District League - Last MatchAugust 3 - A very satisfying end to the 2006 League season with a convincing 11-1 win over one of the strongest Northumberland sides I have ever seen. Great wins for James, Shaun, Neil, Kevin and Danny supported by a battling half from Paul over the evergreen, and ever eloquent, Tim Bull. As I'd generously offered Guinness tokens to everyone for 10 points, that's two weeks on the trot I've had to fork out for 7 tokens - but it was well worth it! We needed a good win to improve our chances of securing 3rd place over a resurgent City of Newcastle team. In the event the City lost 9-3 giving us 3rd by a comfortable 6 points. But last year, we finished 2nd so was it a bad season? Not at all. First of all we had the difficult away matches this year against Morpeth, Ponteland, Tyneside and Whitley Bay. Regardless of that, our points haul of 114, nearly 8 a match, was four more than 2005 and 18 points more than defending champions Tyneside. So well done to all the lads and thank you for your commitment during the League season. Prudhoe Player of the Year was a tight battle eventually won by Neil Graham with 20 points from all 15 games and a match average of 67%, not far behind District League Player of the Year, Craig Penny, who had 23 points. Second was Shaun with 19 points (13 games) followed by James with 17 (11 games), Danny with 14 (9 games) and Kevin with 14 (13 games). James' match average of 77% was excellent playing at number 1 and he won the most Guinness tokens too, 6 in all! Danny, in his first season in this League, had the highest match average of 78% and also achieved a match average of 72%, playing at number one and two, in the Hadrian League. Overall, Danny played 18 games in the two Leagues with an excellent match win average of 75%. Both Neil and Shaun now qualify, if available, for the singles section of District League Players' Championship at Tyneside on September 24. I will also be selecting a third player for the Teams section of the Championship. So, still a couple more chances of District League silverware plus the Hadrian League's Troldahl Cup at Wallsend on August 27 for which Danny and loyal supporter, Bob Lawrence, have been selected. Once again, my thanks and congratulations to the Team and the caddies and supporters and well done to Morpeth on winning the League.
July 27 - Going to Newbiggin with 8 of our top players missing when we are still in with a shout for 2nd place in the League was not an inviting prospect. David and Neil were the only first team regulars this season with Paul turning out for only his 3rd match. Joining them were first timers Graham, Ben and 'Ando.' But what a result - a very welcome 6 points - helped by wins from Neil and Ben and halves from Paul and 'Ando.' Ponteland's 8 points at home to Morpeth makes the final matches of the season exciting for them but also robs us of any chance of 2nd place this year. Now on 103 points and only 7 points off last year's 110 points which got us 2nd place, we need a minimum of 11 points at home to Northumberland next week. This will ensure 3rd place as the City, who are 2 points ahead of us, are away to Arcot.
July 20 - With all respect to Ravensworth, we were hoping for better than the 9-3 win we got. Durham County cap, Mark Sewell, played very well against James for his win and Shaun's opponent also kept the pressure on for a well deserved half against Shaun. Comfortable wins for the Neil, Kevin, Danny and David Gilroy who gets the Guinness this week. We're away to Newbiggin next week with 5 of our team missing! A good opportunity for other players to step up to the mark and help our drive to catch Ponteland (who won 7-5) and keep the City and Gosforth off our backs.
July 13 - Away to the City this week and a disappointing 8-4 loss which, not only does not help our push for 2nd place, but also brings other clubs closer to challenging our current 3rd position. Let's hope results elsewhere helped us. Nevertheless, great wins from James and Shaun at 1 and 2 with Shaun getting the Guinness this week. At least we are home to Ravensworth next time and, hopefully, we can secure our first 12-0 result of the season.
July 6 - We entertained Blyth this week who have got a reputation for travelling well. Fortunately, we won 10-2 and bang on target for the 50 points we've set ourselves from the last 5 matches. Good wins for James, Shaun, Neil, Danny and Chris, who gets the Guinness token this week. Elsewhere, Morpeth won 10-2 but Ponteland only managed a 6-6 draw so the gap to second place is down to 10! Away to the City next week.
