Presentation Night 19 Sept

I was away having a weeks break in Krabi & Phi Phi Islands and so could not attend the presentation night but Ron Tyre tells me that it was a good night. Inter Bar were the winners for 2008 with Blue Sky and Oasis the runners-up. Apparently there will be a meeting soon to discuss the next competition.

Sorry, I have missed a few reports on games, my only excuse is a lack of interest due to the fact that the bar is pulling out of the league next season. Could be a good time to take a break from Friday night pool. The current League is drawing to a close with only one game remaining, the games I failed to report on were all losses so I am afraid that the lack of interest is contagious. Having said that, I feel personally that the team did well in the top division to remain in the middle order throughout the competition and until the end even after suffering the loss of our two best players mid season. Well done all concerned.

Away v Oasis Fri 1 Aug

Well, not a bad result against the second top team in the league, it was always going to be a struggle and just one mistake and the game is over. We finished the singles down 4/2 and dragged it back in the doubles to a 5/4 loss. It could have been worse with one of our new players failing to nominate an obvious pot black in the last game of doubles but Oasis showed good sportsmanship and allowed the slip. Also one of our players failed to show again this week and luckily Shane was able to help us out as he did last week. I didnt get a report on the Bistro game as Kim was off sick but I believe the result was also a 5/4 loss. The bad news for both teams is that Nr 1 Pub will not be entering the league in the future.

Home v Inter Bar & Blue Sky Bar

Nr 1 Pub had to face up against the top team in the league Inter Bar at home and we were not off to a good start with one of our team advising us he could not make it and another just failing to show up leaving us one short. But the show must go on and we grabbed a visitor Shane to play for us. We lost the first two games of singles but came back in the second two to draw even but that was the extent of our brave effort, we lost all the remaining games in singles and doubles going down 7/2. More often than not it only takes one silly mistake at this level to be the difference between a win and a loss and there were some silly mistakes made on this night. Better luck next week against Oasis.

Nr 1 Bistro were also at home to Blue Sky and it must have been one of those nights as their games went along a similar vein drawing even in the singles but then going down 6/3. It seems that the Bistro is at home again next week against Ralph Fitch Bar. Good Luck.

League Cup 22 July

Nr 1 Bistro played a rescheduled League Cup match at the Local. Unfortunately due to lack of interest in the League Cup Kim was left with only half a team. Still even with stand-ins most of the games went to the black ball but the Bistro were definately outplayed on the night and went down 7/2 and good luck to the other team. Bistro went home happy with their effort and glad to be out of the League Cup. Roll on friday night.

11 July v Chiangers Bangers & Friends Bar

Nr 1 Pub were away to Chiangers & Bangers and their new beefed up team sent us a wake-up call when they had us down 2/0 in the singles. We fought back to make it 4/2 in our favour but again in the doubles they had us down 2/0 which was a big shock considering they are sitting in 10th spot in Division 1. A good last game gave us a win 5/4 but it was one of the toughest games we have had this season. Bistro were also away to Friends Bar and had a bit of an unlucky start and were down and out 5/1 in the singles but as they have done over the past three weeks they came back to win all three doubles games and give a respectable result even if a loss at 4/5. Bistro should be at home next week in the second round of the League Cup - Good Luck.

Home v The Local & Happy Bar 4th July

You could say that during the 4th July celebrations Nr 1 Pub team shot itself in the foot. The other team didn't so much as win but rather we let them do so. Yes too many silly little mistakes but I guess it was just one of those nights. We were down 2/0 fought back to 2/2 and finished the singles down 4/2. It didnt take long for them to secure the win with us going down in the first game of doubles and finishing the night with a loss 6/3. Better luck next week and a big Welcome to Tom who joined the team on this inglorious occasion.

The Bistro though had plenty of reason to celebrate coming back from being down 4/0 to Happy Bar in the singles and not loosing another game to achieve a miraculous escape and win 5/4. In the end it was down to some fantastic snooker escapes and snooker shots by Joy. Well done team.

Friday 27th June

Nr 1 Pub were away at The Wall and with Steve away sick it was necessary to call on one of our back-up players and this time it was Joy. We started off very well in the singles being up 5/0 and just missing out on the last game to make it 5/1, good enough to win the game but then let our guard down a little in the doubles. We won the first game of doubles but lost the next two leaving the final score 6/3 and a good win.

Nr 1 Bistro were away at Oasis Bar against TT. The team also had players away and had to call on spares Kim & Scott to make a team. Apparently a very close game with the score 3/3 after the singles and the final score being 5/4 for another win. John was particularly excited about winning both his games for the first time.

