First county players meeting/social.

I really didn't know what to expect today other than administration stuff being sorted, paying for t-shirts and hoodies and finding out when are matches are. I didn't expect the pool hall to be filled with county players already drinking the ciders and beers at 11am (it was really 10am 'coz the clocks went forward last night), I thought that I was just meeting with the other girls in the team and having a knock around for a couple of hours but the men were there too and the youths, the place was busy.

After my coffee had been spilled over me and my trousers and pool case it was announced that everyone was going to be randomly put into teams of one girl, one youth, one senior and one men's player to play in a tournament. Amazingly, John and I were put in the same team. John did not look overjoyed when I saw him at the bar grimacing and put his head down into his hands. We spend enough time together with him coaching the girls Uni club AND we play Monday night league too, but I was happy to get the chance to annoy him. The rest of the our team was made up of 11 year old Elliot and seniors player Steffan. We didn't play so well and lost a few sets, but somehow, many of the teams weren't doing so well either averaging just a total of 10 points. we scraped into the semis and then found ourselves suddenly in the final playing against V's team who had beaten us 4-1 earlier.

Young Elliot was first to play. By this time most of the county players had gone home, it was 6.30pm-ish and everyone was feeling tired. Kenny, Elliot's opponent, cleared most of his balls away from the table in his first visit so putting the pressure onto Elliot. Elliot played some awesome safety and tactical shots and held in there until he played some beautiful shots to win the game.

Next up was Steffan against V. It was a tense game and there were some tense pressure shots from both sides, but Steffan 'held his own' and won the frame.

John was the third to play. He was a touch scrappy, but I think the sleepless nights were adding the weight on his shoulders because his 'touch' was a bit off. Dave, his opponent put up a good fight but it just wasn't enough for him to beat John. At one point I thought I was going to have to play after John, but thankfully, no. He went on to win and we won the tournament. Incredible, but true.

I'm looking forward to our home match tomorrow night for the Monday night pub league. I'm wondering if I should start drinking Jaegermeisters from when I go to the Crown to practice before hand or wait 'til I get to the White House pub. Either way, I'm ready for a fight.

Next county match in May.