Spots and Stripes Surrey provided the Kent teams with a positive environment to demonstrate their strength and depth across the categories, and a chance for the new-look squad to build on their successes on matchday 1.
Over 50s
First up were the Kent Seniors, who had to reshuffle their pack a little due to the absence of Barbara Taylor (bereavement) and Bill Rase (hand surgery). Wilbo had reviewed last year’s fixture and asked the team to go about reversing the 25:19 loss from last year, while maintaining their good start to the season. The team went 2:0 down at the start, but five frames in a row from Ian Kettel (who came in to support Wilbo and his team after losing Barbara and Bill), Richard Smith, Wilbo, Barry Johnson and Graham Thrower turned it around to 5:2. The set finished 6:5 to the Kent Seniors. A 7:4 second set win took the score to 13:9 at the halfway point.
Now, one of the things I have asked all my teams to think about is the momentum of the game, and for players to recognise when something needs to change to shift that momentum back to us. The seniors team have had a number of lapses in concentration over the last couple of years, sometimes losing 3, 4 or 5 frames in a row, which can effectively turn matches. So our third-set Achilles heel was to be focused upon, and taking it 6:5 set us up to be in the driving seat for the win. A fourth-set 7:4 win sealed the victory, with Barry Johnson delivering the winning frame at 23:17 before the match ended 25:19, maintaining their unbeaten start to the season and leaving them six points better off than at the same stage last year. Ian Kettel delivered 4/4, with Willie Anderson, Barry Johnson, Chris Freelove and Adrian Read (newbies) all delivering 3/4 for the team. Thanks to Bill for keeping the scoresheet and keeping Barbara updated throughout the match.
Over 60s
The over-60s also remain undefeated after two matches and stamped their authority on this match from the start by winning the first set 3:0. John Paul Fowler started the ball rolling and was ably followed by Andy Gee and Andy Redsull. The second set ended 4:2, with the Surrey team mounting a fightback. Kent took the third set 2:1 to finish 6:3 up after three sets, before delivering another clean sweep to take the match 9:3. Andy Redsull was top performer on the day with a full house, 4/4.
Under 23s
Our under-23s, led by Jake Lloyd, were starting their season at Surrey due to having no game against Hampshire. They pretty much started how they left off last year, with a comfortable 14:6 win, which was never really in doubt after taking the first set emphatically 4:1. Frames by Jake Lloyd, James Goldsmith, Callum Britt and Finley O’Shaughnessy made the frame score 4:0 before Surrey took the last frame of the set. The second and third sets followed a familiar pattern, with two further 4:1 sets before the Surrey team won the final set for a bit of respectability. Top performers were James Goldsmith, Finley O’Shaughnessy and Michael Cairns with 3/4. In addition to this result, we have just had the inter-county finals, where both James Goldsmith and Ollie Mitchell have qualified to represent England Under-23s in the international set-up, so congratulations to you both from all at the KCPA.
Under 18s
The junior team manager, Lee Crowhurst, is genuinely excited by our juniors in terms of their current ability and their potential for growth. This also includes leadership and sportsmanship, and Lee has shared a comment from the Surrey junior manager following the match.
Apparently, team captain Liam McGrath stepped in to allow a frame to continue, even though there was a technical foul from a very young player. Rather than call the foul, the frame continued, with the young player being educated about the rules in that situation. Well done, Liam.
“Really nice message I got from Jason, team manager for Surrey juniors. This perfectly represents what we are trying to shape with the Kent juniors… respect first, results second.”
Great win again from this rapidly developing team of respectful, supportive young players. 4/4 from Mason, 4/4 from Slok—that’s 8/8 for Slok now—and 3/4 from Jack to bring home a 21:15 win.
Proud manager 😁❤️🎱
Ladies
Our ladies went into the match with Surrey very much with their thoughts with Barbara over the loss of her mum. Jools and the team were determined to give something to cheer about and to raise spirits, knowing they were missing Barbs’ 80% stats from last year. The ladies took the first set 7:4, with a five-frame burst from 2:1 down to 6:2 up—Jo Miles, Hannah Bevan, Erin Gannon, Karen Riches and Julie Fane setting the standard.
