Interclub Competition

Results from Interclub competition

Interclub Competition Round 2 Club de Pétanque d’Adelaide – 27 September 2020

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The SA Interclub competition has been leading a charmed life this season, when it comes to the
weather. For Round 2, we were very fortunate to strike the one window of fine and mild weather
in the middle of an extended wet spell. Things could have got awkward with so many players to
accommodate under COVID-Safe requirements, with limited shelter available. Instead, it turned
into another near-perfect day.
Participant numbers did not quite match the high reached in July, but the notable thing on this
occasion was that 19 of the 30 triples teams had also competed in the previous round with
exactly the same line-up. Team compositions have usually been more fluid in the past. (Less
people going away this year, perhaps?) Given also that it’s just a few years ago we were
struggling to even get 19 teams or more, this is undoubtedly a record.
As in Round 1, the day’s honours went to the Eastern Suburbs club. For the second time in a row,
the gold medals went to Alexi Alexi, Arwed Turon & Maurice Belz and they can now go into
Round 3 gunning for a ‘threepeat’. It is eight years since anyone has achieved a threepeat. (The
last time it happened, there were some familiar names amongst the culprits – Alexi and Arwed,
at that time playing with George Lainas). The silver medallists were Rada Pierre, Alain Rousse &
Dominique Pierre, while Tory McBride, Ray Drummond & Lionel Pujol took the bronze.

Gold
Alexi Alexi, Arwed Turon & Maurice Belz		 Silver
Rada Pierre, Alain Rousse & Dom Pierre,
Bronze
Tory McBride, Ray Drummond & Lionel Pujol		 The Competitors

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Interclub Competition Round 1 Novar Gardens. – 26 July 2020

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The new Interclub season started much the same as the last one finished. Not only was the venue the same, but once again we had remarkably nice weather, a huge turnout (99 players – another new record), great competition and a very convivial atmosphere, despite the COVID-Safe requirements.
Once again, this was helped along by the innovative and popular new timing regulation arrangement, which maximises playing time and minimises waiting time, while providing the relaxed ambience of untimed games without the frustrating delays and late finishes that often come with an untimed format. We thank PFA for allowing this arrangement to continue despite opposition from certain quarters.
On the premiership table, after one round, things also look a lot like they did at the end of last season. The top three clubs have all taken up where they left off, the same two clubs are closely vying for fourth position and the battle for sixth is once again very tight.
In terms of the individual honours, on the other hand, the day’s results were more in keeping with previous seasons rather than the last. The winners, ESP’s Alexi Alexi, Arwed Turon & Maurice Belz, had a relatively lean time of it last season — by their own lofty standards — picking up just one gold medal between them (compared to eight the year before). The silver medallists, Deb Rodda, Selina Dally & Wendy Bensen, also emulated a feat they achieved twice in the 2018/19 season. In the bronze medal position was the Adelaide Hills trio of Greg Anderson, Ross Coleman & Quentin Jones, their first appearance on the podium since 2017/18.
Finally, a big thank-you goes to the awesome Novar Gardens crew who once again kept things running like clockwork under difficult circumstances. Your friendly efficiency sets a standard the rest of us can aspire to. Well done.

Round 1 is also the time that individual awards are presented to the most successful players from the season just completed…
The ‘Best Player’ medal went to Selina Dally, who only played in four of the five rounds but never finished lower than 4th in any of them. Selina is a truly outstanding player and has been a consistent performer over many years. This award is thoroughly deserved.
For the second year in a row, the award for ‘Best Player of the Other Gender’ went to a man, this time Maurice Belz — another highly decorated player and out-and- out star. Maurice finished second overall (also from four rounds), trailing by a margin of just one point. Not too “lean” a season, then (only in terms of gold).Continue reading→

Interclub Competition Round 5 Novar Gardens. – 28 June 2020

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The fine and sunny weather was as good as it gets in the middle of winter, setting the scene perfectly for our return to organised pétanque after the shutdown. At times it had looked as if our season was over and we can count ourselves very fortunate to be in a position where we could squeeze in one more round to finish off the 2019/20 Interclub competition. On such a beautiful day, the COVID-Safe requirements did not dampen the mood at all.

With 28 triples teams, the attendance was only just shy of the record set in January, suggesting that the unexpected interruption has not taken the momentum out of our recent growth trend. A few of the regulars were not yet ready to emerge from their isolation bubbles, but this was offset by a very pleasing number of new players participating for the first time — representing five different clubs! (Not to mention the presence of some who would normally be sunning themselves in warmer climes at this time of year.) It would seem crowds of this magnitude are going to be our ‘new normal’.