June 27 - Facing a tricky away fixture at Backworth, we did maintain most of the momentum with a 9-3 victory helped by wins from Shaun, Neil (Guinness token), Kevin and Danny and a half from James. A good warm up match for James and Danny for the first round of the County Championship at Gosforth tomorrow. Next week it's Blyth at home and we are targeting 50 points from our last five matches to try and catch Ponteland or Morpeth - or both! They have a harder run in for the title than we do and the fat lady ain't singing yet!
June 22 - We were keen to make up for the Ponteland result and had a tremendous 11-1 victory over a good Arcot Hall team at home this week. Four matches went to the last hole and we won 7 out of the 8 points. So good wins for James (yet another Guinness token), Neil, Kevin, Chris and Danny with a fighting half from David. If my maths are right, the win catapults us from 5th to 3rd place. Well done team - we're off to Backworth next Tuesday - let's keep up the momentum.
June 15 - With arguably the strongest squad we could put out against not quite a full strength Ponteland side, we expected a reasonable result, even away from home. But it was not to be and we went down 10-2 with a solo victory from Shaun. This means we've taken only 3 points from the top two sides. Not exactly League winning form but we have had to play the top 4 sides away from home this season and we are still in 5th place. Also, our last seven matches are against all the clubs currently below us in the League. So, we still have a good chance of being up there at the end of the season.
June 8 - An important and welcome return to winning ways with a solid 10 -2 victory at home to Newcastle United and wins from Shaun, Neil, Chris, David and Danny. Chris Hunter's 6/5 win gets him his second Guinness token. Player of The Year is very tight with only 2 points separating 6 players! And so, we start the second half of the season with an absolutely vital away match to the League leaders, Ponteland, next week. Unfortunately, Shaun is unavailable and we may be without James too if he gets a late call up to play in the British Amateur Championship. Nevertheless, whatever team we field will be fighting hard to ensure we don't lose ground on the leaders.
June 1 - An 11-1 defeat away to Morpeth. It was never going to be an easy away match and we were short of James and Danny, but it did look as if we might have grabbed 5/6 points until the Morpeth players putted us off the course. No excuses though, we were outplayed and a big win in this week's home game against Newcastle United is crucial if we are going to get our title challenge back on track.
May 25 - Back to good winning ways with a 10-2 victory over Gosforth. We were 8-4 down at the turn but showed our fighting qualities on the back 9. My pipe was burning very hot for a few holes! Great wins from James (yet another Guinness token), Kevin and Neil who were also supported with wins from Danny and Denny in their first matches for the team this season. After last night's matches, the league table looks like this: Ponteland 47, Morpeth 45, Prudhoe 41, Tyneside 39. So, a really crucial match away to Morpeth next week which we need to win 8-4 or better!
May 18 - A tough away match at Whitley Bay played in a near gale and we had a narrow 7 - 5 loss. Great wins on the last green from James Curry and Neil Graham, who shared the Guinness tokens, plus a fighting half from David Gilroy. Chris Hunter looked like getting at least a half until his opponent sunk a monster. After 4 matches we are lying third in the table with 31 points, 5 behind Morpeth and 5 behind leaders Ponteland. This week we play Gosforth at home who are only one point behind us. Good result needed to move away from them and catch up with the leaders.
May 11 - We entertained our old friends Westerhope at home this week and enjoyed a great 11 - 1 win. That gives us 26 out of 36 points and keeps us well in touch with Morpeth. Well done to the team and we'll need to keep up that momentum when we visit Whitley Bay on the 18th. The League Secretary, Ray Whiteman, is on holiday at the moment but will no doubt be publishing the League table on his return next week.
May 4 - Last week we visited the current League champions Tyneside. Although their side is short of a couple of their top players at the moment, they can still field an excellent team on a course which is known to give home advantage. Our 7 - 5 loss was disappointing but by no means a disaster with good wins for Shaun and Chris and a half from David. We move on to a home match against Westerhope where we must regain our momentum and keep up with early leaders Morpeth. They are benefiting from the addition of Mark and Craig Penny, playing off scratch and one, and are arguably the early season second favourites to Prudhoe!
April 27 - We opened our season very successfully with a 10 - 2 home win over Tynemouth helped by good wins from James (Guinness token), Shaun, Kevin, David and Paul. The result supports the view that we are one of the hot favourites but we'll have to be on our best form away to Champions Tyneside next week.
