March 19th–Season’s Last Game

 

News and Views has already pointed out how close the situation is in the B League with several permutations of promotion and relegation being possible depending on the results of this the last game of the season.

The Phoenix were playing the Nag’s Head, a Robinson’s pub with a delightful interior and with a better selection of beer than the usual Robbies; as well as the usual, there was Dizzy Blonde a tasty light beer, and Frederics a ruby red ale named after the founder and celebrating 175 years of brewing in Stockport.

The team are old friends from over the years who have had more success than the Phoenix in short-term promotion to the A League and were sure to be a tough team to beat.

The questions were something of a mixed bag, the Specialist in particular being difficult if not obscure and perhaps one or two will make it into the new blog being a hall of shame for obscure questions. At the end of the Specialist the score was 40 to the Nags to just 37 to the Phoenix’

A special mention must be made of the question master from the Knot Know Alls who was clearly inexperienced but controlled a game that had a lot resting on it and in which the tension broke through from time to time. Nevertheless the game was played in good humour with friendly banter. The General Knowledge rounds ended with 63 to the Nags and 76 to the Phoenix.

The tactic of the Phoenix is plain to see from the scores below – at the cost of individual glory they made sure that they answered almost all of their questions:

Bob 3/15, Wendy 3/12, Nick 6/6 and Tomo 9/15; conferred points were 11/18 with 5/10 pass-overs. The Nags picked up 9/9 pas-overs.  Final score 103 to the Nags, 113 to the Phoenix.

The evening ended with a magnificent supper of a choice of sweet and sour chicken or piri piri chicken with chips and bread and butter. Many thanks to the Nags for their hospitality, to the team for their good humour and to the Knot Know Alls for their control of the game.

The end of a great season that sees the Phoenix top of the League and heading for the A League.

13th March – Twilight of the Season

 

With just two more games to play (one for some!!) only one point separates the top three teams and the next two teams could still come top of the League. This season has been a real cliff-hanger for the B League.

The Phoenix were playing at home for the last time, against the Plough Horntails who are in the chasing group; old friends who are always a challenge despite the light-hearted approach. Bosley was tired after a week in London with his former owner (Nick’s son) but Rosie turned up to make sure we were not without a mascot.

All questions had been set by the Knot Originals, and a welcome change from the furore surrounding last week’s Specialist – see comments beneath the blog. The Specialist in particular were very well received especially by the Phoenix as the questions played to their strengths in the main - although the Horntails finished the rounds with a lead of 50 to 49.

In the General Knowledge the Phoenix managed to take the lead and played in a very disciplined manner to finish the rounds with 84 to 76, making the final score 134 to 125.

However, we will have to wait until the full results are published to see if the Phoenix have done enough to get promoted to the A League.

Individual scores were Bob 12/12, Wendy 9/18, Nick 6/18 and Tomo 6/15; conferred points were 11/8 with 6/13 pass-overs. The Horntails collected 4/9 pass-overs.

A most enjoyable evening, enhanced by the superb selection of ales and good humoured banter. Thanks to the question master from the Cock-A-2, to the Horntails and to Brian and Tracey for a delicious selection of sandwiches and pies for supper.

Bring back the missing Trophy!

 

Hello All!, Duncan Disorderley here. The Waters Green Phoenix team is away on a bonding course prior to their final push for a promotion spot. They’ve gone on one of these self-help courses called “Tap Dance Your Way to Social Ridicule” so Nick has asked me to pen a few words for the Blog.

Actually, I’m glad of the opportunity to say more than a few words. As someone who has been on the Macclesfield Quiz League Scene for 27 years since I first started playing for the Limping Whippet, I feel it my duty to point out that some of the questions setters are taking liberties. Questions are being asked that only the most devoted geek could answer and you can take it from me as a keen observer that this is not going down well. Mind you, this is nothing new. Let me tell you a true story. Those of a certain age may remember in the early 1990s that a spate of smart-arse questions came to a head when four whole leagues of unsuspecting teams were given this question:

“What is the only creature, apart from man, that can catch leprosy?” (I’ll pause here whilst you rack your brains)......................

