15th January 2002 Cup Last 32 - Green Dragon v White Hart A
Simon on the spot says:
How's this for a headline (one of my better ones I think!)
St. George Geoff and the Dragon Slay White Hart
A!!!!
January 15th will henceforth be known as Saint Geoff's day! Let me explain: -
The Singles
Tony lost, Paul won, Simon won, Martin H won, Martin T lost, Rich won, Peachey lost, Geoff lost. Drawing 4 - 4.
The Doubles
Tony and Paul won, Simon and Martin H won, Martin T and Rich lost, Peachey and Geoff lost. Drawing 6 - 6.
The Fours
Lost top 4. Won bottom 4 (St. Geoff getting out to keep us in the match!) Drawing 8 - 8.
The Eight
Won the eight (who else but St. Geoff hitting the vital double to keep us in the cup!). Won match 11 - 8.
A real clash of the titans - Man United v Liverpool, Borg v McEnroe, Tyson v Lewis, Steelers v Patriots (well maybe not), and now Green Dragon v White Hart A. (Yes the same White Hart whose B team beat us in the league when they only had seven players).
The captain's plan of putting together a strong top 4 worked for the most part right up until they conspired to lose the top 4, having won everything barring Tony's single up to that point. (Yes Tony, we know your opponent hit a 180 first chuck).
Suddenly defeat loomed large and another early cup exit was on the cards.
Who in the bottom 4 was going to get us out of trouble? Only Rich had won his single, and even this was hardly convincing - 10 minutes on double 1.
Up stepped St. Geoff to save the day and take it to the gallon, despite calls from Tony to miss it so we could all spend future cup Tuesdays at home!
So a very close game moved into what had seemed inevitable all night. A nail biting climax took it's toll in a poor standard eight. Both teams reached a double, but St. Geoff held his nerve (once again surviving Tony's calls to "miss for God's sake!") to start the celebrations.
So we're still in the cup despite playing a team from a higher league! Bring on the Barley Mow! Let's just hope we get a home draw.
Oh, and another first........... during the eight Martin T actually threw 3 darts off the board! I didn't see it myself, but I am led to believe they all stuck in the board, just outside the doubles ring! I think he won a goldfish.