Review of the 2011 - 12 Season

The Craftsman 'A' made it four on the bounce, as they successfully defended their Premier Division title for a third successive time. Paul Quinn's squad recorded the best frame difference in the whole league, only losing two matches all season, although one of them was at the hands of division newcomers, Rleys, who put a dent in the Craffy's three year undefeated home record.  For the history buffs amongst you, that last home defeat was also during January, and was also at the hands of another Hertford Place side, Rileys Lounge. Finishing in the runners-up spot for a third successive year were Reds 'A', finishing 5 points behind the Craffy.

The City Centre side, led by Dean Davies, were the only other team to beat the Craftsman 'A', turning around a 3-1 deficit to secure an unlikely 5-3 win. Reds Select finished a further 5 points back in third, their highest finish in three years, and one of only three teams in the league not to draw a single match, whilst the aforementioned Rileys filled fourth spot, just 3 points adrift of the top three.

At the wrong end of the table, the Hastings 'A' struggled all season, but scraped Premier Division survival for another season with a final week win over the already relegated Wheatsheaf.

Newly promoted side, the Brandon Club struggled for players on a weekly basis, and weren't so lucky, finishing 2 points adrift in the playoff spot. With the Royal Warwicks folding just a few days before the season started, the only automatic relegation spot was filled by the Wheatsheaf. Despite registering over thirty players at the start of the season, they too struggled for players most weeks, even failing to play two matches, which in turn cost them 7 penalty points for late cancellations. With the Brandon Club folding since the end of the season, their playoff match against the Brooklands 'A' will not be taking place today.

Paul May will probably be the first to admit that his Hastings 1066 side have thrown away the Division Three and Division Two titles in the last two years. They made no mistake this time though, and ran out convincing winners of Division One, taking top spot by a comfortable 7 points.

It was frame difference alone that settled the runners-up spot, with the Old Crown 'A' taking the honours, Raj Prabhakar's side returning to the Premier Division after a three year absence. Finishing on the same points were the Brooklands 'A', who were due to play the Brandon Club today for their chance to play in the top flight.  With the latter folding during the closed season, that promotion is now guaranteed. Rileys Reprobates finished two points adrift, and will have to wait another season for their chance at the big time.

The Bishopsgate 'A' and the Lime Tree 'A' were both relegated from the Premier Division last term, and again found themselves at the wrong end of the division again, with just frame difference separating them. Fortunately for them, a 10 point cushion was more than good enough to keep them in Division One for another season.

Not so lucky were the Alvis Club, who found themselves in the playoffs, and will have to beat Signal Box today if they are to keep their divisional status. The automatic relegation places were taken by Rileys Rehab and the Rose & Woodbine 'B', who respectively found themselves 2 points, and 10 points adrift of the safety zone. Rileys Rehab struggled for most of the season, and their last win was in the first half catch up week, when the Rose & Woodbine 'B' couldn't even turn up to play a home fixture. In fact, the Rose were so bad at sticking to the rules that they were docked a staggering 12 penalty points over the course of the season.

Rileys Smileys took the two division jump in their stride, and made it a hat trick of titles in as many years, as they lifted the Division Two crown by a comfortable 7 points, to add to the Division Four and Division Five titles they’d won in the previous two years.

Daz Fursdon’s squad had the division sewn up with two weeks to go, only losing the one match all season, and posted the highest points tally of any team in the whole league.

The Bishopsgate Select improved on last season’s seventh place finish to take the runners-up spot by 6 points, Lee Pettitt leading his side back to Division One after a two year absence. Newly promoted Signal Box took the playoff spot by a single point, with the Royal Hotel and the Charterhouse snapping at their heels, with only frame difference separating the pair. If Kings want to enjoy promotion for a second successive season though, they’ll first have to beat the Alvis Club today.

