffen, The Rose & Crown had it all to do. But once again Tom Wilson and Tony Scott and Paul Mullins and John Goode provided the springboard from which the home side could launch it’s recovery and after going in three – one ahead after the doubles the game was there for the taking.
It was left up to Tony Scott to seal a well earned victory in a match that was not without controversy, gamesmanship and bad sporting conduct.
Bricketwood Club 7th February 2007
Plagued in recent weeks by the inadequacies of the telecommunications giants we have been unable to bring you all up to date with the very latest news from the Rose & Crown.
However being back online now we can report that the last couple of weeks have been full of high drama and tension and not without incident.
Going back to a fortnight ago The Rose and Crown visited the Bricketwood social club, a salubrious establishment that the visitors have, certainly in recent times struggled to come away from with a result. The home side started much the brighter and the hangover from last weeks exit from the cup looked like it was still weighing heavy on the visitors minds as they surrendered the first two pairings and once again looked in danger of travelling home from the outer limits with nothing to show for their efforts except perhaps for a few bails of straw and couple of baskets of root vegetables!!
But if nothing else the Rose & Crown have proved to be resilient over the years and with Tony Scott and Tom Wilson once again in inspiring form and John Goode and Paul Mullins continuing to confound the critics the tie was once again level.
The sandwiches arrived and with them a local government health inspector and after a short interlude and the discovery of some 1940’s ration books under the trays the game was allowed to continue!!
The in form duo of Paul Mullins and Tom Wilson swept to victory in their respective singles encounters and thus ensuring the visitors a point from a notoriously tough place to visit. Neither Tony Scott or Dave Noble could wrap up the victory but the visitors were more than happy with a well earned point.
However being back online now we can report that the last couple of weeks have been full of high drama and tension and not without incident.
Going back to a fortnight ago The Rose and Crown visited the Bricketwood social club, a salubrious establishment that the visitors have, certainly in recent times struggled to come away from with a result. The home side started much the brighter and the hangover from last weeks exit from the cup looked like it was still weighing heavy on the visitors minds as they surrendered the first two pairings and once again looked in danger of travelling home from the outer limits with nothing to show for their efforts except perhaps for a few bails of straw and couple of baskets of root vegetables!!
But if nothing else the Rose & Crown have proved to be resilient over the years and with Tony Scott and Tom Wilson once again in inspiring form and John Goode and Paul Mullins continuing to confound the critics the tie was once again level.
The sandwiches arrived and with them a local government health inspector and after a short interlude and the discovery of some 1940’s ration books under the trays the game was allowed to continue!!
The in form duo of Paul Mullins and Tom Wilson swept to victory in their respective singles encounters and thus ensuring the visitors a point from a notoriously tough place to visit. Neither Tony Scott or Dave Noble could wrap up the victory but the visitors were more than happy with a well earned point.
Saturday 2 February 2008
Fly Tying by Carl Bolding
Carl Bolding, ex communications worker and not just a dart player is also a fly tyer in his spare time, and not just any fly tyer. Carl is a member of the fly tyers guild which is a legitimate guild for people "who either tied, or were interested in fly tying and tying their own flys". Make of that what you will.
Fly tying apparently is a real art and you can, as Carl does, sign up to become members of various fly tyers guilds up and down the country, where you can meet fortnightly (as in Carl's case) and tie each others flys!! (above right, members hone their skills)
Far from meeting and tying each others flys these guilds have guest speakers, who can forget the legendary Stoyan Filipov!! They also have competent instructors who will help you to untagle any difficult flys!
Social days are the high point of any fly tyer and a recent trip to internationally reknowned Ravensthorpe went down a storm with local members of Carl's guild!! With the BBQ being the highlight of the day. (above left)
But it's not just hardened fly tyers that can turn up. A funny handshake and a reel of cotton will admit novices too and they can take part in reagular classes that will help them tie flys in years to come.
London Road A January 31st Challenge Cup
After a week of controvasy and anonymous tip off's to the local darting authority who saw fit dispatch Bill Conners to supervise proceedings during last weeks home match against the Inn On The Green it was back to relative normality for the Rose & Crown. Many positives however, have surfaced from recent events and perhaps the local darting authority may even begin to embrace modern communication aids to help bring the game into the modern era and keep in touch with the many reigistered players that support the organisation year after year!
So unsupervised for the first time in two weeks the Rose & Crown played host to London Road 'a' in the challenge cup, who found themselves visiting what many in the darting world believe to be one of the most "intimidating" venues in the St. Albans district!!
