Training
The day started dank and chilly. Awaiting us in the swirling mist was Ross with all his 'tools of torture.' Our training session had begun. Various tyres, sliced to fit purpose, aligned along the Piste. Each tyre accompanied by either a coche, boule or piece of wood placed strategically to stretch our pointing or shooting. Gary, myself, Geoff, Ian and Stuart dug deep and delivered....Short or long....but SOMETIMES on target! Yeah. Our Boule Master (Ross), heaved a sigh of relief. 'Consistency is the key' was his mantra. My consistency was like lumpy custard. Palatable, but could be better...Still, we enjoyed ourselves and felt we were trying hard to improve.
Games
By the time we had our customary friendly games between us all, we were raring to go! We had four lots of Triples. I found myself on the Boule Master's side, which made me wonder whether I would deliver enough to reach Gold Standard! Well........hey, I was dead proud to deliver a couple of 'sidewinders' that curved in nicely, both to the right and to the left and which left the opposition needing to do better. Carol, on the other hand, playing for the opposition, did just that! Her pointing was second to none. Stuart, on her team, delivered impeccably, his naturally smooth swing was set in liquid motion, spinning the boule to settle pretty darn close to that little orange elusive ball...In the end, after three games, The Boule Master's side (Ross') won 2 games and the opposition 1. But they were hard fought games, the first game going right down to the wire, 13-12.
Man of the match? Or Woman? Well, in my estimation, all six of us played reasonably well. But if I was to contemplate with any seriousness, the word 'consistency'...well then, Man of the Match would go to our own Darth Vader ((Ian Clithero). His dark boule torpedoed their blistering way to the coche time after time. His accuracy was impressive to say the least. And Carol Bavister pointed extremely well, so she deserves Woman of the Match. Ross? Well he deserves special thanks for trying to imbue in us all, the very best way to play Petanque. He just might have to wait awhile...
Man of the match? Or Woman? Well, in my estimation, all six of us played reasonably well. But if I was to contemplate with any seriousness, the word 'consistency'...well then, Man of the Match would go to our own Darth Vader ((Ian Clithero). His dark boule torpedoed their blistering way to the coche time after time. His accuracy was impressive to say the least. And Carol Bavister pointed extremely well, so she deserves Woman of the Match. Ross? Well he deserves special thanks for trying to imbue in us all, the very best way to play Petanque. He just might have to wait awhile...
Until next week
Gill Mason
Gill Mason