Review by Martin Inglis from SCPA Facebook page
NCPA v SCPA Saturday 9th May, Quite the epic match today at The Cottage for the third SCPA v Norfolk match – in beautiful weather from start to finish 24 players on each team played 2 double, 2 triples and a singles match each, a total of 64 matches…..
The day started with 8 triples and Norfolk getting off to a strong start winning 6 of the 8 ties, Suffolk however hit back in the doubles winning 7-5 to reduced the deficit to 11-9….
The singles were split into two groups of12 matches and in the first phase Norfolk again performed strongly, winning 8-4 and taking a commanding 19-13 lead – again however, Suffolk hit back winning the second round of singles by a similar score and cutting the Norfolk lead to 2 games.
Going into the afternoon triples Suffolk performed strongly and won 5-3 meaning that going into the last 12 doubles fixtures the match score stood at 26-26 and unbelievably Suffolk ahead on boule difference by 1. The first two doubles were shared, Suffolk however then looked like they were taking control taking a 6-4 lead with two matches left on the pistes which Norfolk managed o win by 1 and 3 points respectively meaning that after 6 rounds and 64 games the scores stood at 32-32. Team photos were taken as points were checked and re-checked and the top player on each side, Simon Doble for Norfolk with 5 wins and Mark Adamson with similar both received a prize.
Finally 48 players waited for the result ….Suffolk win , over 1300 points scored and it came down to a boule difference of 5, win or lose every player contributed – what a fantastic day of boule played in the right spirit by both teams .. thank you to everyone involved
More photos to follow, check the gallery….
From a Norfolk perspective I echo the words of Martin above and would also like to thank The Cottage and Norwich Petanque club for their hospitality. A great day, lets get a date in the diary for next year soon.