London Road seemed to endorse this recent train of thought and were far from their usual vocal selves, almost to the point of subdued, clearly missing the vocal talents of "Taff" the visitors struggled early on to make an impact.
Despite losing the first match the home side bounced back strongly when Neil Crosby and Carl Bolding levelled the match with arguably some of their best darts of the season. Next up was probably the Rose & Crown's most improved pairing of the season John Goode and Paul Mullins who continue to take on all comers and once again proved they were more than a match for the best in the business Paul Mullins throwing yet another maximum as they strolled to victory to steel a march over the visitors sending the home side into a well deserved 2-1 lead. "Scotty" who didn't so much look like he'd walked to the south pole but was now a permanent resident with a few thousand emperor penguins as neighbours took to the oche with Tom wilson and almost in the blink of an eye the Rose & Crown were 3-1 up at the interval.
Once again Ruth out done herself and both side were soon gorging themselves on rounds of freshly made sandwiches and bowls of piping hot chips and even "Scotty" slipped a few layers off and began to warm himself inforn of the roaring fire.
After the interval there was no let up for the visitors as the Rose & Crown sent on Tom Wilson in the first single and with yet another almost faultless display of tungsten throwing the home side found themselves four, one up and heading into dreamland. The vsitors however, had other ideas and this match was far from over. Paul Mullins failed to capitalise after taking the first leg and lost the next two to give some hope for London Road. Tony Scott, taking on his 'nemesis' Derek Ralph appeared to have surrendered the game after just one leg and never recovered as Derek pegged the side back once again.
Neil 'The Dude' Crosby who missed his eagerley awaited match up with Gary Roche due to a combination of bladder trouble and the new winter sport of mobile phone throwing faced up to his own nemesis, Kim Wiffen and was once again second best as the visitors drew level.
Dave Noble was the Rose & Crown's last hope to gain a place in the next round but his recent lack of match practice showed, butdespite putting up a brave fight Dave could not clinch the final game and the home side managed to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.
So unsupervised for the first time in two weeks the Rose & Crown played host to London Road 'a' in the challenge cup, who found themselves visiting what many in the darting world believe to be one of the most "intimidating" venues in the St. Albans district!!
London Road seemed to endorse this recent train of thought and were far from their usual vocal selves, almost to the point of subdued, clearly missing the vocal talents of "Taff" the visitors struggled early on to make an impact.
Despite losing the first match the home side bounced back strongly when Neil Crosby and Carl Bolding levelled the match with arguably some of their best darts of the season. Next up was probably the Rose & Crown's most improved pairing of the season John Goode and Paul Mullins who continue to take on all comers and once again proved they were more than a match for the best in the business Paul Mullins throwing yet another maximum as they strolled to victory to steel a march over the visitors sending the home side into a well deserved 2-1 lead. "Scotty" who didn't so much look like he'd walked to the south pole but was now a permanent resident with a few thousand emperor penguins as neighbours took to the oche with Tom wilson and almost in the blink of an eye the Rose & Crown were 3-1 up at the interval.
Once again Ruth out done herself and both side were soon gorging themselves on rounds of freshly made sandwiches and bowls of piping hot chips and even "Scotty" slipped a few layers off and began to warm himself inforn of the roaring fire.
After the interval there was no let up for the visitors as the Rose & Crown sent on Tom Wilson in the first single and with yet another almost faultless display of tungsten throwing the home side found themselves four, one up and heading into dreamland. The vsitors however, had other ideas and this match was far from over. Paul Mullins failed to capitalise after taking the first leg and lost the next two to give some hope for London Road. Tony Scott, taking on his 'nemesis' Derek Ralph appeared to have surrendered the game after just one leg and never recovered as Derek pegged the side back once again.
Neil 'The Dude' Crosby who missed his eagerley awaited match up with Gary Roche due to a combination of bladder trouble and the new winter sport of mobile phone throwing faced up to his own nemesis, Kim Wiffen and was once again second best as the visitors drew level.
Dave Noble was the Rose & Crown's last hope to gain a place in the next round but his recent lack of match practice showed, butdespite putting up a brave fight Dave could not clinch the final game and the home side managed to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.
Saturday 26 January 2008
Inn On The Green January 24th
In what has proved to be one of the most controversial weeks in recent times for St. Albans Darts, The Rose & Crown found themselves playing host to the Inn On The Green in what many were predicting would be a feisty encounter.
