Alexandra beat Bards
The Alex prove just too tough to beat on their home ground
Mike
tells how bagpipes and Sport got Alex over the line
This was a great start to the seventeenth iteration of this competition, with both leagues now guaranteed an interest in the final – which hasn’t always been the case in recent years.
Our match between two teams with significant 'European' pedigree (four-time runners-up the Alexandra against two-time winners the Bards) was always likely to be close, and so it proved. The biggest lead that either team had was the Bards' three-point advantage at the end of Round One. Our superior knowledge of bagpipes and down-market newspapers reduced the deficit to one point at half-time. We edged ahead by one point in Round 3 and that was pretty much how it stayed. The match wasn’t settled until the final question, with Ged's two-point "Dennis Potter" getting us home and hosed.
We've played the Bards a few times over the years and have always enjoyed our encounters, with last night being no different. The match was played in a friendly spirit and was followed by a typical post-quiz chat, with topics including quizzes in Spain and quizzing against (minor) TV celebrities.
Chocolate-coated horror
(R3/Q7)
CKC beat HMRUFC
CKC cruise through to the semis on the back of a comfortable victory
Kieran
tells how - initially - more means less
To the Griffin in a deep and dark December for the clash of the initials. We were alone, sort of; there were a few depressed looking United fans scattered about the place, watching their team edge ahead of the mighty Liverpool in the table, but The Living Room was all ours.
As anticipated the Farnborough Barry McNorton detained Mitchell Starc and his also rans for the minimum period required under the rules, so he was able to pick up the paper and then take his place at the top of the Russki dogs order for his penultimate game - it really is the case this time, I promise!
Our man somewhere near Sleaford on the A17 was in his customary points harvesting form but tonight the worldies came from David in seat three. Not only did he dredge up Viscount Slim from God knows where but whisky is just about the only Scottish thing he doesn't care for and yet he also scored with Teacher's Highland Cream.
Dürer masterpiece
(R3/Sp3)
Heaton Moor were very genial companions even declining post quiz drinks on the grounds of driving home to Stockport. That was a bonus for Barry who was supposed to buy that round; it'll help towards the petrol costs for the move I guess.
The semi final draw has by chance (?) ensured that both banks of the Mersey will be represented in the WIST final but that's a long way off. For now it's enough that our season stays alive for another ten weeks or so.
Next week it's back to league action and the formidable leaders and defending champions in their lair which I trashed (in print) last time out. We probably won't have to buy a winners' round so it's all good. It WILL be Barry's last appearance for us - they're moving on the 16th, the day before our game against Ethel and also the day before the Adelaide test starts so he should be OK for that. He does have kids and friends - and us - in Manchester, however, so there is always the chance of the occasional guest appearance. We'll miss him beyond telling but I'll save the (repeat) valediction for next week.
Woody's professional date
(R6/Sp1)
Mike
watches on from the vantage point of the QM chair
Spectator
Ivor provides the long view of History
MOBO
reacquaints himself with fossil fuel and open air
weeing