Both teams are at Home next week for a 4th of July celebration with the Pub playing the Local and the Bistro playing Happy Bar. Good Luck all concerned.

After an initial mix-up as to where we were playing and a ride around town for 6 of us on Ron's Buffalo cart, getting cheers from all the girls at the bars and from the tourists in Anusan Market, we came back to Nr 1 Pub to play Rock Hard at home. Nr 1 Pub was really alive with both teams playing at home and the cheer squads in both bars screaming at full pitch. Rock Hard were in fine form on the night and were leading 4/2 in the singles after Ann let her nerves get the better of her and followed the black in on what should have been a certain win. But we have all done it or something similar, Right ? So we were behind going into the doubles but the team pulled together and we were 4/4 going into the last game which once again came down to the very last ball. A very tense and exciting competition with all games close as usual but Rock Hard took the win on the night and we went down 4/5. Better luck next week team as we go into the second half of the competition, that's right folks we have to do it all over again but different.

Nr 1 Bistro played Chiangers and Bangers at home and had it won by the second doubles game. Also a very exciting night with plenty of cheering from the girls. Final result was a win 5/4. Well done all.

Friday 13 June

Nr 1 Pub suffered the loss of two of their best players but the team held firm and with two new members Steve and Anne went away to Enjoy Place to do battle with the second top team. On a table that can only be described as tough, uneven and with tight pockets it was a challenge to say the least. It was a long night as every game went to the last ball and with evenly matched players tactics came to the fore. 3/3 after the singles and with one game each in the doubles it came down to Daz & Anne in the last game of doubles and the pressure was showing when both teams missed set-ups on the black ball, but Daz & Anne held their nerve and we finished the close fought battle victorious - result 5/4.

Nr 1 Bistro had a good game at home against Lazy Moon. Some controversy in the game when one of the opposition players touched the ball and a foul was called. If you are going to indicate a ball to hit to your partner you cannot touch the ball, even if your clothing or hair touch the ball it is a foul shot. Apparently the game was already won at that stage anyway and it was a good overall result to Nr 1 Bistro 6/3.

Fri 6 Jun v Half Moon

Back to the normal league after a week of league cup. Number one pub were at home against half moon. As expected and as usual it was a tough assignment even with home table advantage. Snooker seems to play a big part in Half Moons tactics and it worked for them in some cases tonight. We were down 4/2 in the singles but only after a tough fight over the black ball. Loui & Fern brought us back in the first game of the doubles and we still had a chance. Unfortunately though we lost the next two doubles games to go down 6/3. Number one Bistro were away to Em&Em but also went down 6/3. Better luck next week everyone.

League Cup 1st round.

It was necessary for us to play a preliminary round for the Cup against Lazy Moon at Half Moon on Thurs 28 May. As this is a knockout comp the result of this round would give us a game on Friday night or not. Nr 1 Pub defeated Lazy Moon 6/3 and so we went on to play against Oasis Bar at Oasis (Unfortunate draw that both our games were away). Unfortunately for us the majority of the team were a bit below their best on the night and we went down to a strong Oasis team 6/3

23 May @ Blue Sky Bar

Have I said this before, "They are all tough games in Division One", well it's worth repeating. Almost every game goes down to the last ball and more often than not in the singles the score ends up 3/3 and last night at Blue Sky Bar was no different. Unfortunately for us the doubles did not go our way with the score being 0/3 resulting in a loss to Nr 1 Pub 3/6. Next Thursday 29 May we play the 1st round of the League Cup against Lazy Moon Ladies at Half Moon with no game on Friday 30 May. The bad news is that the comp is not going to get any easier with our next game on 6 June at home against Half Moon. In Division 2 game Nr 1 Bistro at home were down 4/2 after the singles but made a brilliant come back to win 5/4.

21 May home v Oasis

Well, the delaying and rescheduling of this game in the end did not save them from defeat. As expected it was a tough game against last years champions. After the singles it was 3/3 but it was all over after the second game of doubles with the final score being 5/4. That should put us in the number 3 position on the ladder - Well done team.

Next week we have to play a knockout game against Lazy Moon Ladies at Half Moon on Thursday 29th May.

Fri 9th May Away v Inter & Blue Sky

The Number 1 Pub played Inter Bar who were in shock when Ron broke in the first game of the night and sunk the black ball to win the game with one shot. Next up was Daz who dazzled them with an easy win by 5 balls next up was Fern which needs no further comment and Loui also won to have us up 4/2 in the singles. The team then went on to take the doubles 2/1 making it an overall win of 6/3. Number 1 Bistro had a tough match against Blue Sky who Kim has tipped to win the overall competition this year. The Bistro went down 7/2 but Kim has the team working on their doubles play hoping for better communication between team players. Well done everyone and lets keep working to get Number 1 in Number 1.