At the other end of the table, the Coachmakers finished 9 points adrift, but did just enough to keep themselves in the division, finishing 2 points clear of the relegation zone. The Old Clarence were formed from players from various teams, and were newcomers to the league in name only. They didn’t fare so well, although did themselves no favours with the three matches they gave away due to a lack of players, which in turn also cost them 6 penalty points due to the late cancellations. They’ll now have to beat the Old Crown ‘B’ today if they want to avoid relegation to Division Three.

Bell Enders and the Rose & Crown were two of the three teams sharing the unenviable record of losing the most matches during the season, and only frame difference separated them at the death. Both were automatically relegated, with the former struggling for players all season, whilst the latter found life tough after returning to the league after a twelve month absence.

The Elephant & Castle took the leap from Division Six in their stride, as they added the Division Three title to the Division Six one they’d won last year.  Simon Drage’s squad moved to the Sphinx Club mid-season, but suffered no ill effects from the move, and went on to win by 5 points. The team went on an astonishing unbeaten run last season, but came down to earth with a bump four weeks into the new season, when the Rocket handed them an 8-0 drubbing. Bizarrely, the other two matches they lost were against the two Red Horse sides that finished at the foot of the table.

The Brookies finished in the runners-up spot to add to the Division Four bridesmaid’s trophy they’d won last year. Mark Tucker’s side built on last season’s strong finish, and were hopeful of finishing top dogs, that was until they lost several key players just before Christmas. Their league results confirmed that, as half of the six matches they lost all season came in their last five games. The Railway were relegated from Division Two last season, and just missed out on the chance for a swift return by a single point. The Rose & Woodbine clearly like to live life dangerously, and finished just outside the relegation zone for a second successive year.

Despite losing last season’s Division Two playoff, the Nugget, from their new home at the Coundon, clearly enjoyed the experience (!), as they’re back here again today, this time fighting for their Division Three survival, and will have to beat the Barras Social Club if they want to avoid relegation for a second time in as many years. The Red Horse Rioters, having moved from the New Inn, were the only team to be automatically relegated, after the other team from the Old Red Horse folded mid-season.

The Weavers Arms took the Division Four crown in style, reversing form with the team that had finished in front of them last season.  Unbeknownst to the Committee, Kieron Farrell strengthened his squad during the closed season with a couple of locals.  Those two locals turned out to be two ex Premier Division players, who to be fair just didn’t want to drive on a Monday night, but nonetheless helped the squad lift the title. They finished 11 points clear of their nearest rivals, only losing one game all season.

Those rivals were headed by the Walsgrave and the Barras Social Club, with Baz Phoenix’s side taking the runners-up spot on frame difference alone. The pair finished 6 points in front of the Foresters, who occupied fourth place for the third consecutive year. The Barras Social will still get their chance at promotion though, but will have to beat the Coundon today to secure that promotion.

At the other end of the table, the Butts Retreat finished 6 points clear of the relegation zone, and live to fight another day. The playoff spot was filled by the Radford Social who folded mid-season, so there will be no Division Four playoff today. The division had started the season with a ‘bye’, so the only automatic relegation spot was taken by new side, the Arches, who couldn’t even muster enough points to finish above the Radford Social, despite having played twice as many games, although they weren’t helped by the two fixtures they conceded, or the 4 penalty points they had deducted during the season.

Division Six has produced two runaway winners in the last two years, and this year was no different, as the newcomers from the Cedars dominated the division from the off, eventually finishing 14 points clear. Most of the side made the journey over from Birmingham each week to play with Brummie pal, new Cedars landlord, and team captain Rob Collins, and I’m told they’d more than hold theire own in the top flight. Only time will tell if they are that good. still more than hold their own.

The Bird in Hand showed much improved form to take the runners-up spot, Neal Rumble leading his side to double the number the number of wins they’d had last season. The Royal Warwicks ‘B’ had another good season, and finished 4 points behind the Bird to take the playoff spot. They’d looked good for promotion during this year’s campaign, but will have to beat the Grapes this afternoon, if they are indeed to enjoy Division Five pool next season.

