KPL Finals - Hartley team has "winning loss"

The finals of the KPL 2006 Cup and Plate were held at the “Villager PH”, Vigo Village on Fri 1^st Sept 2006. Whilst a significant number of people turned out to watch and support, there really should have been more. The Kent League Cup & Plate finals have a claim to being the country’s most prestigious league knockout competition and as such we should celebrate it.

On the night those present were treated to a wonderful spectacle of petanque with each match having its own ups and downs.

In the end the Cup Final finished as a 2 games each draw, with the “George 1” just beating the “Plough & Chequers 1” into runners-up on points.

The highlights were probably the shooting of the George’s Trevor Glenn and the pointing of Richard King also of the George; in both instances these were top drawer.

The Plate Final too was very tightly fought with “Wheatsheaf” the eventual winners over “Hartley Kestrals” by 3 games to 1 but with the being result very close indeed on points. In fact Hartley scored more points than Wheatsheaf but the games went against them ("we claim a winning loss" says team captain John Griffiths!)  Here Lindsay Jardine (Wheatsheaf) was much in evidence with her shooting – not always to her team’s advantage but ultimately successful!  One Hartley team had a complex and close first game, which they lost to some excellent shooting, and the other team had an unusual first game which eventually they lost.  In the concluding round the Hartley captain's triple won easily which inspired a poorly performing second Hartley triple to turn on an exhibition final few ends with Wheatsheaf adding to the spectacle with some excellent play.

Thanks to the “Villager PH”, Landlord Dave Littley & his Daughter Sam, who treated those present to a great repast on completion of the matches.

Report Ken Middleton & Jack Milner