Home v ChiangersBangers & Friends Bar

Home games are always popular as was the case this week with plenty of players and all in good form. Div One played Chiangers and Bangers and at start time only one opposition player was present to write the team up on the board but we finally got away, albeit late. Apparently they are having problems organising their teams with their second team forfieting. A big Welcome to Daz joining the team and winning both his games. I guess coming late left the Chiangers team a little disorganised and it showed in their play going down 5/1 in the singles and no better in the doubles with the final result being a 7/2 win to Nr 1 Pub. Div Two played a tactical game against Friends Bar and it looked like it was working being 3/3 in the singles and taking two of the doubles games for a win 5/4 to Nr 1 Bistro. A Happy result all round.

A word of advise to all players in the teams, if you can't make it to play or if you are going to be late for the game, you must call the team captains Kim or Garry otherwise it will be assumed that you are not playing and as per the rules of the competition, once the names are on the board they cannot be changed.

Nr 1 Pub team fought a tough battle at The Local winning the singles 4/2 but then unbelievably went down 3/0 in the doubles to lose the match 5/4. I must say that a couple of silly mistakes were made and a very unlucky sinking of an opponents ball along with the black were all it took to cause our defeat, but that is how it goes in this tough competition.

The Bistro had a similar defeat at Happy Bar losing the match 5/4.

2008 season starter

Well the competition is off to a flying start. Plenty of discussion about the foul rule resulting in a free table but the competition carried on and you can be assured that all the games will be tough. Division One were defeated 7/2 but most of the games went to the last ball and it showed that any loss of concentration by a player resulted in a loss or a bit of luck for a player resulted in a win. The new Bistro team in Division Two had a win 5/4 and once again players who were expected to win apparently lost but it looks like we do have a couple of good teams with prospects looking good for the 2008 season. The two teams will sort themselves out over the coming weeks but you can be sure there will be no easy games this season so keep the concentration going and good luck one and all.

New Competition begins 18 April

The meeting held at Tiger Bar was well attended and many changes were introduced into the competition. There will be 19 teams in the upcoming comp necessitating a bi for all teams during the round. The league will be split into two divisions with ten in the top division and 9 in the bottom division and three teams up for elevation/relegation. The new entry fee for each team is Baht500. A player is only allowed to change teams once in a season the only exception being if a bar closes down then you are free to change teams. The new start time is 0830 when at least one opposing team member must be present to write team on the board and break the balls for the first game, any team member not present when it is his turn to play forfeits. The new competion will commence after Songkran on 18th April. There are some changes to the rules in the break, on a foul and ball off the table being placed near the black spot and not in the pocket but I will leave those to be defined by the committee. There will also be a list promulgated which will give a contact number for each bar and team captain.

Nr1 Pub Presentation

At the end of a good years competition prizes were presented on behalf of Joy and Fred to the winners of the in-house competition. With both Loui and Fern ending up on equal points (55) and Loui having the highest percentage (61.5%) of singles wins and Fern having the highest percentage (70%) of doubles wins there was no doubt as to who won. Well done Loui and Fern.
It is also worth mentioning that Dee who moved to Bangkok 2/3 of the way into the season ended up with the second highest percentage (60%) of singles wins. Ron and Garry were next in line with 48% in singles and 50% in doubles followed by Kim who withdrew before the end of the season. Our stand by players also contributed well with Joy winning 50% singles and 72% doubles and Cedric winning 43% singles and 86% of his doubles. As captain I congratulate each and every one of you and thank you for a great season where we elevated ourselves from 10th last year to 6th this year. I hope to see you all again next year where we intend to improve our position once more ..... onward and upward.

Meeting for next season comp

There will be a meeting held at Tiger Bar 0830 Friday 21 March 08 to determine the format/rules for the upcoming season. Topics up for discussion include League format (two divisions?), Starting time (8:30pm), team rules and playing rules (world eight ball rules?), Start date (before or after Songkran?), Entry Fees etc. Please attend and make your opinions count towards a better competition for all.

End of Season

With all games completed there will be a presentation at the Oasis Bar for the winning teams on Friday 14 March ... all welcome. Saturday night at Nr 1 Pub will be a gathering of the team and a meet and greet the all new second team for next season. Fred & Joy are also opening their kitchen just to try out some hamburgers and such like on us. So everbody come along and support your teams. See you there.