Living after midnight at Collards

The first week of playoffs in all divisions of the Far North Pool Association’s winter competition saw the Awanui Titans defeating the defending champions, KA Renegades, by a convincing 7-1 to advance straight to the grand finals for 2018.

Local commentator Sharpshooter noted the Renegades will be trying to keep their second life safe against Collards Str8 Up in tonight’s games. Elsewhere, the second match in this division was won by the Str8 Up team 7-3 (5-3 after singles) over Awanui 8 Ball at Awanui Hotel.

In Division 2, the KA Rebels beat the Houhora Marlins at Houhora by 7-4 (and 5-3 after the singles), with Sharpshooter conceding this was the only result he didn’t pick last week. This win allows the Rebels to advance to the finals, while the Marlins will deploy their second life against the Razorbacks tonight. The second match in this division saw the Razorbacks beat KA All Day 7-3 (no scorecard).

The match of the evening, however, came in Division 3 between Collard All Hearts and Awaz Tigers One at Collards. Sharpshooter noted a team game had to be played when the scores were locked at 6-all (4-4 singles and 2-2 in the doubles). The pressure told with numerous blown chances before a winner — Awaz Tigers One — was found sometime after midnight in this encounter.

The final result from the round-up saw Awaz Tigers Two unit defeat a “rather outof-sorts” Herekino Boarhunters team 7-1 at Awanui Sports. These matches resulted in the elimination of Awanui 8 Ball, KA All Day and Herekino Boarhunters teams.

The draw for tonight with home teams mentioned first and * indicating likely winners, KA Renegades vs Collards Str8 Up*, Houhora Marlins vs Herekino Razorbacks*, Collard All Hearts vs Awaz Tigers 2*.

“All games are elimination semifinals, good luck to all teams,” said Sharpshooter, reminding tonight is the last chance for these sides to make the finals, to be played at Kauri Arms Tavern this Sunday starting at 10am for Division 2 and Division 3, followed by the major championship match.

Across

1. Puss returns and has spasms - it was all part of

the plan (7)

5. A store of French marijuana (5)

8. The bounder gets a ring in the afternoon for fruit

(7)

9. Angle for information? (5)

10. Be encouraged by the instructions to Snow

White’s executioner (4,5)

11. Three Romans (3)

12. Sales talk. Was that rain? (6)

14. What you do to a drum is perfectly correct (4,2) 17. Beat a sheep (3)

18. Instrument agreement gets a positive charge (9) 21. 12 inch monarch? (5)

22. Bum is on the transport (7)

23. Yes, it returns inside. Are they real or myths? (5) 24. Day of reckoning, we hear, sooner or later (7)

Down

1. Seeks out streakiest characteristic (5)

2. Many get secure device that tells the time (5) 3. Knight was a terrible tool (7)

4. Snog Al for a catch phrase (6)

5. Something you have 20 of, but they are always

single (5)

6. Line peg up to get scraping (7)

7. Sonnet I turned into strain (7)

12. Left Charles to make a picture (7)

13. Melt pet to get a pattern (7)

15. A creatively refined original name you make

initially (7)

16. This clue isn’t! (6)

18. You may see them around people (5)

19. Bid me, perhaps, to stick into (5)

20. Sodium pen was awful (5)