The second set was closer, with Kent Ladies edging it 6:5 to retain a 13:9 halfway lead. Another 7:4 winning set seemed to put the match beyond doubt, but at 20:12 there was a bit of a comeback from the Surrey ladies when they won the first five frames of the final set to pull close at 20:18. Up stepped one of our most experienced female players, Mel Clements, to stop that momentum swing, before our youngest player, Erin Gannon, took us to 22. Another experienced player, Karen Riches, then claimed the winning frame. 23 became 25:19, and the ladies have seen off probably their two closest rivals for the title in the first two games.
Kent Ladies are already top of the league by three points at this early stage, and I fancy they will be pretty hard to catch. Top performer with 4/4 was our new England Ladies qualifier, Erin Gannon, and our congratulations go to her for her achievement at such a young age. Fifteen of the 20 frames were also won by some of the most capped ladies of our time—Mel Clements, Vanessa Ledger, Captain Fane, Karen Riches and Jan Spinner—all getting 3/4 on the day. Who says experience doesn’t pay!
So, 5/5 matches won, with the opens to come.
A Team
Unfortunately, it wasn’t a great day for the Kent A side, falling to a talented Surrey side by 29:15. Surrey won all four sets 7:4, 7:4, before taking the third set 9:2 to seal the match, then the final set 6:5 to take top spot in the table. Metin Tomris and Jake Lloyd both won 3/4 on the day, but I’m sure this team will find a way back into this year’s race for the nationals, starting next game at home to London.
B Team
The B team took time to get going in this fixture, going 3:1 down before getting things together to win the first set 6:5 and the second set 7:4, taking a healthy 13:9 lead at the halfway point. This team has been told of the ambitions, with both myself and Captain Faz believing it to be an extremely strong side, with eight of the players having played A-team pool in the last six months. The team seem relaxed with this expectation, and the dynamics were certainly full of confidence throughout, with a great deal of quality on show.
Another four frames at the start of the third set by Steve Ritchie, Steve Mullins, Ash Hind and Paul Williams extended that lead, and from there it was only a matter of time before the match was won. Steve Ritchie claimed the winning frame at 23:13 before the team ran out 28:16 winners to remain unbeaten. No fewer than seven players delivered 3/4: Paul Williams, Steve Mullins, Steve Ritchie, Gavin Webb, Finley O’Shaughnessy, Farron Rowe and James Goldsmith.
C Team
Finally, in the C team, they raced to a 5:1 early lead before taking the first set 8:3. A five-frame burst from 11:6 to 15:6 made it look all over, but Surrey had other ideas. They took the third set 8:4 to pull the scores to 18:15, before remarkably pulling level at 20:20. However, Olly Mitchell stopped the rot to take a 21:20 lead, before Darren Hill made it 22:20. Callum Britt then sealed the match, before the old wise G Unit used all his experience to end the match with four frames in a row to finally end Surrey’s resistance. The final score: 24:20.
Manager Phil Harrison said he learned a lot about certain individuals during the match and feels the ability to come through the game in the way they did, following the Surrey comeback, shows good potential for the team. 3/4 for Andre Cox, Chris Freelove, Graham Thrower, Callum Britt and Darren Hill.
So, 7 team wins out of a possible 8 evidences strength across the board and leaves many of our teams top of the league or level on points.
See you all in a couple of weeks at home to London, where we can enhance our reputation as a very strong county this season.
Regards,
Wilbo
Final Scores
| Under 23s | 6:14 WIN |
| Over 50s | 19:25 WIN |
| Under 18s | 15:21 WIN |
| Ladies | 19:25 WIN |
| A | 29:15 LOSS |
| B | 16:28 WIN |
| C | 20:24 WIN |
| Over 60s | 3:9 WIN |