January 31st away Townswnd Bowls

After only their second league victory of the season hopes were high that the Rose & Crown could now drive on and secure their place in the top flight for next season. Perhaps they could take heart that they finally ended a run of thirteen straight pairs defeats and a losing sequence that started against tonight’s opponents back in late September. Back then the Rose went down 5-4 in a nip n tuck encounter that went to the wire (literally) just losing out in the final game of a long evening.

Hopefully the worst of the winter weather was behind us now and the Kitchen at tonight’s opponents, Townsend Bowls Club had taken heed that Tesco’s burgers contained quantities of horsemeat not to mention the detritus that makes up the rest of your burger and chips. Not that I’m suggesting that Townsend Bowls club would harbour such gourmet cuisine in the first place, in fact if memory serves me correctly there is usually a vast array of sandwiches with all manner of different fillings consisting of egg, egg and yes you guessed it egg. It’s fair to say that it has never been the most salubrious of establishments although it seems to have tried to reinvent itself recently by moving the dartboard and with it the oche but let’s face it the oche generally moves of its volition anyway. I suspect though the reason for the move was not that to remove it from underneath the giant television that belts out the theme tune to all manner of programmes that no one is remotely interested in but in fact I suspect the truth of the matter behind the move was its close proximity to the members lounge.

By half past nine just as the waft of the egg sandwiches was getting under the noses of all present this match, in truth was over, The Rose & Crown had once again surrendered all 3 pairs matches and were tasked with an all too familiar uphill struggle, one that they found yet again insurmountable. The visitors may have only lost by the odd leg yet again, going down 5-4 but the hosts didn’t have to play their hand and cantered to victory, Big Ron really the only shining light for the visitors hinted at a comeback in the first singles of the night but the revival was short lived and the hosts reeled of the next couple to secure the match and with it perhaps the fate of the St. Michaels outfit.

January 17th 2013 Home V White Lion

With the country gripped by fear of what could possibly by complete whiteout, the Rose & Crown were taking on the White Lion and hoping to avoid another whitewash as befell them the previous week when they went down at home 9-0 to the Inn on The Green. Souls were searched and memories checked in a bid to try and recall the last time they had received such a hammering. The stalwarts of the team all just shook their heads unable to think of such an occasion but most likely their grey matter was unable to recall events more than 6 months prior, in fact when quizzed most could not remember what they had for tea that evening never mind a result against the flights in 1996. And so it came to pass that never before had The Rose & Crown lost by such a margin.
The run of straight pairs defeats now extended to a record thirteen however and was most certainly undisputable, as is a run of 7 league defeats stretching back to September 27th.
So with the unwanted stats stacking up the very real possibility of relegation to the second tier of St. Albans darts the Rose were going to have to try and turn their season around somehow. This they did and they did it in style, The Brothers Grimm (Kevin and Ian) finally chalking up a pairs victory not only ending a miserable run but unwittingly in the process giving the home side a 1 leg lead. This was quickly followed up and before the Rose knew what was happening the unthinkable had happened and they had raced away into a three leg lead. Neil Crosby was an early casualty in the singles and must now surely be contemplating a life off of the oche and closer to the chalkboard. But this was just a minor setback and when Ian went on to secure the victory the relief could be seen coursing through Skipper Alan Turner’s veins after masterminding an if not memorable victory but certainly one of the most important.
And so the Rose kick off the second half of the season with a victory, only their second victory of the season but this is the time now to build on that success and try to gain the momentum needed to push away from the foot of the table. It’s not all been doom and gloom as some would have you believe for the most part the Rose & Crown have given a good account of themselves and but for a fair wind and a bit of good fortune could have had more points on the board but as the great Syd Wardell said “They’re just like long John Silver, unlucky and short of a leg.

