Winter league update

Diss have entered four teams in the City of Norwich Winter League - Waveney, Black Cats, Florin (3rd div) and Bloomers (1st)

Black Cats 1, Shoulder of Mutton 2
Florin 2, Winter Warmers 1
Wanderers 3, Bloomers 0

Shoulder of Mutton 2, Waveney 1
Black Cats 0, Florin 3

Waveney 1, Black Cats 2

League tables can be viewed here...  https://norwichpetanque.wordpress.com/league-tables/

Petanque all year round

The Norfolk and Norwich Winter League starts this Sunday.  Diss have entered four teams, which includes quite a few of us that moved over from the Bressingham club.

It is also known that the Diss committee have decided on three teams for next summer. Waveny and Flyers will continue (albeit with some changes in personnel) and Myself and Pat will be part of the third team, mixing it with less experienced/emergency players.

We had some good weather late on this summer, with plenty of events and competitions going on (Les was all over the place).  I managed to play at the Eels Foot Inn for the first time ever.  They have a great set up there with four 'smooth granite pistes' and two others with a little more stone.

A few of us also went along to the '51' Victoria Petanque Club opening of the new terrain near Atlleborough.  The pistes played really well (they had the proper stuff on top, unlike Diss).

AGM looms...

Eells Foot Inn.  Pistes are unusually staggered to fit the space that was available.

Roy of the Rovers stuff

Les Garnier 2, Bressingham Flyers 3

With the match all square at 2-2 and with the scores at 12-12 in the very last game, Les threw the very last boule of the very last end, to win the very last point which gave us the win, which kept us up!  Not only that but we could finish the season in 4th place if other results go our way (will soon find out).  I think this may have been our only away win all season!

Earlier, I rescued a baby frog and a large beetle from the terrain.  There was also a floodlight failure which added to the drama.  As usual, the Garnier team supplied us with a great food selection after the match.

Rumours are going round that next year, players will be drawn out at random to make up the teams and that another seven tons of shingle be put down.  One other person suggested we play in 'skins' as a cost cutting exercise.  Looking forward to the AGM :).

Still all to play for

Diss Flyers 3, Norwich Blue 2

An entertaining match played in the right spirit.  This win sets up an interesting finale as either Gauloises, Norwich Diamonds or ourselves will accompany The Hunters (who had to pull out) in the lowest tier next season.  Points difference may even come into play.

League tables here... http://www.ncpa.webeden.co.uk/#/division-2-league-table-16/4591638488

Waveney take the honours

Diss Waveney 3, Diss Flyers 2

Winning two out of three pairs games wasn't enough to turn this match around for Flyers.

Put simply, two wins from our last two matches will keep us up.  One win might also be enough but would depend on results elsewhere.

Next up is Norwich Blue at home, then Les Garnier away.

Diss Flyers 4, Norwich Diamonds 1

After two successive 5-0 defeats, this victory came as some relief.  All eight players won a game - a good effort all round..  No match next week.

League table here (normally updated on Monday)... http://www.ncpa.webeden.co.uk/#/division-2-league-table-16/4591638488

Catch up...

After the unfortunate withdrawal of The Hunters and subsequently, with all their matches being declared void (you can read the full story here... http://www.ncpa.webeden.co.uk/), Diss Flyers shot up a few places. However, losing heavily to Sprowston last Thursday has dumped us back where we started.  Still time to amend things though.

Old results...

ASCL - Framsden Doberman 2, Bressingham Flyers 2

NCPA Plate Q/F - Les Garnier 4 Diss Flyers 1

President's Cup - Diss Waveney v Diss Flyers

This was won by Flyers 3-2 (standard format).  Team was Les, Diane, Russ, Pat, Liz, Mick.  Sally (newbie) replaced Russ in the pairs.

Old news - Gauloises 3, Diss Flyers 2.  Darren and Luke were so close to taking the points in the deciding game.  Came down to a measure in the end (the bigger boules won!).

We play at Les Garnier this Thursday in the last eight of the Plate.

Suffolk Coastal League - we will qualify for the knock out stage if we beat Framsden on Sunday.  A draw might not be good enough.

Diss Flyers 2, The Hunters 3 (58-47)

A disappointing end in both triples was soon followed with a couple of good wins in the pairs.  In the remaining game, Liz and Mick seemed to be in command but were out-gunned in the final moments.

We won on aggregate, all reached double figures in all the games without gaining any points.  On the plus side, it was a pleasant evening and the match was played in good spirit.

No match next week.

