Exiles prove to be Aldeburghs bogey side

Sunday August 10th 2008
Deben Division of Suffolk Coastal Petanque League

Team Line-Up: Jimmy Robinson, Tina Robinson, Simon Fletcher & Lewis Fletcher

Going into this match, second place in the table, all we needed to do was to avoid defeat and hope that our greater points difference would see us through as runners up and therefore secure our play-off spot.

We were however facing the only side to have beaten us this season when we put in a woeful display at Bealings earlier in the league programme. Surely that couldnt happen again, could it?

Skipper Robinson decided to pair himself with Lewis and Simon with Tina in the first set of games. With the piste proving to be one of the divisions most difficult ones to judge, conditions made the boules roll even further than normal. Our pointing wasnt up to its usual standard and Simons shooting, for once, was well below par. And therefore it was no surprise that we were already 2-0 down at the halfway stage.

Pairing the team up with the partnerships that usually start a match, Jimmy and Tina ensured it wasnt a complete whitewash by gaining a win in their game. However everything rested on the Simon/Lewis match where at one point we found ourselves 8-0 down. Never give up was the lesson here as the Aldeburgh pairing got back to 11-10 down before succumbing to a final two points that saw the match slip into Exiles hands by 3-1.

This result leaves us in second place but an Exiles win will see them overtake us. Also 2 wins for Suivre Les Boules could also see them overtake our points tally. Therefore we could end up 4th place out of 5 teams in a division that we led for around 16 of its 20-odd week calendar!! And the reason for this possible turn of events.... the inability to beat one particular side home and away this year. We seemed to save our worst performances for these 2 matches.

Overall though, the season has been good and all members of the side have enjoyed being part of the inaugural season of the Suffolk Coastal Petanque League.