TMTCH lost at home to Albert

Electric Pigs got the second of their season's ritual drubbings from SPW at the Fletcher Moss

History Men cruised (eventually) to a comfortable win over the Charabancs of Fire - well, I say "home", but let Ivor take up the story:

"The Charas were actually ahead by a point at half time but we pulled ahead in the second half mainly due to our not-so-secret weapon Anne who had four consecutive 2s.  Another reason for the margin of victory was that for once no one 'blurted' and we only leaked 1 'steal' whereas the Charas leaked 8.

The most interesting thing to report tonight, however, is that we abandoned the Red Lion because of overcrowding due to (surprise, surprise) a soccer game and, based on Gerry's suggestion, went next door to the Turnpike.

Despite its proximity (50 yards from the Red Lion) we have never before considered the Turnpike.  Imagine our surprise to find an almost empty pub (they do not have television), a landlord who opened the lounge for us, prices cheaper than even the Griffin, and clientele (who arrived later in the evening) resembling an ageing book club (they were actually a musical society) rather than the un-quiz friendly young drinkers we might have encountered a few years back.  Indeed the landlord told us he was considering starting a quiz night (which is the quintessential sign of pub gentrification).  We will probably stick to the Red Lion for the rest of the season with the Turnpike as a reserve - but we might well switch.  Watch this space."

(Ed: Good news, Ivor, about the Turnpike.  But I recall a few years ago when quizzing at the Red a yound scally nicked a mobile phone from one of our team in the front room.  The scally exited rapidly chased by the offended Opsimath and to our great surprise rushed straight into the Turnpike.  When the police were summoned to apprehend the villain they were asked why the scally was so stupid as to go next door in full sight of all concerned.  The reply from the police was 'they probably thought they were safe in the Turnpike - it's full of villains' - well perhaps no more!!)

and Damian adds from the Charas's point of view:

At the Swan once the contest was over Ethel and the Opsimaths debated the virtues of the paper long and hard under the watchful eye of part paper-compiler, Dave Rainford (who was doing the honours as guest QM).  To me it was a classic WithQuiz paper full of interesting subject matter, and equally interesting ideas as to how to engage the brainpower of the teams (sibling hunting, hidden themes, celebrity picture-spotting with a common nominal feature), all slightly marred by some pairing imbalance (which Dave readily owned up to) in Rounds 1 and 8.

It did seem to me to play very much to Ethel's strengths with plenty of political fare for James (who nevertheless did not recognise the greatest Speaker of my generation, George Thomas) and for John and Roddy who flourished with the operetta stuff.  My overall verdict: a most interesting evening (despite it being only our second defeat of the season) with fascinating conversation almost entirely stimulated by the Prodigals paper.

Andrew down at the Fletcher Moss was not quite so impressed (mind you a seeing-to by SPW tends to numb the taste buds).  Like us they felt the pairing balance went awry.  They were also unimpressed with the financial and Kodak/Motorola questions.  Favourite round for them: the hunt for the siblings.

At the Parrswood Mr Dusty (Mike O'Brien) reports a "good solid quiz, well balanced".

Kieran adds to Andrew's comments above:

"Pretty good really - lots of points on offer (we scored 18 twos) and some good ideas.  We liked the picture round where the surname was a first name - and we also felt the siblings round was a good idea but, after spending lots of time deciding which sister wrote which book, where oh where were the Brontes?  They'll be hacked off when they see the paper on the website and realise they were left out.  I'd expect a very snotty message from Branwell to be posted by lunch time!"

....and finally Damian's twopennyworth from the Turnpike:

Which 1961 UK number one single contains the lines "And then there suddenly appeared before me, the only one my arms will ever hold.  I heard somebody whisper, 'Please adore me.'"?

Violent scenes at the Stadium of Murk last night as crisis club Charabancs of Fire served up another inept second half display and yet another defeat which sends them hurtling towards the relegation zone.  Angry fans chanted, "Megson Out Again" and,  "You're All Fcekin' Pissed" as they smashed the lightbulb, tore up lino and hurled the pub's historic collection of cobwebs on to the pitch.  They eventually dispersed only after a quick-thinking officer from the Police Tactical Support Group had the presence of mind to point out that the Charabancs were playing an away match.

Witnesses were either too frightened or drunk to comment on the disgraceful scenes.  Only Sean, the resident Barstewart, managed to maintain his customary sang-froid.  Asked how distressed he was to find his pub turned into a pigsty after an evening of rioting, he shrugged his shoulders and said, "Can't say I noticed, pal.  Doesn't it always look like this? I did think though that it was a bit noisier than usual. There were times when I could hardly hear the commentary on the  Liverpool game which I was watching on a live Transnistrian feed.  Fcekin' cracking match it was too.  We were three -nil down at half time but we came back against all the odds and beat some Wop team on penalties.  Fcekin brilliant.  How many European Cups do we have now?  Must be about seventeen.  Carling Cup my arse."