Responding to comments made about them The Inn On The Green had plenty of scores to settle, and settle them they did. But rather than rising to these comments the Inn On The Green did their talking on the oche as they run away with this top of the table encounter humbling the home side by a resounding 7-1 in what at times seemed to be exhibition darts.
The depleted Rose & Crown had no answer to the awesome power of the Inn On The Green and only Tony Scott could offer any resistance in what proved to be a fruitless night for the home side.
If this was an attempt at mind games from the home side then the Inn On The Green took it all in their stride and showed their class.
Responding to comments made about them The Inn On The Green had plenty of scores to settle, and settle them they did. But rather than rising to these comments the Inn On The Green did their talking on the oche as they run away with this top of the table encounter humbling the home side by a resounding 7-1 in what at times seemed to be exhibition darts.
The depleted Rose & Crown had no answer to the awesome power of the Inn On The Green and only Tony Scott could offer any resistance in what proved to be a fruitless night for the home side.
If this was an attempt at mind games from the home side then the Inn On The Green took it all in their stride and showed their class.
Monday 21 January 2008
Redbourne Cricket Club January 17th 2007
The lights were off in the car park, a last ditch attempt possibly to stop any visitors in thier tracks, to disable them over the carp park boundary perhaps, or maybe the committe have yet to vote on who puts the light bulbs in. The answers to these questions we may never know.
A small clubhouse nestled in the centre of Redbourne Common, home to Redbourne Cricket Club and the sound of leather on willow echoing round the walls in the summer months. The winter however is very different, it stands alone and almost empty shrouded in darkness that seems to surround it all day long barley noticeable almost conspicuous by its almost apparent absence. This was the venue for the latest instalment of Rose & Crown Darts, a venue that has proved to be a stumbling block in the past.
It proved tonight that the only stumbling block would be the unlit car park as the Rose & Crown ran away with victory 6-2.
It was hardly a vintage performance by the visitors as they played well within themselves but with enough in hand to ease to a comfortable victory and extend a recent run of impressive performances going into next weeks encounter against the highly rated Inn On The Green.
After suffering defeat in the first match of the evening it was up to Neil "The Dude" Crosby and Carl Bolding to redress the balance and pave the way for the ever reliable pairing of stalwart Tony Scott and Tom Wilson to put put the visitors ahead. They duly obliged and were quickly followed by the impressive John Goode and Paul Mullins who swept the visitors into a 3-1 lead going into the singles.
Plagued by the cold whistling in through the doors the visitors seemed in a hurry to end this encounter as quickly as possible and when Tom Wilson stepped up to take on the first single in place of Neil Crosby it certainly looked like being an early night.
Tom strolled to the oche and almost nonchalantly and with such unerring accuracy powered the visitors into an unassailable 4-1 lead.
Neil Crosby sealed victory shortly afterwards before the Rose & Crown eventually run out 6-2 victors and putting behind them previous slip ups in the parishes.
A small clubhouse nestled in the centre of Redbourne Common, home to Redbourne Cricket Club and the sound of leather on willow echoing round the walls in the summer months. The winter however is very different, it stands alone and almost empty shrouded in darkness that seems to surround it all day long barley noticeable almost conspicuous by its almost apparent absence. This was the venue for the latest instalment of Rose & Crown Darts, a venue that has proved to be a stumbling block in the past.
It proved tonight that the only stumbling block would be the unlit car park as the Rose & Crown ran away with victory 6-2.
It was hardly a vintage performance by the visitors as they played well within themselves but with enough in hand to ease to a comfortable victory and extend a recent run of impressive performances going into next weeks encounter against the highly rated Inn On The Green.
After suffering defeat in the first match of the evening it was up to Neil "The Dude" Crosby and Carl Bolding to redress the balance and pave the way for the ever reliable pairing of stalwart Tony Scott and Tom Wilson to put put the visitors ahead. They duly obliged and were quickly followed by the impressive John Goode and Paul Mullins who swept the visitors into a 3-1 lead going into the singles.
Plagued by the cold whistling in through the doors the visitors seemed in a hurry to end this encounter as quickly as possible and when Tom Wilson stepped up to take on the first single in place of Neil Crosby it certainly looked like being an early night.
Tom strolled to the oche and almost nonchalantly and with such unerring accuracy powered the visitors into an unassailable 4-1 lead.
Neil Crosby sealed victory shortly afterwards before the Rose & Crown eventually run out 6-2 victors and putting behind them previous slip ups in the parishes.
