Bury & District Quiz League Week 24

With the season almost over the final competitive game, the handicap cup final took place at the Hare and Hounds Holcombe Brook and what a night it turned out to be. The teams competing in the final were Paul Gardner and his Stopes Tavern team and league champions Rose and Crown Starling. With the handicap calculated the Stopes Tavern would start the night with a five point advantage which could prove crucial and the main reason why the Taverner’s entered the match as favourites. Both teams had been drawn to play teams in the preliminary round by our league sponsor Roger Bolt and when teams disappeared into the night a few weeks ago it was gently said that “we’ll see each other in the final hopefully”. Paul had chosen his Tavern warriors for battle on the night, the team was Paul Gardner, Tim Green, Roger Bolt and Bert Bullough, Harry Dutton had missed the cut and was on the sub’s bench. Phil had a full squad turn out on the night and had a very difficult decision on who to pick as the front row and who to leave on the subs bench. With the choice of Kieran Goldsbrough, Bob Selby, Wallace “the legend” Warrington and with a push from Lee Sawbridge, the league secretary played on the night.
Both of the teams took up strategic positions (mainly to allow for Wally’s hearing) and settled down for battle. Question-master Jill Ainsworth ably assisted by husband Andy and scorer Peter Maguire took up the umpiring gauntlet. The traditional toss of the coin for starting honours was incorrectly called by the Tavern’s Roger Bolt and Starling elected to go first, first blood to the Rose. Round one as usual is a team consultation round. Question one to the Rose drew a blank on Life in Cold Blood and the blood ran slightly cooler when for the rest of the round a full house scored for both sides. Was this an omen for the Rose and will we catch up the handicap was the thought, as the lead increased for the Stopes to 6-13. Round two first individual round, categories not to bad, only Bob Selby for the Rose got flummoxed with the calendar question, Hail Caesar! and Phil failed to pick up the bonus on extinct New Zealand birds (and no it wasn’t Kiri Tikanawawawa, she’s still alive and kicking), talking himself out of the correct answer! Whilst the Taverner’s dropped two questions so the Rose had levelled the match again just the handicap to haul back 12-17.
Round Three is back to team consultation, the Rose hits form at last dropping a question on photographic co-ops and with no bonus when it went across but with the Taverner’s dropping two questions, the Rose managed to score the bonuses with eight to four in the round, the lead had been clawed back to just one point, 21-20. Into the stick or twist round 4, the theme “love is all around” first two questions scored easily for the Rose then came the lead singer of the Troggs, Kieran wrote Reg but it wasn’t seen by others as a clue and the Rose had to regrettably stick. Prayers were heard at the Rose’s table hope they don’t get eight, hope they don’t get eight, hope they don’t get eight. No one heard the Rose either, as “Manuel” Bolt scored a home run for the Taverner’s with eight points. Halftime score 29-22 to the Taverner’s. Gloom descended over the Rose benches. Both teams retired to charge there glasses and take in some fresh air. Second half starts with team consultation and disaster strikes for the Rose team when Phil is talked out of Rosh Hashanah in favour of a six candle hannakar for the Jewish new year and it is picked up for a bonus and the next one is also passed for a bonus when Doppler is wrong and Coriolis is mentioned it’s close enough. The Taverner’s are pulling away with a full house and both bonus’s so far. When the third question is also readily scored by the Tavern, the Rose cannot afford to drop any more points or it’s game over here and now but a Pipit and Haiti score for the Rose but the Tavern has a full house and bonus’s to go ahead by thirteen, 26-39.