January 3rd 2013 away v Crooked Billet

So with Christmas and the New Year celebrations well and truly behind them, seemingly washed away by the heavy rains that swept in across the Atlantic for what seemed like an eternity the Rose & Crown resumed their faltering season with the distraction of a 1st round cup tie away to the Crooked Billet.
For those of you that are not aware, the Crooked Billet lies in the village of Colney Heath, one of St. Albans furthest outposts that until recent times was only accessible by horse and cart and in extreme weather only by the river Colne (if you had a suitable inflatable device) so you never know what awaits you. The half time spread could sometimes consist of carrot and Celery Sticks, the odd pickled onion and even an ear or two of corn. None the less this was a chance for the Rose & Crown to put the troubles of 2012 behind them and lay down a marker for the rest of the season.
With Skipper Alan Turner struck down by illness along with the Director of Darts and the whereabouts of Neil "the dude" Crosby unknown it seemed the troubles of last year were not banished as one hoped. But with Dave Noble making his own transport arrangements as did Big Ron, club secretary John Goode was hopeful that a full team of six would be available and with that along with the reappearance of the Dude it was decided that we would set sail for Colney Heath.
Stand in skipper Paul Mullins pulled no punches selecting the pairs and indeed the first single. Sending Brothers Grimm off first followed by John and Neil then Paul and Big Ron.
The Rose & Crown were aiming (I use the term loosely) to secure their first pairs victory since November 22nd, an unprecedented run of some seven consecutive straight pairs defeats. First up The Brothers Grimm but Wally has been in great form of late and saw off the challenge with ease to give the home side the advantage. Next up Neil and John who faired no better, 2-0 the home side. Mulls and Big Ron next up hoping to turn the tide and perhaps would of done so had Mulls nailed the double 8 in the second leg, 3-0 the home side. So, ten straight pairs defeats for the Rose & Crown, there are no records kept but I suspect that this is one albeit an unwanted one and with the Blackberry Jacks up next (formerly Inn on The Green) its difficult to see where the next one is in fact coming from.
So if the Visitors were going to get anything out of this match they would have to do it the hard way. So when Dave Noble defeated Ashley Ralph in a thrilling first singles I think for the first time in a few weeks there was a slight flicker of belief that they could earn something out of this game even of this was self respect and it wasn't doused even when the dude came back empty handed for even the Dude showed some fight and spirit going down 2-1 to Derek Ralph and perhaps could consider himself unlucky not to come away with the spoils. Mulls chalked another one on the board for the visitors with a straight forward 2-0 victory which was followed by Ian Oakman who ran out the victor in yet another thriller to reduce the home sides advantage to just one leg. The belief now was coursing thoughh the veins of the visitors who were producing by far the most noise of the two teams.
So with two to play it was a choice of Kev or an out of sorts Big Ron. Stand in Skipper Mulls opted for Kev opting to save Big Ron to face Wally. But despite a brave performance from Kev it was not to be and the Rose & Crowns unlikely comeback was over.
Far from being down hearted the visitors should go away heads held high, for it would have been easy to throw in the towel at 3-0 but spurred on by Dave Noble who got them off the mark the visitors seemed to grow in confidence and began to fight for every leg that was on offer. If the same fight can be carried forward surely they will avoid the fate in the league that currently awaits them.

December 20th away vs Bricketwood

In the last game of the year in what has been both a disjointed season and a bitterly disappointing season for the Rose & Crown it was the last chance to redeem themselves of some very lack lustre performances to date. Tonight the St. Michaels outfit were away to Bricketwood Social Club and would surely be looking to put behind them last week’s most miserable performance against the Arrows of Sandridge. Hopes were high as Ian partnering Dave Noble in the first doubles pair weighed in with a maximum but it was not enough as the pair went down in 2 straight legs. Hopes were still high as Kevin and Big Ron went up next in what was an evenly matched tie and with the it being leg and leg hopes soared as Kev hit the Rose's second maximum of the night which left Ron needed 67, he gave himself every chance but couldn't nail the double 8 and when Kev missed double 4 the writing was well and truly on the wall for The Rose as yet again they were facing an uphill struggle which was compounded when the evergreen John Goode and his partner Mulls lost 2 straight legs to leave the visitors trailing 3-0. So 3-0 down the Rose needed to show some fight and for a while it looked maybe like they could but when Ian lost the third leg of the first singles to leave the Rose trailing 4-0 all hope was surely eradicated. Mulls provided a bit of respite as he pulled one back in straight legs but the revival was short lived as Big Ron couldn’t clinch the 3rd leg meaning the Rose & Crown had no way back now. 5-1 quickly became 6, then 7 before finally the Rose & Crown went down to their heaviest defeat of the season so far by 8-1.

December 6th Home V Sandridge

Temperatures plumbed the depths this week with the mercury dropping to as low as -5c but this was nothing compared to the depths that the Rose & Crown dart team plumbed tonight.
Facing Sandridge Football club this was the day the Rose and Crown died. So without further ado.

In Affectionate Remembrance
of
The Rose and Crown Darts,
which died at St. Michaels
on
6th DECEMBER 2012
Deeply lamented by a large circle of sorrowing
friends and acquaintances
R.I.P.
N.B.—The body will be cremated and the
ashes taken to Sandridge.

Back on line

Just got back on line so hope to have the blog updated by tonight.