Old scores - (http://www.scpaleaguetables.appspot.com/)

Bressingham 1 , Aldeburgh Rolling Stones 3 (KO2), 
Crettingham 2, Bressingham 2 (ASCL)

Plate win

Diss Flyers 5, Norwich Stars 0

Diss Flyers progressed to the last eight of the Plate competition with a comprehensive win against Norwich Stars from the third tier.

Rain does not stop play

Diss Flyers 3, Les Garnier 2

We had a heavy downpour just before the match was due to start.  The triples was under way soon after it had stopped raining, although we had to play across the terrain rather than up and down.  Cyril, Darren and Pat brought us level after the first round of games after a fine win.

Les inspects the terrain.  Make up your own jokes.

In the pairs, Les and Diane won in a flash!  After a tentative start, Liz and I then took control with some terrific team play.  With other matches being abandoned or postponed, this win should move us up two or three places.

Next week - Plate (last 16) v Norwich Stars at home.

Norwich Blue 3, Diss Flyers 2 (50-58)

I had forgotten to bring my boules so had to use Les's (40g heavier), although it didn't seem to make any difference to my play.  There were also some large puddles on the piste after a downpour a couple of hours earlier but they soon diminished.

Two well earned wins in the triples were disappointingly followed by three losses in the pairs, although two of those did go to the wire.  A few of us think that a bonus point for an aggregate win would be a welcome addition to the league format.

Due to rearranged matches, our next three will all be at home.

Slow results and news

Sorry - haven't updated the blog for a while as I have been too lazy... since then though we have had a couple of wins (one KO plate, one league) - hoorah!

Also last night, Bressingham Flyers beat Barham Sorrel Horse 3-1 at home in a Suffolk Coastal group match.  Myself, Darren, Les and Diane played in that one.

Congratulations to Les Shilling and his playing partners from The Mutton as they finished 2nd in the Anglian Regional Qualifiers - a terrific achievement.  For their reward, they will set off to Hayling Island later on in the year to compete against other counties.

We are sad to announce that Ken Roberts passed away recently after a long illness.  He had been with the Diss club from the year dot.  Our thoughts go out to his family and friends.

Norwich Diamonds 3, Diss Flyers 2

Triples went well.

Home to G2 in the second round of the plate competition on Thursday.

Zero points

Bob Carter Centre 3, Diss Flyers 2

This fixture was reversed as it coincided with a youth cup final at the Diss Town football ground on the same night.  It turns out though that Diss Waveney who were due to play away at Les Garnier in a league match, played at home instead, against the same team in a KO Shield match!?

Russell Harris Fun Pairs

I am pleased to say that our very own Les and Diane Shilling won the Russell Harris Fun Pairs event at Wanderers St. Faiths.  Well done to you both.

On a more poignant note, a minute's silence was held in respect of David Kemp, who had sadly passed away recently at such a young age.  I only saw him on occasions and he seemed to be a very friendly and likeable lad.

Results service

Sprowston Harrriers 4, Diss Flyers 1

Diss-Waveney 3, Norwich Blue 2

Division Two - Diss Flyers 3, Gauloises 2

Two points to Flyers.  A fine start.

Results update

Suffolk Coastal League

Barham Sorrel Horse 1, Bressingham 3 (Darren/Dave/Mick/Liz)

Bressingham 2, Framsden Doberman 2 (Darren/Luke/Mick/Diane)

Mick on the okey with Luke watching on.  Darren supplied the pic.

Suffolk Coastal KO 1st Round

Crown Inn Snape 2, Bressingham 3 (Darren/Dave/Les/Diane)

Darren and Les put up a good show to win the deciding match at a canter.

Waterlogged pistes

Torrential rain put paid to Diss Flyers match at Strumpshaw.  However, the Diss-Waveney match went ahead with the hosts toppling Stuart Picton's mob 3-2.  One triple game lasted one hour and forty minutes!

The Hunters v Diss Flyers - match postponed.

Diss-Waveney 3, Bob Carter Centre 2

Flyers have a bye next week while Diss-Waveney are away to Norwich Diamonds.

ASCL - Stowmarket Oddboules 4, Bressingham 0

Pat and I lost in only five ends in a high scoring match (6-13).  Defeats also for Liz/Mick (5) , Dave/Liz (3) and Mick/Pat (8).

KO Shield 1 - The Hunters 4, Diss Flyers 1

The new season has arrived at last.  Bit of a dodgy start but an enjoyable evening had by all at the Huntsman in Stumpshaw.  The set up there is very impressive.  We visit them again next week in our first league match.

Old news - in the Suffolk Coastal League, Bressingham beat Crettingham 3-1 at home.  No other details.

Les and Dan overcame a poor start to win 2 out of 6 games at the Bury Sugar Easter Bunny Pairs beating Phil and Marion on the way.