A regroup is needed will the four or two be kind, the Rose are looking to pull point’s back on this round and if Paul’s now fully confident and flying Tavern lad’s score heavily .....game over! First question gives two points for the Tavern, Rose has there question Falkland’s spring to mind with the motto “Desire the right” but is it Gibraltar? Kieran has Falklands, Bob has Gibraltar, Wally has nothing on sonar, Oh no indecision and two points are forfeited for the second part, it was the Falklands! B*££”#KS. The Tavern are protecting their lead by going for two again. The Rose have no clue and go for a safe two on this one also. Again the tavern go for two on Gibraltar motto thankfully, the Rose have an idea that its the Tasmanian Tigers or is it devils but Tigers plumbed for and bingo four points. The next question brings Two points each. 10-8 round win for the Rose but the lead is still eleven, the Rose is thinking is time slipping away, are the heavy scoring rounds gone and they will settle for a match win on the night even if they lose the cup overall, good god this is tight. Round Seven second individuals --- oh hell this doesn’t look good for categories. Bob chooses sports commentators and levels with Eddie Waring, Kieran goes war novels and picks up a bonus and two. Phil gets dumped with Brit awards and misses a bonus and his own question by tossing away car mechanic Kylie but no bonus lost... pheeeew!
Wally has 18th century inventions and almost gets mugged by his own team when he takes an age to level with Hargreaves spinning jenny. Three points back on the round, the lead for the Taverners is eight is it too little to late!! The score 51-43.
Final round the Tavern has only to score on a couple but the Rose has to score heavy. First questions both score for both sides the Tavern need a point for the cup. Second questions the Tavern go Warren Beatty in“Red”, the umpires say no and a bonus is scored with “Reds”. The Rose get Diphtheria amongst other problems! The Tavern drop a “clanger” on the next question with Cornwall but Phil knows its from his home area as he used to eat it as a lad whilst fishing amongst other time consuming past-times but it could be Beds or Bucks as the home of the delicious “Clanger” he answers home...Northants..... wrong its Beds. Sabre toothed Tiger is picked up by the Rose for two. Going into the last question and suddenly Phil realises that the Rose could draw .... no it’s ...yes it is possible. The Tavern lads are given the mantoux test and after contemplating answer wrongly, the Rose pounced and gave the correct T.B. answer just there own for the draw, Jesus and Lazarus didn,t have this much tension, the whole room was on the edge of their seats. The Warren Beatty film question about Benjamin Seigal , Kieran said Bugsy Malone , Phil said no kids but was it casino, no it was Bugsy finally and the come back was complete a draw had been gained when hope was almost given up. 53-53. The handicapper was spot on, who was that person?
And so to the tie-break, and nice to see the legend Wally has risen suggests the birth of poet John Keats was 1796 haven’t got a clue so Phil is with Wally as he must have gone to school together in the 18 hundred’s and the Rose hands in there answer. The Tavern are still deciding ..... the result is announced and the Rose has won Wally was just a year out,... wow the comeback complete..... what a match. Commiserations to Paul, Roger, Tim and Bert,what can be said. it made a good night great for us, it was a genuinely un-expected win especially in Phil’s opinion.
Everyone attending enjoyed the evening especially with the fantastic food donated by Andy and Lynn Grant the hosts and the service provided by the excellent staff at the Hare and Hounds, and spare a thought for the Raspberry blond who provided lubrication all night, super beer.
Thanks also to all from the Hare and Hounds quiz team who made the night run smoothly especially Jill, Andy , Peter and Ian.
and thanks to the Roses subs bench on the night of Lee, Anne Thompson, Terry Brierley, Jayne Rowley and Helen Goldsbrough.
finally thanks to all the staff at the Rose and Crown Starling especially Amanda our host and David.