Thursday Novemebr 22nd 2012 Away V Crooked Billet

With Harry Redknapp waiting in the wings for a top flight return this was the Darts equivilent of Manchester United V QPR as top of the table Crooked Billet take on bottom of the table Rose & Crown (arguably the divisions longest serving team) who find themselves in a relegation dog fight cut adrift now from those above them. If the trek to the title favourites and the runaway leaders wasn’t bad enough on a rainy Thursday night to Colney Heath things went from bad to worse as a bad accident at the Smallford roundabout added an extra three quarters of an hour to an already arduous trip into the country. The empty car park eventually greeted the visitors and perhaps was a sign that the home side were furnished with local villagers who had no need for mechanical devices other than those needed to work the land, but this was soon revealed to be a falsehood as the Crooked Billet far from being locals who enjoyed a game of arrows after a hard day in the fields were in fact townsfolk more a kin to driving white transit vans around the streets of Watford than that of the John Deere tractors through the pastures of Colney Heath. Skipper Alan Turner feeling the pressure decided tonight was the night to mix up the Rose & Crowns underperforming pairings and took the unusual step of splitting up Mulls and Neil Crosby who had previously lost only one match all season and his selection look vindicated as Skip who partnered Mulls went on to take the first leg with some ease but that was as good as it got and seemed the jinx of the first game continues as the Rose and Crown surrendered what should have been an easy victory, largely due to a lack lustre performance from Mulls who was way off the mark given several chances to wrap up the each of the next two legs. The Rose and Crown needed someone of the calibre of Harry Redknapp now to give them that motivation that they so seemed to be lacking but a quick look around the bar and apart from the darts players just one man and his dog sat in the saloon both appearing to be drinking curiously from the same vessel, it was therefore clear that this would have to come from within. Dude and Ian were up next and it has to be aid that Ian looks a different player away from his brother somewhat uninhibited. Nip 'n' tuck in the early stages then Ian rattles in 87 followed by Dude who leaves 42 against 116 Ian putting the home side out of their misery to go one leg up. Struggling to get off in the second leg surrendering 200 before eventually getting off but unable to make any inroads as the home side levelled the game. This habit repeated if’s self in the early stages of the second leg but Dude eventually gets off with 90 and Ian backs it up with a cool 81 to put them right back in the game. Both pairs then trading blows but it’s the dude with the knockout punch as he nailed 32 to level the scores 1-1. Ron and Kev now had a chance to give the Rose a surprise 2-1 lead. A slow start but they are soon off and running Kev hits 97 before Ron cracks in 101 giving the pairing a big lead in the first leg which Big Ron eventually wrapped up giving the pair an unlikely lead against their more illustrious opponents. A ton followed by 140 puts the Super league pairing for the Crooked Billet in the driving seat and with a 300 plus lead the pairing easily level the match. 18 darts and a 5 minute braak for ablutions later it was clear that the Rose and Crown were going quicker down the pan than Kevin Atkins could get to it. How crucial that first game now was and how Mulls must have been reflecting on it knowing that 2-1 down could easily have been 2-1 up. The honour of the first single fell at the feet of John Goode who put in a no nonsense performance with some solid scoring at the crucial times to produce a two leg victory and give the Rose, what Tony Scott (that other great” motivationalist”)would have described as a "sniff". It was up to Ian now to keep the momentum going for the visitors. This was going to prove to be a tall order against arguably the best player on the night and the tone was set as the home side got off to a flier with 120 away in reply to Ian's 20 from then on it was one way traffic as Ian was taken apart and putting paid to any reversal of the score line in the process. None the less the Rose were well and truly in this contest and most certainly not being put to shame by their more illustrious opponents and with the inform Kevin Atkins next to the oche anything could happen. If there was controversy tonight it revolved around Kev and the first leg was no exception with scores of 60,125 and 89 on his way to leaving 39 he then stepped forward to the oche and as the giraffe said "You don't get any leaves unless you stick your neck out a bit" hit 16, 9 and then checked out with double 8, the visitors thought that was it but on count back it was realised that in fact ex-school master now business manager had in fact miscounted and in fact required 39. This proved to be pivotal despite Kevin rattling in a 140 on his way to levelling the match the third leg was a leg to far all his efforts it seemed put into the first two legs. Despite being 2 legs down the Rose were still hopeful of pulling off an unlikely result especially as Mulls, Big Ron and the inform Neil Crosby were still to be play. It was down to Mulls to keep the St. Michaels outfit in the tie but right from the off Mulls was never in it. His opponent hitting the crucial scores at the crucial times whilst Mulls just simply went missing for parts of the game. Losing the first leg he managed to get back to level it but his darts were unusually wayward at times and his opponent took full advantage to wrap up a 2-1 win handing victory 5-2 to the league leaders. For the home side it was surely another two points as they march relentlessly towards the league title, for the visitors it’s back to the drawing board and perhaps a phone call to Harry!