We
are the Champions.
Chiang Mai Pool League supporters won’t forget the
finish of two seasons ago, when Half Moon Pub and Rock Hard Bistro both
ended top with the same number of points and games won.
In a magnificent play-off at a crowded Out Back, fortunes
fluctuated down to the very last black, which was coolly sunk by The
Moon’s Steve.
Ironically, Half Moon Pub clinched this term’s title
against the same opposition, but they didn’t leave it so late this time,
with two league matches still to play.
Last week, a jittery start by the favorites allowed Rock
Hard Bistro an early lead before a forceful recovery saw The Moon surge to a
3-1 advantage. Rock Hard made a spirited reply to pull one game back, but
Half Moon took the rest of the frames to run out Champions for the second
time in three seasons.
In an exclusive interview with Chiangmai Mail, Half
Moon’s skipper, Steve said, “We joined the League four years ago, and I
must say we’re pleased with our achievements since then.”
Pat Black (PB) “To what do you attribute this
success?”
Steve: “In a word, consistency, as we’ve managed to
keep a good nucleus of players who have given solid performances and after
losing, we’ve managed to bounce back to form quickly.”
PB: “So what about the future?”
Steve: “We’re confident of course, but there are a
lot of good players around and there are no easy matches in this league.”
PB: “So, I guess right now you must be over the
moon.”
Steve: “Well yeah! 50 percent of it anyway.
In Chiangers and Bangers’ quest to catch the leaders,
their 8-1 thrashing of Enjoy Place turned out to be futile. Nevertheless,
this score line has done no harm to their chances in the race for runners-up
and keeps them ahead of third placed Blue Sky Bar, who also won 8-1 in a
derby match against Blue Sky Garden.
Despite Chiangers leading Blue Sky Bar by a point, they
trail by ten games and all eyes will be on these two sides when they meet in
the next round of fixtures.
The Wall maintained fourth position with a Houdini act at
December Bar. The home side’s recent good form looked set to continue as
they led 4-2 at the break. But “The Brickies” cemented three wins in the
doubles to give themselves a mathematical chance of second place.
Elsewhere, Friend’s Corner could complete their best
season ever after beating The Local 6-3, and leapfrogging them to 5th place
in the table. It was all square at 3-3 before the Corner took control and
extended The Local’s surprisingly bad run to 3 consecutive losses.
Even worse, Out Back faced their 6th successive defeat by
going 0-4 down to Happy Bar. A recovering to 3-4 only saw Happy take the
match in the next frame for their third victory of the season.
Number 1 Pub also managed a much needed win when they eased their way
past La Villa 6-3, after leading 5-1 at halftime. And lastly, the match
postponed from the Friday before last was eventually awarded 9-0 in favour
of Blue Sky Garden by default against Enjoy Place.
The
representative of Wat Chiang Yuen kinder-garten school in ball throwing
competition.