Martin and Martin beat Houston and Plant

It was a battle. A slow doughty tactical battle. We gave no quarter and few chances. We frustrated. We defended. I left it late to go round to peg. My dad sneaked hoops when he could. We split them up and hid. We used bisques to close down positions as much as open them up. 

We were fortunate. Red had a good three ball break but broke down at 1 back. And with the three hour time limit running out, yellow hit in. I had foolishly left blue and black in the centre, joined up. Yellow had a 3 ball break, and was one rush away from a 4 ball break, and a break that would give them the win by a single hoop.

Always use two rushes rather than one when you can. Advice not taken. A poor rush led to yellow not getting hoop running position at 4 and having to retreat. So our balls went to the corners and we ran out victors. 17-9. Martin and Martin, SCA Doubles Champions 2018. A red-letter day. A day to remember. 

We bought our opponents a drink in Bennets. George was magnanimous in defeat. He will become a very very good player. Victory celebrations only dampened by learning about the end of the Archie and Shaggy era at Thistle. Sad news indeed.