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.