The "Menace" stumped at Boston?

Post date: Mar 26, 2018 4:42:54 PM

It was our final friendly match of the season away against the Boston stumpers and it was turning into what they say in the Fens as a humdinger. That was until the very last end of the very last rink to finish. Up until then it had lived up to that well know phrase or saying nip and tuck or something like that. Our, there is no such thing as a friendly, captain Maggie Holden had taken her now well drilled fighting force into a battle that looked destined to bring her gallant team its third win of the season. Difficult for the uninitiated to believe but it’s true. Back to the plot, Maggie met with their captain to sort the scorecards out to be told that she would be playing against her on rink three because she always plays on rink three. Oh, yes, is that another of the rules that all of a sudden appear out of nowhere! Anyway it didn’t matter because Maggie, unlike a lot of players doesn’t mind what rink she plays on. So the teams are announced on to the green and their aforementioned captain concludes her welcome by stating that the meal was roast pork and if anyone didn't like it, tough, it was too late to ask for an alternative.

Anyway, back to the plot again. We were two up after two, so good so far. After three ends our last week’s winning skip, Maurice, known to his friends as “Uke” was five nil down. What’s going on Maurice? After four ends rink four, led by that wily old campaigner Dennis Henshaw, were leading eighteen seven and their sights were set on the best rink prize. To cut a long story short after seven ends our new president elect Arthur “The Feet” Lonslow was doing his Paso Doble up to the other end after drawing level for the first time. Maurice ‘we knew he could do it’ Dye had pulled back to be nine five up, and in-spite of one of our previous best rink winners, Nigel Trigg, being eight down overall, we were one shot ahead. On the thirteenth we were two ahead, was this lucky for us and unlucky for them? We were three up after fifteen, we were in unknown territory but don’t panic, take another tablet and keep going. Serena on rink four yelled out for the umpteenth time “move your feet please”, no she doesn’t mean you Arthur!

The tension was mounting with one end to go it was 98 - 98, yours truly had just bitten through his third pencil. After eighteen we were one up 103-102 with only Dennis Henshaw's rink to finish. They were holding one. The “Menace” held the last wood in his hand. We’re one up his team mates were screaming at him from the other end. What, he shouted with his hand cupped to his ear. “Take it” was their reply. His hearing aid must have fallen out because, as skips often do, he ignored them and bowled his wood. Down it came getting closer and closer. “Why did he bowl it” said number one, “Because he’s a nutcase” said number two. “Hold on, it’s going to take the jack, come on, come on, yes, yes, yes. Oh no!!! It rolled the jack onto one of their woods at the back 103-103. What can you say? Well done best rink, Reg Goode, Ken White and skip Jill Goode.

Rink scores : Janet Benns, Ann Preston Bambridge, Nigel Trigg lost 7-25; Reg Goode, Ken White, Jill Goode won 20-11; Janet Dye, Maggie Holden, Maurice Dye won 21-13; Ron Blake, Serena Brunning, Dennis Henshaw won 19-11; Janet Lonslow, Stella Henshaw, Arthur Lonslow lost 12-21; Vanessa Shackleton, Margaret Grainger, Doug Ellis won 25-20.

PS Maggie Holden thanks everyone who played this season and hopes to see them back in the friendly fold next season with a few more who may be stepping into the competitive arena for the first time.

D.S.