Monday 16 November 2009

O'Brien Bucket 2009

With 20 entrants and all the rounds played off on time, the O'Brien Bucket 2009 was as well contested as ever. Des O'Brien himself would have been proud.

As is usual these days, Wednesday's semi-finals were witnessed by a few observers in the balcony. Mike Douglas saw ex bucket holder David Grieve to the fifth game and with both men at the pin of their collars, Mike made it thru. Brian Sloan also had a marathon before coming thru against Peter Roberts.
So on Friday as the baying crowd turned up on the balcony, it was "Contender ready, Gladiator ReadddDDAAAYY" as they played off scratch. Brian got off to a blistering start running down everything to go 6-0 up. Mike soon learnt not go short so often and stopped haemorraging points but by then he'd lost the first 9-15.
It took him a little longer to adapt to playing a left-hander. He took the second 15-12. Brian was no longer getting the clean winners he had in the first. By now Brian was taking tennis-length gaps before serving but once he was advised to speed up from the official, he started serving on the call of the score. The faster tempo suited Mike more and he took the 3rd 15-13.
One rally saw a dive from Brian leaving him prostrate whereon Mike did the sporting thing and dumped a sitter in the tin. The next dive saw Brian lying helpless and legs flailing like an upside-down beetle, this time Mike understandably played the ball safely up to the wall for a presumed winner.. only to his horror to see Brian rise Lazarus-like and slash it away for his own winner. Cue guffaws from the balcony as Mike holds his head in both hands.

However it was to no avail as Mike kept his nose in front though Brian brought it back to 12-12 before tinning and losing 12-15.

So Mike adds his name on the Bucket, having previously won the O-40s cup. He received a Titan TT racket worth £75 for his cup, er Bucket run while Brian was able to treat his partner to a bottle of wine (it's in the post, honest).
Well done, guys, good show. Next up, the Inaugural Over-50's Quaich.

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