No?

Thought not.

The answer is the Nine-banded Armadillo. No, not the fourteen-banded or the triple-banded – they are immune. Just the nine banded variety.

Complaints were made, results were checked and NOBODY in all four divisions (the league was bigger then), got the question right. Following lots of discussion and accusations of stopping rival teams from scoring, my old mate Peter Cole introduced the “Nine-Banded Armadillo” Trophy for the worst question of the season. This was actually awarded, (amongst much good humour, I might say) for two years running. It did have an effect and the smart-Alec questions diminished. They are back.

Yes, I KNOW that the quiz league can be an object lesson in obscurity. I’ve never forgotten my own embarrassment in my first year when I was told amid much chuckling that Stanhope, Phaeton and Brougham were types of horse-drawn carriages and not a firm of Macclesfield solicitors, and that the Transuranics are elements and not a rock group.

I KNOW the time-worn arguments that are tripped out at a time like this – “the only hard questions are the ones YOU don’t know the answer to” is my particular favourite.

I KNOW we’re still burdened with stupidities like Collective Nouns and Phobias which we blacklisted years ago (apparently Gallophobia is fear of the French, not of hanging), but we can’t get it ALL right.

I KNOW that they are legitimate questions but the clue is in the world General Knowledge, not Geeky Knowledge! There have even been WHOLE ROUNDS on obscurities. If I have never watched Corry or think that rap should be spelt with a silent ‘c’ then that’s my tough luck for the odd questions that come along on those subjects, but not eight of them! All these questions do is spoil a good evening’s entertainment.

Off my soap box now, but I’m going to ask to Blogmeister Nick when he comes back, if the light-hearted Nine-banded Armadillo Trophy can be re-introduced. We’re near the end of the season but we could use the remaining matches as a trial and kick off properly in the new season. I’m hoping Nick will agree to have an Armadillo League Table to which I will send contributions and I hope that others will. There should be a suitably daft prize for the winning setters!

If you want to send me nice comments or better still money, please leave a message with Nick.

Bye for now

Duncan.

After Duncan’s comments above The Phoenix were Question Masters propting Bob to add te following:

“"It was question-master time for the Phoenix last week, so Bob Langstaff has sent in this brief report:
Hi All, and thanks to my old comrade-in-arms Duncan Disorderley for his  contribution to Nick's brilliant blog.
Lots were drawn as usual and I ended up refereeing the Plough Horntails versus the Robin Hood. The Plough is a great pub with what I would vote the most friendly staff anywhere outside of the beloved Tavern. Not only that, having a rubbish sense of direction, I can see the pub lights from miles away so I don't get lost!. To anyone who has not read the novel "Titus
Groan" then you should have. Those who have read it will be reminded of one of it's best chapters - "In A Lime-Green Light".    Every time I go to the Plough I think of the evil Swelter sharpening his axe!
All that aside the teams and the evening were a treat.  Both teams were a bit put-out when they discovered that a packed pub were not cheering them every five minutes but were watching Man United against Real Madrid!  They soon swallowed their pride, and a few pints and got on with the quiz. The questions generally went down well except for the round on Red Dwarf which went down like a rattlesnake in a lucky dip/fart in a submarine. All were in
good humour and the Robin Hood ran out winners. A lovely supper provided by the friendly hosts!
I believe that quiz guru Duncan has asked Nick to re-introduce the
Nine-banded Armadillo Trophy. He has seen the questions and would like to make his first submission.
Question Setters: Prince of Wales (from a round called "The Smeg It Is"
Question: The actor David Ross played the original Kryten before being replaced. However he returned to voice the character of which annoying kitchen appliance?
Answer: Talkie Toaster.”

BRING BACK ThE  MISSING TROPY!!