The Feeding of Dave and John
10] When the apostles returned, they reported to Jesus what they had done. Then he took them with him and they withdrew by themselves to a town called Bethsaida, [11] but the crowds learned about it and followed him. He welcomed them and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who needed healing.
[12] Late in the afternoon the Twelve came to him and said, "Send the crowd away so they can go to the surrounding villages and countryside and find food and lodging, because we are in a remote place here."
[13] He replied, "You give them something to eat."
They answered, "We have only five loaves of bread and two fish--unless we go and buy food for all this crowd." [14] (About five thousand men were there.)
But he said to his disciples, "Have them sit down in groups of about fifty each." [15] The disciples did so, and everybody sat down. [16] Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke them. Then he gave them to the disciples to set before the people. [17] They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over.
And lo, David went out and in the valley of St.Michael's and he did gather himself two fishes, his Disciple John did applaud him and the two of them ate the two fishes heartily. In fact so good were the fishes that disciple John did say unto David that he had never tasted salmon like it before. David did say unto John that it was in fact Trout, a row broke out as the two glutenous "apostles" full to the gunnel's on freshly caught fish argued as to the fishes identity, Meanwhile the poor, the, unemployed and the hungry could only look on as a fully qualified chef with every means of cookery known to man at his disposal could only feed himself and John whilst over two thousand years ago a humble carpenter with no knowledge of the catering trade whatsoever managed to feed an entire five thousand seater open air restaurant with not so much as a frying pan or a court bouillon sauce.
[12] Late in the afternoon the Twelve came to him and said, "Send the crowd away so they can go to the surrounding villages and countryside and find food and lodging, because we are in a remote place here."
[13] He replied, "You give them something to eat."
They answered, "We have only five loaves of bread and two fish--unless we go and buy food for all this crowd." [14] (About five thousand men were there.)
But he said to his disciples, "Have them sit down in groups of about fifty each." [15] The disciples did so, and everybody sat down. [16] Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke them. Then he gave them to the disciples to set before the people. [17] They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over.
And lo, David went out and in the valley of St.Michael's and he did gather himself two fishes, his Disciple John did applaud him and the two of them ate the two fishes heartily. In fact so good were the fishes that disciple John did say unto David that he had never tasted salmon like it before. David did say unto John that it was in fact Trout, a row broke out as the two glutenous "apostles" full to the gunnel's on freshly caught fish argued as to the fishes identity, Meanwhile the poor, the, unemployed and the hungry could only look on as a fully qualified chef with every means of cookery known to man at his disposal could only feed himself and John whilst over two thousand years ago a humble carpenter with no knowledge of the catering trade whatsoever managed to feed an entire five thousand seater open air restaurant with not so much as a frying pan or a court bouillon sauce.
Friday 11 January 2008
Evergreens January 10th 2008
As the smoking ban continues to descend the game of tactics into absolute chaos, albeit ably assisted by the "Director of Darts" with his penchant for disruption ,the Rose & Crown continue to go from strength to strength when it really matters.
Last nights visitors to St. Mitchael's darting Mecca were the Evergreens, who on their day were capable of beating the best in league, a fact proven by a recent victory over the Inn On The Green. The Rose & Crown how ever are anything but The Inn On The Green and are most certainly not a bunch of silver pot chasing, egotistical spear throwing megalomaniacs, au contraire quite the reverse in fact. The Rose & Crown embody the very spirit of darts, a team built over the years in the best traditions of the game (the director of darts a part) with a strong cohesion and togetherness that sets them apart from the "gypsies" that have wandered across the boundary to the north of the district. The Evergreens found this out to their cost on Thursday night as the home side turned in a performance worthy of a higher placing in the league table.
After a shaky start to the evening with what was perhaps the longest doubles game in Rose & Crown memory Skipper Alan Turner and Dave Noble finally came out on top as an out of sorts Tim Banks and below par Geoff Greene just couldn't find any rhythm and left the door wide open for the Rose & Crown duo. This early advantage was soon to be overturned, Carl Bolding and Neil Crosby surrendering to Jimmy Meyrick and Paul Stevens followed by the first defeat of the season of John Goode and Paul Mullins who despite dominating the match and throwing a maximum with his first three darts were unable to put away the wily campaigners of Mick Norris and John Thiel and thus find themselves trailing 2-1. Enter Tony Scott and Tom Wilson who set the standard for the rest of the evening with a comprehensive 2-0 win to put the home side back level.