On the day, it was Penny Lyons, Steve Hambour & Terry Hall from FAB who finished unbeaten and took the top honours. Congratulations to them. This notable achievement is the first time the gold medals have gone to a FAB team since 2009 (Erica, Craig & Anders) and it brought great joy to the growing FAB contingent. It came on the back of an epic fifth round tussle against ESP’s Arwed Turon, Nick Armstrong & Maurice Belz.

Gold medalists Penny Lyons, Steve Hambour & Terry Hall (FAB)
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Interclub Competition Round 4 Adelaide Hills – 19 January 2020

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Attendance records continue to tumble for the SAPL Interclub competition, with thirtyteams competing in Round 4. This is not the highest number ever, but the last time we had this many the scores were being written with a quill dipped in ink.

The conditions were unseasonably cool for January and Stirling’s reputation for always raining on a League day was reinforced once again. However, this time it was just right — the precipitation was so light and so sporadic that it was barely felt, yet it was enough to dampen down the dust from the previously parched dolomite. The timing was also perfect, as it was only an hour or two after the proceedings ended that steady rain set in, bringing (a very welcome) 30mm or so to the area overnight.

The competition was once again unpredictable and very tight, as it has been all season, and this is illustrated by the following observation: Only two teams were able to win both of their games after lunch and only two teams lost them both. This is quite remarkable considering that the system used dictates there is always at least one of each (the team finishing first must win them both while the last-placed team must have two losses). Of the other twenty-eight teams, twenty-six of them registered one win and one loss!

Taking out the honours for the day was the in-form Adelaide Hills trio of Brian Tuckfield, Ralph Foster & Anthony Pietsch, proving in the most emphatic way that their Round 3 victory was no fluke. They are starting to get a reputation for clawing their way over the line when it matters most. In the silver medal position was the Prospect team of Janet Jenkin, Michael Frodyma & Martin Verdonk. This maintains Marty’s average at better than one League medal per season over a long periood of time whereas, surprisingly perhaps, it’s a first for Janet and Michael. Congratulations. The bronze medallists were Selina Dally, Ray Drummond & Craig Stewart, from Eastern Suburbs.

In terms of the championship, it was largely a case of steady-as-you-go on this occasion. There were no changes in ladder position, merely some adjustments to the respective margins. The biggest points haul went to Adelaide Hills, bringing them within 6 points of the League leaders and hot favourites, ESP. Adelaide maintained their buffer ahead of fourth-placed Prospect, while Prospect put some breathing space between themselves and Novar Gardens, who in turn did enough to keep in touch with the main pack and move clear of those below them.

In response to this year’s disastrous fire season, the host club decided to support the CFS Foundation, helping SA firefighters who suffer injury or loss as a result of their service. The raffle takings and other donations were matched by the club, raising a total of over $1400. Thanks to all who gave so generously.

Thanks also to the umpires, officials, and to all the enthusiastic volunteers from the Adelaide Hills club who once again turned on a first-rate show.

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Interclub Competition Round 3 Gawler – 24 November 2019

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Round 3 was hosted by the Gawler club in fine conditions. The November sun was blazing, so the ample provision of shelters was most appreciated, but the air temperature was not too uncomfortable. Twenty-three teams participated, which was the best attendance at Gawler since 2008.

This season is shaping up to be one of the most competitive we have seen for some time. On this occasion, for the second time in a row, five different clubs were represented in the top five finishing positions.

Taking out the bronze medals were Dave Ward, Tory McBride & Lionel Pujol, from Eastern Suburbs. Having won a League round in each of the last four seasons, this team was perfectly poised to extend that remarkable record into a fifth year, but, at the end of the day, weren’t quite able to seal the deal. (Three rounds down and three to go). In the silver medal position was the local team of Dave McKinnon, Glenis Head & Stan Wilson. It’s the second medal for Glenis so far this season, but for Dave it was the first of his pétanquing career. Congratulations. Nevertheless, there was only one undefeated team on the day and that was the reigning state champion combination of Ralph Foster, Brian Tuckfield & Anthony Pietsch, taking some Interclub gold up to ‘them thar Hills’ for the first time in over five years.

These results have given the premiership table quite a shake-up. Gawler doubled their points tally for the season and moved up to sixth place, with a healthy advantage over FAB. Prospect also scored well and climbed two places to fourth, leaving Novar Gardens squeezed in between with a very slender margin on both sides. At the top of the table, a severely depleted ESP squad did enough to maintain their prime position, but they lost ground against their three nearest rivals. Of these, the biggest winner of Round 3 was Adelaide Hills, who have stormed into second place ahead of Club d’Adelaide and are now positioned closer to first than to third. All in all, the remainder of this season promises to be most intriguing.

Thanks to all who attended, to the umpires, and to the small but dedicated Gawler crew who took good care of us on the day.

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