Opsimaths lost to KFD

A pretty good night for teams from Stockport

Kieran kicks off...

On Wednesday evening, about a quarter of a mile from my house, Stockport County pulled off an astonishing comeback.  2-0 down after six minutes they eventually ran out 5-3 winners in their FA Cup derby against Bolton.  Meanwhile, a few miles away in West Didsbury, the Opsimaths.....totally failed to mimic The Hatters in WithQuiz's very own Old Farts Game.

This was one of our easiest victories over the league's quondam big beasts.  Three points ahead after the first round it stayed that way until the 'Run Ons', which are never fruitful Opsi ground.  We won that 9-4 and maintained a comfortable lead until the inevitability of defeat got to our hosts in the last couple of rounds and we ran away with the match.  Victory by such a wide margin was all the more impressive since the five unanswereds came our way (going first first).  Where we really cleaned up was in pass-overs - 11-1 to us.  Have I ever remarked that this is a good strategy for winning quiz games

As always seems to happen when we play the Opsis there was a heroic performance in a losing cause, tonight from Howell, who scored 6 twos making him joint MVP with Martin. 

(R6/Q1)

Every week David brings with him a crib sheet containing names, places or circumstances pertaining to events currently in the news.  These have never been of any use until tonight when Chris Bryant, and Torridge and West Devon were numbers 2 and 3 on the list (number one was a Tory party treasurer who hasn't - yet - been fingered for embezzlement).  And after my preening last week over knowing an answer I was certain no one else in any of the other games would get, Barry saw my 'Cloture' (ooh, Matron!) and raised it a 'Black Shuck'.  And anyone else who knew that, what's your excuse?  At least Barry can say he originates from that neck of the woods.  

And that was that.  The biggest margin of victory for either side in this contest for nearly 14 years when some jokers calling themselves Napier Girls left the club having put the Opsis to the sword by 20 points.  Neither Ole nor merch-shifting, goldleaf-covered tomahawk steaks will be referred to in the remainder of this report.  

For the third week running the quiz was finished by 10.00.  Congratulations to the Bards for maintaining this very welcome trend. That left plenty of time for post-match chat with old friends and rivals. Tonight that was largely Mike and David comparing Munros they have conquered. Marilyn didn't feature on either list.  There was also the disturbing news that the Opsis are 'borrowing' Bogota Bob to QM their game against the Historymen next week, and on our paper!  That's 'borrowing' guys.   We want a fully fit and well rested Bob in his rightful place in the Griffin when we take on Ethel in three weeks time in the last game before Christmas.  Some of the things I say about Roberto Martinez when he plays a half fit KDB and City then lose him for the next two months, would make a navvy blush.  You have been warned.

Ah yes, we're setting next week. Time I shut up before offering any more hostages to fortune.

(R6/Q4)

...to which Mike adds...

Oh, dear!  We couldn't even claim (like Bolton) to have led early on.  This was a sad night for the Opsis, up against KFD 'Classic' (Barry, Martin, David and Kieran - the very quartet that juggernauted their way through from 1999 to 2012 virtually untouched, that is allowing for Michael Delahunty morphing into his brother David along the way).  When they're on song I reckon they're still as sharp as any quizzing outfit in the land - and certainly in Greater Manchester.  It was particularly good to see (newly) retired KFD anchorman Barry looking fit and well and scoring freely. 

For us Howell was the MVP (6 twos) and I was the LVP (a solitary 'Gary Neville') with Nick and Brian somewhere in between.  We were 3 points behind after Round 1 and then just drifted backwards to an eventual 17 point gap.

As ever Opsimath despondency lifted when we engaged in post-stuffing chat on subjects as diverse as David's favourite Munro (An Teallach), Nat Lofthouse (loser in the Stan Mortensen 1953 FA Cup final, but then 'United slayer' in 1958), the most populous town in Scotland without a football league team (East Kilbride - should you wish to know) and many other subjects of mutual interest that old friends might chew the cud over, late on a Wednesday evening.

Hilary was in the QM chair as the sepulchral atmosphere at the start (apart from us the Club was empty) was shattered by a chaingang of Chorlton cyclists who burst into the main lounge and drowned out the second half of the contest.

Well done KFD - you seem to be back to your very best league-winning form.  Maybe we'll get our own back on you when we visit Stockport in the new year.

(R6/Sp1)