The sandwiches brought some light relief to proceedings and it has to be said that Ruth does the team proud. Wonderful freshly made sandwiches with a variety of exciting fillings served on a platter and garnished exquisitely always go down well after a few pints of the cask conditioned ale on offer to which the delicious Gemma is only to happy serve up.
So with refreshments taken and the last remnants of fresh bread woofed down by Tia it was back onto the Oche. Neil Crosby usually takes first single, not by the skippers choice it has to be said, while others are gorging themselves on the fresh fare Neil hones in to the vacant oche and refuses to move until he plays. This was a season defining game for the enigmatic Mr Crosby as well as a defining game in the evenings events. At two each the pressure was on both players to get a result and it was Evergreens Paul Stevens who looked the more likely victor as he out played "The Dude" for all three legs. and looked sure to wrap things up before Neil hit him with a bolt from the blue. Limping like a lame duck it was all Neil could do to stay in touch with his opponent at times, but staring down the Barrel Neil pulled of an incredible 112 finish that stunned not only his opponent but all inside the public bar at the time and so put the Rose & Crown back in pole position and with the likes of Tom Wilson and Tony Scott to follow not to mention the in form Paul Mulins there only looked like one team in it and so it proved. Tom Wilson came out on top despite a momentary lapse of concentration in the second leg against John Thiel before Tony Scott turned in yet another masterclass to seal the victory. Paul Mullins then put the icing on the cake as the home side reeled off all four single matches to complete a wonderful 6-2 victory
Last nights visitors to St. Mitchael's darting Mecca were the Evergreens, who on their day were capable of beating the best in league, a fact proven by a recent victory over the Inn On The Green. The Rose & Crown how ever are anything but The Inn On The Green and are most certainly not a bunch of silver pot chasing, egotistical spear throwing megalomaniacs, au contraire quite the reverse in fact. The Rose & Crown embody the very spirit of darts, a team built over the years in the best traditions of the game (the director of darts a part) with a strong cohesion and togetherness that sets them apart from the "gypsies" that have wandered across the boundary to the north of the district. The Evergreens found this out to their cost on Thursday night as the home side turned in a performance worthy of a higher placing in the league table.
After a shaky start to the evening with what was perhaps the longest doubles game in Rose & Crown memory Skipper Alan Turner and Dave Noble finally came out on top as an out of sorts Tim Banks and below par Geoff Greene just couldn't find any rhythm and left the door wide open for the Rose & Crown duo. This early advantage was soon to be overturned, Carl Bolding and Neil Crosby surrendering to Jimmy Meyrick and Paul Stevens followed by the first defeat of the season of John Goode and Paul Mullins who despite dominating the match and throwing a maximum with his first three darts were unable to put away the wily campaigners of Mick Norris and John Thiel and thus find themselves trailing 2-1. Enter Tony Scott and Tom Wilson who set the standard for the rest of the evening with a comprehensive 2-0 win to put the home side back level.
The sandwiches brought some light relief to proceedings and it has to be said that Ruth does the team proud. Wonderful freshly made sandwiches with a variety of exciting fillings served on a platter and garnished exquisitely always go down well after a few pints of the cask conditioned ale on offer to which the delicious Gemma is only to happy serve up.
So with refreshments taken and the last remnants of fresh bread woofed down by Tia it was back onto the Oche. Neil Crosby usually takes first single, not by the skippers choice it has to be said, while others are gorging themselves on the fresh fare Neil hones in to the vacant oche and refuses to move until he plays. This was a season defining game for the enigmatic Mr Crosby as well as a defining game in the evenings events. At two each the pressure was on both players to get a result and it was Evergreens Paul Stevens who looked the more likely victor as he out played "The Dude" for all three legs. and looked sure to wrap things up before Neil hit him with a bolt from the blue. Limping like a lame duck it was all Neil could do to stay in touch with his opponent at times, but staring down the Barrel Neil pulled of an incredible 112 finish that stunned not only his opponent but all inside the public bar at the time and so put the Rose & Crown back in pole position and with the likes of Tom Wilson and Tony Scott to follow not to mention the in form Paul Mulins there only looked like one team in it and so it proved. Tom Wilson came out on top despite a momentary lapse of concentration in the second leg against John Thiel before Tony Scott turned in yet another masterclass to seal the victory. Paul Mullins then put the icing on the cake as the home side reeled off all four single matches to complete a wonderful 6-2 victory
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)