After a week of variable, wet weather the sun came back out for the Icknield Cup finals day, requiring plenty of sunscreen but luckily no waterproofs.
This year the new target score advantage rules were used meaning that all matches start 0 0 but more or less than 7 hoops may be needed to win, depending on the handicaps of the two players
Brian Jamieson (4) faced David Long (5) in one semi final and David Vincent (5) played Bruce Gibson ( 6 ) in the other. These handicaps meant that Brian and David V both needed 8 hoops to win, whilst their opponents only needed 7.
Both semi finals started with a tight game, David L beating Brian 7 6 whilst Bruce beat David V 7 5. David V came back well in his second game beating Bruce 8 3 to set up a deciding third game but Brian was unable to capitalise on a good start in his second game and David L won the game and the match with a 7 6 score line. David L and Brian joined the spectators to watch David V repeat his second game score line, beating Bruce 8 3 again to win the match two games to one.
After a welcome break for lunch we were ready for the final. As both players have the same handicap these games were essentially level play , with the first to 7 winning. Unsurprisingly this was a close game with David L taking the first game 7 5 and David V the second 7 6.
It was impossible to guess which David would be the victor as once again the match went to the golden hoop. On this occasion it was David Long who emerged the winner of the Icknield Cup with a final score line of 7 5, 6 7, 7 6. Congratulations David L and commiserations David V but thank you for the entertaining games.
