The final of the Winter Doubles proved to be a particularly exciting affair. Nigel Matthews and David Beddy faced Adrian Apps and Ed Cheetham. Both pairings played the ‘Alternative Shots’ version of doubles. Enthusiastic spectators braved the chilly temperatures but barely noticed the conditions as they were enthralled by the quality of the play.
The match started slowly with the advantage fluctuating between the pairings. Adrian and Ed (red and yellow) were slightly ahead after the early stages, but Nigel and David (blue and black) gradually ground out a small lead. With about 10 minutes to go Nigel and David had extended their lead. They were on 4 (black) and rover (blue), whilst Adrian and Ed were struggling on 2 (red) and 4 (yellow). As time was running out Nigel and David left Adrian an Ed’s balls well apart, but left their own balls about 4 yards apart on the north boundary near red’s hoop 2 . Surely they had the game sewn up!
The situation was that red would have to roquet yellow, and then somehow get to the hoop to level the scores. It was also clear that time was about to run out. An excellent long roquet on yellow was duly made. Now the real work began with Adrian and Ed carefully negotiating their way around and completing the turn to hoop with red. At the end of that turn they left blue and black well apart and needed to set up red and yellow at hoop 4 and hope that Nigel and David failed to hit in. However, in rolling red and yellow down to hoop 4 there was a problem. The player, who shall be nameless, but he really should know better, managed to send the yellow off the south boundary and leave red about 2 yards north of hoop 4. Nigel and David missed their very long roquet. Now Ed had to try and make an 8 yard roquet under extreme tension. He achieved this with casual aplomb, and Adrian placed yellow in front of hoop 2 for Ed to make the Golden Hoop victory. Loud applause was given by the multitude of lucky spectators.
A great final to this winter competition. Congratulations to Adrian and Ed.