The chasing pack finished a further 5 points adrift, and was headed by the New Spires, who finished a place higher than they had last term.  With one ‘bye’ in the Division throughout the season, there were no automatic relegation places after the Walsgrave X folded mid-season. The Gosford Arms and league newcomers the Maudlsay ‘B’, finished 7 points clear of the relegation zone, with only frame difference separating. Sandwiched between the pair and the two ‘bye’s were Kings, who will have to beat the Hastings ‘B’ today if they are to avoid a quick return to Division Seven.

At least they’ll get a game today, which is more than can be said of last year when the Walsgrave Working Mens Club failed to show for their playoff match.

Division Seven was blighted by teams folding, and only eight teams saw the season out.

Showing improved form, it was the Jaguar Social Club that were crowned champions, finishing a distance clear of their nearest rivals. Under new captain Craig Irwin, the Jag finished an astonishing 13 points clear at the death, even more remarkable given they’d only played 15 games during the season. The record books will show that they were only defeated the once, amazingly by the Coachmakers ‘B’, who finished at the foot of the table. In reality, they were also beaten by Rileys Stars at the back end of the season, but were handed the win after an irregularity with the match card that was handed in.

That should, however, not take any of the gloss off the Jag’s fantastic season. The Craven Street Club joined after the season had started, but soon established themselves as a force to be reckoned with under captain Rich Storer.

Even a change of captaincy mid-season didn’t put them off, and Alan Robertson carried on where Stoz had left off, and led his side to the runners-up spot. Finishing 6 points behind them in the playoff spot were another team new to the league in the shape of the Hastings ‘B’. IIt was only frame difference that separated them from the Bull & Anchor at the death, but it was good enough to give them a shout at Division Six pool next season. To complete the job though, they will have to beat Kings today.

For those of you who have already read the Knock-out Cup review, no we didn’t ‘cut and paste’ the write up. Three teams are involved in both competitions, so no, you’re not suffering a bad case of déjà vu"

The Coundon’s John Martin’s opponent in the first semi-final was Brookies captain Mark Tucker. Mark won the opening frame, before John drew level in the second. Mark had chances in the deciding frame, but a good clearance by John put paid to those chances, as he sank the all important black to record a 2-1 win and secure his place in the final.

The remaining place in the final would be decided between Maggie, and last year’s runner-up, Sharon Poulton from the Highway Club. In a very tactical opening frame, with both players sizing each other up, it was Maggie who took first blood. Another slow frame ensued in the second, although Sharon put in a great attempt at a clearance, but missed the pot on her final red. Sharon had done enough though, and went on to level the match with an excellent pot on the black. Sharon’s joy soon turned to heartache in the deciding frame, as a foul break handed two shots to Maggie. Despite the gift, the frame turned out to be another slow tactical one, although the tide eventually turned in Sharon’s favour after Maggie potted one of her reds at a crucial stage of the frame. The twists weren’t over yet though, as Sharon handed the two shots back to Maggie after trying to get position on an awkward black. Maggie had her chance to secure the win, but failed to capitalise on Sharon’s mistake, and will surely be kicking herself at the wasted opportunity. Instead, it was a very relieved Sharon who was left with a simple black, as she duly booked her second consecutive spot in the final.

The bottom half of the draw was definitely the tougher of the two halves, as it included the winner and runner-up from each of the last three years. The teenager that proved the strongest though, was two time winner and defending champion, Reds ‘A’s Jon McAllister, in his final appearance on the Under 18 stage. Jon’s opponent in the semi-final was non other than Vivek Makh from Rileys Reprobates.  These two have now squared up to each other four times in as many years, twice in the final, with Jon edging the previous encounters by two matches to one. The semi-final between Jon and Vivek was an entertaining one, with attacking play from both players, and they shared the first two frames. With a place in the final at stake though, the deciding frame turned into a tactical one, and it was Jon who turned the screws to edge the match 2-1, and so booked himself into his fourth consecutive Under 18s final.

With Jon having turned 18 since the qualifying matches, this is his farewell swansong, and I’m sure he’ll be keen to leave as the first three time winner.