Tuesday night darts – Game 11 of 14 – ACDC vs The Tavern

So, four games left in the season and this week we played the all-girls team  ACDC at Red bar who are currently propping up the league table with a meagre four points. If ever there was a team to bounce back from after last week’s defeat it was this one.

At the end of the doubles and triples we were 4 -1 up. I played in the doubles against two girls who I don’t think had ever played before. We comfortably won 2-0 with me checking out the second leg. After this came the singles. I was playing last in the sixth match. By the time it got to me we already had an unassailable 8-2 lead so the pressure was off. All I was playing for was male pride and once again I was put against the girl who beat me earlier in the season – a nice chance for revenge.

I played well in the first leg but lost, then in the second leg I started to play badly. She was trying to check out whilst I was still on 250 points fortunately she couldn’t hit that double and when I got a chance, I took it 1 – 1. In the final leg I started to throw some good darts again. I got down to checking out with her still on 300 points. This is where all the good news ends because I’m sad to report that I just couldn’t hit a double. Eventually she got down and had a chance to win and took it. I lost the game 2-1, yet another defeat to a girl.

To make matters worse I’m sure this girl must be a Liverpool fan because she is one of the worst winners I’ve ever played coming over several times to commiserate me. So although we won the match I wasn’t happy at loosing again. It’s the fourth time I’ve played this team and lost my singles match every time.

Anyway, the team won which is the important thing. Our closest rivals beat the third place team which means we are now promoted as only the top two teams go up to division 2. This does mean there will be no chance for me to get revenge which thinking about it is just as well as id probably loose anyway.

The next task is to win the league. We could achieve this next week as we are playing the second place team – a very big match!

Lots of practice is needed between now and Tuesday!

Tuesday night darts – Game 10 of 14 – The Tavern vs Phattys Phuckers

Our tenth game of the campaign was a home fixture against Phattys Phukkers at the Tavern. Another tough game and potential banana skin but so far this season things have been going very well so confidence was high for getting another three points. First up were the doubles and triples, all the games were very close but at the end it scoreline was not pretty reading - we were 4 -1 down against a good team. This meant we had to win 4 or 5 out of the 6 singles games to win the match - a very tough ask.

We won the first three games of the singles to bring the scores level. Sadly we could not maintain the momentum and lost the next two matches. I was last up in the singles and by the time it got to me we were 6 - 4 down meaning the best we could hope for was a draw. I didn't play well but somehow managed to beat my opponent 2 - 0. What saved me was that my checking out was pretty good. So my current record is W7 L3 in the singles. I'd have taken that at the start of the season.

So it all came down to the final match to salvage a draw and although we had the most chances of checking out I'm sad to report we lost the game and consequently the match 7 - 5. Disaster. Bad news is that all the teams around us won so our lead at the top has been cut to 5 points with 4 games left. Its still all in our hands but not as comfortable as we would have wanted. 

Fortunately we have the leagues bottom team next week. Its important we bounce back from this one to stay top of the league.

Tuesday night darts – Game 9 of 14 – Tequila Torros vs The Tavern

This week would be another potential banana skin against the third place team in the table 'Tequila Torros'. This team have a couple of really good players too and definitely capable of taking points off us. This match was at Tequila bar on Pasteur street in district 1.

The evening started well with us winning both the triples games. I was then dropped for the three doubles matches, as we have seven players we have to rotate and as I didn't play that well I was out, I didn't mind. However, after our great start disaster struck and we lost all three doubles matches to put us 3-2 behind going into the singles.

It was shaping up to be a tough evening as they had three really good players in their team so we needed to play very well going into the six singles matches. I'm pleased to report that, just like last week, we miraculously won all our singles games which meant we already had an unassailable lead going into the final 6 vs 6 match. I won my game. As luck would have it I was matched with probably their weakest player. I didn't play great and made a meal out of beating him 2-1 but I won nevertheless. 

We lost the final 6 vs 6 game but as I said it was irrelevant as we took the match 8 - 4. Even more glorious news was that our closest rivals, for the fourth week in a row dropped points. We are now eight points clear with only fifteen points available. As we've only dropped three points all season it really does feel now that we have one hand on the championship!

Tuesday night darts – Game 8 of 14 – The Tavern vs Black Magic

www.thesidl.com

After a one week break we’ve now started the second half of the season. So far all is going well in our division 3 championship with us top of the league by 4 points.

