Home versus WAMDSAD

And so it was that a rudderless, leaderless Racks Pack team pitched up for their first home game of the season without its captain and inspiration, Judge Keith Walls. Further encouragement could be gained from the fact that the other Racks team, also at home that night, was a team of ladies – surely Southam and all would be in their element?

This weeks Captains report comes from the stand in captain; a man of such calibre and reputation that the only thing more minor than his pool is his schlong.

Captain’s Report
Kevin Southam

Good news and bad news for week four of the Racks Pack demolition of the Maidenhead Summer League Division E. Without Lee G and Judge Budge we were down to the bare six for our first home game of the season. This was tempered by the return of Brad Robinson – we were as good as 2-0 up before the start!

The Young…

Needless to say 8PM rolls around and we only have five players. First decision made – Tready is on last! With an hours free practice on two tables everyone was well and truly warmed up.

My theory of team selection is simple - put your best player on third and you’ll never be more than 2-1 down. It was a close call but BR edged it by virtue of the fact the rest of us are complete dross.

My keen observation of the practice hour evidenced a break from form. JY actually looked like he could hold a cue and thus was thrust into the pressure-cooker atmosphere of frame one. He delivered his best game of the season for 1-0.

Swanny ‘flair master general’ and Brad followed, and by the time Tready put in an appearance the boys had secured a 3-0 lead. Brad showed a class the rest of us lack by astutely observing that the key to victory against a young and inexperienced opponent was to leave him as many opportunities to clear up as possible, thus crushing his confidence with each successive miss. Chalk one up for the master tactician – ruthless.

With myself and Tready also winning in the first half, the only blip on the radar was Neil’s loss giving us a 5-1 margin at half time.

…and the restless

Tready asked for a time out from holding up the middle order, and thus a vacancy was created for his spot at position 7. JY was still buzzing from his first half performance, and even before I could ask he had volunteered his services as battering ram. Another good performance and 6-1.

Neil was up next to prove to us all that his first half performance was a mere hiccup, and had JY hung around I am sure he would been among those congratulating Neil on a decisive win and 7-1. Rumours of a smash-and-grab raid at KFC abound.

In the next Brad gave more weight to his reputation as the most reviled man in pool by securing all six of his opponents balls around the corner pocket covered by his black. He toyed. She folded. In the end she was just prayin’ to die. 8-1.

With only one bad shot in my frame I ruined our chances of an 11-Neil victory, and not to be outdone Tready also showed that it was possible to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.

Last game, and having watched Brad in the first half, Swanny was aiming to deepen the psychological scars of our young pretender and duly induced a classic (quite literally) schoolboy error. After a chorus of “go your own way” he left his opponent with the black hanging over the middle pocket but an obvious in-off in the top corner. Firm striking saw him deposit the black in the middle bag - but the white careered towards the top corner, rapping the knuckle of the pocket, the rubber on the back of the pocket, ending up on the floor. Cries of ‘unlucky’ were mixed with ‘get in there’ for 9-3.

With Keith not around there were no obvious contenders for pointless flair shot of the week, and we all look forward to seeing him make up for lost time next week.

Next Game: away versus The Farmers Boy.