LATEST MATCH REPORTS...

Sussex A 19 - 25 London A
12th February 2012
Brighton

A disappointing number of players (4 or 5) who would have played in the As were missing, particularly disappointing given that it was the first match of the season and the longest journey. Having said that, the 11 who did play were all there by 1pm as I always ask people to be, and it may well be the first time that's happened. So to those players who made things easier for me and themselves... thank you and keep it up.

So, 8 players from last year's team were joined by Jack Pople (back after a sabbatical in Kent), Tony Bailey (a surprise recall thanks to being back in the set-up for the new Senior team who had already won 5-4), and Alex Lawrence (his debut in the As having topped the regional B ranking last year).

It was a close match to start with, frames being traded evenly in the first set which we won 6-5. We went on a bit of a run in the second, pulling away with 5 in a row and getting 7 frames in the second set. But they responded in kind and it was close again. It was during this run of theirs that one of the opposition player's constantly calling us cheats for no reason came to a head. To be be fair he seemed a bit drunk and out of control and hopefully will have regretted his actions the next day. The rest of the Sussex team were a nice bunch and thanks to their help and a restrained reaction from our team things didn't escalate as they might have.

That was good. Even better was that we reacted with a run of 10 frame wins in a row to clinch the match with a 9-2 set. We went a bit off the boil after that and lost 3-8 in the final set. Some careless play there, but in the circumstances I don't think we should worry about it too much. 25-19 is a good enough win on any away day.

Special mention goes to Jerry Tickell bouncing back from a disappointing season last year with an excellent full house. The 3 players with 3/4 were all very solid too.

Sussex need to sort out how they do their food. I can't even tell you how it worked. I was one of several who never even saw any of it. Seems to me that if people can't choose when they have theirs, you have to a) make sure you tell them when it's there and preferably b) have a break.


Jack Pople 3/4
Jamie Fay 1/4
Adam Coppen 2/4
Darren Baker 2/4
Chris Snyman 2/4
Alex Lawrence 3/4
Jerry Tickell 4/4
Jon Runghen 2/4
Rupert Ward 2/4
Toney Bailey 1/4
Sean Halligan 3/4