Our first match would see us against black magic who we beat on the opening day of the season a few months back. We beat them 10-2 but we had heard that since this time they had got some very handy returning players that nearly got them promoted last season so we were expecting a very tough match.

It was my turn to be dropped from the triples which ended 1 game each but I did make my return in the doubles. Sadly it didn’t go to plan as me and my partner comfortably lost 2-0. At the end of the doubles and triples we were 3-2 down – it was not looking good as this team were much better than

What happened next in the 6 singles matches was very unexpected not only did our form turn around but we won all six matches! They were close, competitive games but we just managed to come out on top. I won my game 2-0 against a very good player who had a record of W5 L1 before we played. I think I got lucky as I’m sure he didn’t play as well as he could have on the night. I was very pleased with how I played though. I checked out quickly and hit 3 hundred plus scores.

Going into the final 6 vs 6 match we already had an unattainable lead so we could relax a bit. Looking over at the black magic team they were very downhearted after their promising start. Just to put the icing on the cake I checked out in the final 6 vs 6 match with my first dart! I also got another 100 plus score along the way.

I think we all agreed this was our best win of the season against a very good team.To make the evening better all our nearest rivals dropped points. With 6 games left we have a very nice looking lead at the top of the league table.

Tuesday night darts – Game 7 of 14 – B.I.A vs The Tavern

This week we played B.I.A at their home ground - a place called Gartenstadt - which will be remembered by me for selling the most overpriced beer in the city. It was nearly three dollars to a can (yes, a can not even draft) of tiger. Even the water was 2 dollars for a small bottle. Ridiculous prices for Vietnam. Anyway on to the darts.

Again, I wasn't playing well I lost my triples but my partner carried me through our doubles. In my singles match I was given a favorable tie against one of there weaker player. I was outscoring him, playing rather well and won the first leg. Sadly in the next two legs although I continued to score well I couldn't hit a double and consequently lost the match.

Good news was that although I contributed nothing to our team I did get 3+ scored and our team won. Even more good news is that our titles rivals drew so at the halfway stage of the season we are clearly top of the league!!!

So, goodbye to Gartenstadt - a pub I will never voluntarily visit again. Next week we start the second half of the season

Tuesday night darts – Game 6 of 14 – The Tavern vs Dreamtime

Our 6th match if the season saw us play Dreamtime at our home ground of 'The Tavern' on Tuesday this week. On paper this should have been an easy game as Dreamtime are second from bottom in the league having won only one of their five matches this season.

http://www.thesidl.com/

Things didn't start off very well. I lost both of my triples and doubles matches. This was mainly because I was playing really bad. I kept hitting 22, 26, 3, 15. I just couldn't hit more than one 20 with my three darts. 

After the first first 5 games of triples and doubles we were winning 3-2. It was turning out to be a very close match. We needed to win at least 7 matches to win the tie and stay top of the table, I was the last match up in the singles. At this point we were winning 6-4 and only needed one more game. I wasn't very confident of victory however the guy I was playing was equally as average as me. 

I won a close first leg but lost the second so It came down to the decider. Fortunately I started to play well and hit scores of 140 and 100 so had a chance to check out well before he did and I'm happy to say won the match!!!! We also won the 6 vs 6 final match so won the tie 8-4 in the end.

So other good news was that our closest rivals only managed a draw so we now have a one point cushion at the top of the table.

Next week will see us reach the halfway point in the season and pit us against B.I.A who are pretty good and drew with our top of the table rivals this week.

Exciting times!

The Cambridge DELTA - Module One

I've just started studying for a qualification called the DELTA. This is the Diploma in English Teaching to Adults provided by Cambridge University. Basically, it’s the highest qualification you can do in ESL with the exception of getting a ‘masters in linguistics’.

Its split into three modules which you can take together or separately (I’m doing them separately). I’m starting with module one which will require 4 months of distance learning before taking a written exam in December. If all goes well I will be looking to complete the final two next year. Module 2 is a bit more complex than modules 1 and 3 as it involves being observed.

However first things first, I need to pass module 1. I’m doing this through the distance delta program (the link is below) who give me my reading and exam tasks on a weekly basis.I’ll keep you all posted with the progress.

www.thedistancedelta.com

If I do pass this qualification it will open up lots of doors for higher positions around the world as well as training opportunities and management positions.