The view from the other side: - Paul Gardener writes,
Hello all, still reeling from last nights game. A great game to be involved with, well done to the Rose team.
League Knock-out Final:
The excellent newish venue of the Hare & Hounds Holcombe played host for this years final. The Rose & Crown Starling were hoping to add to their Silverware by pulling off a League & Cup double, whilst their opponents Stopes Tavern were hoping to finish off a rallying second half of the season with their first Trophy for 5 years.
The handicap of a 5 point advantage to Stopes seemed hardly sufficient as Phil led his team into battle by electing to go first. The Stopes team of Bert Bullough, Paul Gardner, Roger Bolt & Tim Green flew out of the Blocks & registered a full house to a 6 point reply from the Rose. The adjusted 1st round score meant the Stopes advantage was stretched to 7 points – Score 13 – 6. The individual round drew 2 blanks from Stopes & a single no pointer from the Rose, extinct Birds & Sit-Com Clergy proving too stern a test for the Stopes, whilst the Rose stumbled on the Calendar question. Rose clawed 2 points back to maintain the 5 point difference at 17 – 12 Phil’s team continued their solid start into Rd 3, turning the Screw as Stopes faltered to register only 4 to a confident 8 point reply, Paul’s side needed all of their handicap to maintain a single point lead 21- 20 going into the Stick or Twist Rd.
With a theme of “love is all around” we eagerly awaited the question which begged the answers of Wet, Wet, Wet, the Troggs & Reg Presley. We weren’t disappointed as the Rose was duly presented with the poser who was lead singer of the Troggs on their 3rd question. The silence was deafening as they all (minus Wally) mulled the tune through their heads, verse after verse, but failed to find the answer & stuck on 2 points.
The Stopes were completely flummoxed by their opening teaser of finding the US cartoon series which the Reverend Lovejoy appeared???!!!! after much deliberation a complete shot in the dark produced the correct answer, The Simpsons. This proved a springboard to sail through the round with inspired answers from Roger on the floral & music sections – Manuel & his Music of the Mountains was definitely worthy of 8 points. Half round score saw Stopes extend their lead to 29 -21
With glasses re-fuelled the confident Stopes team further extended their lead to a massive 13 points at the end of Rd 5 & surely the writing was on the wall for Phil’s valiant team of Bob Selby, Kieran Goldsborough & the Legend Wally Warrington???
A cautious Stick or Twist Rd produced 8 points for Stopes, Phil could afford too Gamble & he pulled in an additional 2 points, correctly naming the Tasmanian Tigers as the Aussie Cricket Team competing for the Pura Cup at the 1st attempt. End of Rd 6 saw Stopes lead reduced to 11 points, 47 – 36.
Phil needed a comeback of Champions League proportions, aka Liverpool’s comeback against AC Milan in 2005 to recue anything from the game. Stopes were cruising with an almost unassailable lead to defend through the final 2 rounds. Their name was being engraved on the Cup as we entered the second individual Rd!!!
Phil dug deep & reduced the deficit by 3 points, Stopes faltered on War Novels & Brit Awards, but the 8 point advantage going into the final Rd would surely be enough, 51-43.
With the collective nerves of the Stopes side jangling furiously in unison, we shared the points on the 1st question. At this juncture Stopes pulled out the worlds largest Banana Skin & with the help of their non lip reading Captain answered Red on the Warren Beatty question, correct answer Reds!!!!!!!!!!! bonus point & another correct answer from the Rose saw scores at 53 – 48 with 2 questions remaining. The next Stopes question would prove the most infuriating of the night, in what had been a very fair & even contest. With 40 of the finest brains in the Bury area assembled in the same room, not one person could name which County produced a sweet & savoury Pastry called a Clanger!!!*!***!??
Anther blank & correct answers plus a bonus from the Rose saw the game go to a tie.
A shell shocked & totally demoralised Stopes Team had to bounce back off the ropes for one final question to decide the game.
The tie break question of the year of Poet John Keats birth was just what Wally would have wished for, although he was uncharacteristically 1 year out!!!!! whilst the Stopes were a full century out??
For the neutral a great game to watch, congratulations & well done to the Rose. The Stopes side were last seen in a local hardware store purchasing a length of Rope & a packet of Razor Blades.
A special note to Harry Dutton, the 5th member of the Stopes Team who helped us through to the final, but was unfortunately keeping the Subs Bench warm last night
April 6th presentation night
The presentation night with trophies Phil hopes with quiz and raffle etc is at Heap Bridge Social Club, supper provided on APRIL 6th. Usual and unusual draw prizes please all ideas welcome.

TEAM	P	W	D	L	PTS	FOR	AGAINST
ROSE & CROWN (STAR)	18	16	0	2	32	858	702
RADCLIFFE CC	18	15	1	2	31	913	732
SWAN & RAILWAY (B)	18	9	2	7	20	790	720
ROSE & CROWN (RAM)	18	9	1	8	19	748	744
STOPES TAVERN	18	9	0	9	18	747	735
HARE & HOUNDS	18	8	1	9	17	757	768
HEAP BRIDGE SC	18	8	1	9	17	737	731
PACK HORSE	18	6	1	11	13	707	745
SWAN & RAILWAY (A)	18	5	1	12	11	607	756
SUN DIAL	18	1	0	17	2	584	815

TEAM	HANDICAP
ROSE & CROWN (STAR)	3
RADCLIFFE CC	0
HARE & HOUNDS	8
SWAN & RAILWAY (B)	6
STOPES TAVERN	8
PACK HORSE	10
HEAP BRIDGE SC	7
ROSE & CROWN (RAM)	7
SUN DIAL	16
SWAN & RAILWAY (A)	17


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		BURY & DISTRICT QUIZ LEAGUE 2008/2009