Better pic *not* to follow

We moved to East Yorkshire in July 2019.  I have not played petanque competitively since.

Adnams Suffolk Coastal League 2017

Les and I attended the ASCL meeting last Friday at the Riverside Centre near Saxmundham.

Diss Duval will join Shotford Bowls Club, Fressingfield Poachers, Mendham and Huntingsfield in the group stage.  Both Shotford and Poachers will ground share at Fressingfield.  Some of these teams are new to the sport and won't understand the rules fully, so may need guidance from more experienced players (like ourselves) along the way.  In the KO tournament, Diss will entertain Bromeswell Boules Club.  

Leisure boules and resin cochonnet are both allowed.  Yellow/red cards will not be adopted. Out of bounds rule may be different depending on where you play (some new terrains won't have string). Best to check this before the start of the game.  If the pistes are narrow, the jack may still be valid if less than a metre from the dead ball line or wooden surround - again check with their captain.

Most teams provide refreshments after the match but it is not mandatory. However, I suggest that we do.

Results round up

Diss teams - Bloomers (Div 1), Black Cats, Florin, Waveney (Div 3)

Black Cats 3, Winter Warmers 0
Florin 3 , Waveney 0

The Wallies 2, Bloomers 1
Shoulder of Mutton 2, Florin 1
Winter Warmers 1, Waveney 2

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

BCC 2, Bloomers 1
Florin 1, Black Cats 2
Waveney 1, Shoulder of Mutton 2

Other news - Peter Astle has confirmed that there will be 30 teams in this season's Thursday evening leagues instead of 28 (so three divisions of 10).  The two new teams are Ellingham Oaks and The Herrings from Yarmouth.  Also, Gauloises (who now have a brand new terrain at Great Ellingham) have changed their name to The Millers!

Les and Diane (ex-Bressingham/Diss Flyers) have moved to one of the Yarmouth teams.  We are sorry to see them go but wish them well.

Diss have entered one team in the Suffolk Coastal League this year, organised, as always by Simon Fletcher.  The captains' meeting/gathering is this Friday, primarily to discuss rule changes, KO draw and finalise the group stages.

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