The Winter League Inter-Divisional Event was played at the Cottage.  Players that made up a team from Division 2 (that's some of us) finished in 2nd place.  The Premiership ended up with the wooden spoon!

Double header

Black Cats 1, Buckaneers 2
A good win for Dave, Pat and Jenny in the triples.  I was outplayed in the singles against Jerome.

Bloomers 2, Buckaneers 1
Report below supplied by Liz...

Bloomers had an excellent end of winter season victory against Buckaneers winning two games to one. The triples and doubles both had slow starts but eventually won. The singles was lost but Les enjoyed his dual against his opponent.

Di, Les, Liz 13-9

Mick, Liz 13-9

Les 8-13

League tables here... https://norwichpetanque.wordpress.com/league-tables/

More scores...

Bloomers 1, The Hunters 2

No match report but Les salvaged a point for Bloomers in the singles.

Hubb Capps 3, Black Cats 0

The home sides performance made a nonsense of their position in the league.  Both triples (Dave, Mike and Jenny) and singles games went to 9.  It is worth mentioning that the terrain at The Cottage, now has
a fresh layer of grit.

Last winter league matches next Sunday - double header with Buckaneers.

Norwich Winter League update

Hubb Capps 1, Bloomers 2

Black Cats v Buckaneers, match postponed.

Liz has kindly messaged me with the result and match report...

Triples - Di, Les Liz 13-8

Pairs - Mick, Liz 13-7

Les 11-13

Bloomers were back to winning ways. On a terrain nearly bare of shingle, it took a while for the triples to get going but the trio edged their way to a winning score.   In the doubles Liz and Mick eventually mastered a tricky piste to win.   In the singles Les lost narrowly as the score suggests.

Winter league results (14/02/16)

Buckaneers 3, Bloomers 0

The Hunters 1, Black Cats 2

A disappointing day for Bloomers.

Black Cats edged a slow but entertaining triples game.  Precise pointing from Pat set up a 5 in the pairs to finish the game on a high while Russ narrowly lost the singles.

Black Cats 1, Bloomers 2

The two Bressingham teams met again on a damp, drizzly morning and this time Bloomers came away with a win.  The Bloomers easily won the triples.  In the singles Darren overcame a resolute opponent and eventually won.  The pairs was a ding-dong game but eventually Russ and Cyril (Black Cats), who put some telling boules in, salvaged a point for the hosts.  Report by Liz.

From left, Russ, Les, Mick, Liz and Dave.  Pat, Darren, Cyril and Diane are out of shot.  Pic by Darren

Flyers on the move

Due to issues with lighting (trailing cables etc), the club has decided to go elsewhere.  Setting up a new terrain at the Diss Bowls Club was an option but complaints from the neighbours put paid to that.

We have all now joined Diss Waveney Pétanque Club.  Bressingham Flyers will become Diss Flyers (same personnel) for our involvement in the Thursday evening league which will commence in April.  Looks like players from the newly promoted Diss Waveney will stay put.

We have also entered the Suffolk Coastal League but under the name of Bressingham Flyers (all very confusing) with our matches being played on the old terrain.  We just won't play floodlit matches there anymore.

Looking forward to the season.

More winter league results...

Black Cats 3, Hubb Capps 0 (39-31) 

Got finished before the rain.  Triples could have gone either way.  There were a couple of occasions where I'm convinced teams played out of turn, when there should have been a measure.  This was a close contest so very pleased with the result.  Report by Dave.

Triples - Dave/Pat/Russ won 13-12

Pairs - Dave/Pat won 13-9

Singles - Russ won 13-10

The Hunters 1, Bloomers 2 (26-33)

Triples - Di/Les/Liz won 13-11

Pairs - Les/Liz won 13-2

Singles - Mick lost 13-7

After a rocky start conceding five points in the first end, Bloomers got going and it was some fine pointing by Di, shooting by Les and Liz chipping in, Bloomers won an even dual.  In the doubles, Les and Liz romped away to win.  Mick had a tough game and the play was fairly even at 7-7 then Hunters pulled away to earn a point for the hosts.  Report by Liz.

Late news pre-2016

Norwich Pétanque Club hosted the Christmas Cracker Melée Pairs at the Cottage last Sunday.  This was the last event of 2015.

The weather wasn't too good but there was a great turnout - 24 in total including muself and Les from Bressingham.  Different partner for each of the three rounds.

I was drawn first and partnered John Nooney, Tony Brenchley and Rae (new to the game).  I was declared the winner with three wins and +30 (just one ahead of the second placed David) and won £15 in the process!

This was the best I had played at the Cottage (the wet ground may have been a contributory factor) but I was helped enormously by each of my partners.