Match Report
Our penultimate matches of the season against Surrey had varying degrees of importance bestowed upon them with titles up for grabs, personal ambitions being enhanced as well as the reputation of Kent County Pool from a playing perspective being put in the line.
With no Under 23 match (that division already claimed by our strong side), our Seniors team started the day off – the match report from Captain Twigger follows:
Seniors’ Team Captain’s Report
A wee team talk beforehand highlighted the talent and ability of our 2 missing travellers. It was reiterated about starting well and NOT going behind early doors. Realistically, we were up against a much better team on paper! We completed out aim in winning the first set 5:4. My memory is our Barb taking out a finish with a long black to peg them back to 3:3, at that time. Set 2, and we won the first 4 frames. 9:4 up it is! A bit of to-ing and fro-ing saw us 11:7 up at half-time.
The next set seemed to get away from us as the Surrey boys won 5 of the first 6 frames! But no, we showed resilience by winning the next 3! Into the last set 15:12 up, only 4 frames from 9 needed! How easy was this to be!!! NOOOOOO! In traditional Kent Seniors style, we made it hard work! ??♂️?
Despite winning the first 2 frames of the 4th set, the score went from 17:12 to 17:15. This left Barb and Deano to bring it home for a great win. Congrats to Deano for an amazing 4 out of 4. Every player contributed to the 19 frames won, and that is a special victory that will be treasured for a long time.
Thank you team. Xxx
That victory means that the seniors have dragged themselves back into the race for qualification at the nationals … if they win their game in hand next weekend against Sussex they will start their final match against Berkshire in second place , knowing a win would get them there. However tgat will be no easy task with Leary, Barker and Yardley in the Berkshire ranks!!
Kent Ladies have set themselves up nicely to retain their title. A 28:16 win means a victory against Berkshire will keep the title in Kent. Powerful displays were seen across the board by seven of the ladies, achieving 3/4 on the day. These exceptional performers were captain Jools, Barbara Taylor, Mel Clements, Jo Miles, Jan Spinner, Amy Cook, and Vanessa Ledger.
Our Junior team once again ran riot with a 31:5 win. This team has a couple of players in their last season, so they will be strong favourites to finish their junior career with another national title. Captain Erin Gannon led the way with a full house, and she was joined in the top bracket by James Goldsmith, Chase East, Michail Cairns, who seems to be a man in form, and Alfie Harding. A special acknowledgment goes to manager Padraic for maintaining the standards throughout the season.
Our C team needed to win to have a chance of retaining the title, and they did that with an emphatic 29:15 win. This means a win in the last game over Berkshire will see the title stay in Kent. Chris Freelove and Jamie Fenech (said in a Scottish accent) completed the 4/4 highlights as the C team took every set, putting themselves in a prime position for the final game of the season.
Kent B team has had a few in-and-out games this season but put this game to bed in good style, winning the first two sets 7:4 and 8:3 before a mini fightback was put to rest with a final 7:4 to secure a 26:18 win. Looking at the B section table, it is not mathematically impossible to win the division, but it will need something resembling their comeback against Leicester at the nationals a couple of years ago. Remember, it’s never over till it’s over. It’s nice to see a couple of Skollobs weighing in with 8/8. Well done to Ben Morgan and Ritchie Bell; well played.
Finally, the very long wait for a region title for Kent A is to be determined in the final game against Berkshire, a head-to-head battle for the title. Surrey looked like they had thrown a real spanner in the works as Kent A’s notorious slow start saw them trailing 9:3 and 14:9. However, that never-say-die spirit and the domino effect started, and Steve Ritchie pulled the score level at 15:15. Kent took the lead 16:15 in the next frame, and from that point on, the rollercoaster ride began, resulting in victory with a score of 25:19. Quite something, I’m glad I wasn’t there; it’s too much for an old man to take!
Two players were called up to replace Wilbo and Jasper, and as I requested, both achieved 4/4 on the day. Well done to Aaron Bhat and Charley McDowell; it’s quite something to step into that team and deliver like that. It made me smile when I saw that. So that victory means Kent A will face Berkshire A for the title next month, and I hope it will be hotly contested by both teams.
Finally, I remember saying at the end of my last report to stay safe until next time. As most of you will know, the very next day after county, Dave Fernandez was driving to Stoke with Adam Bassoo to compete in the ultimate pairs when they experienced a dreadful car accident. Amazingly, and it sounds like someone was watching over them, they suffered battered bodies but lived to tell the tale. They even continued their journey and won the evening’s event. I’m not bothered about the result; only that our two friends are safe and well. So again, I say stay safe, and I will see you all in Chatham on November 5th for some real firework matches!
All the best. Wilbo
Final Scores
| u23s | no match |
| Seniors | 19:17 WIN |
| Juniors | 31:5 WIN |
| Ladies | 28:16 WIN |
| A | 25:19 WIN |
| B | 26:18 WIN |
| C | 29:15 WIN |