Team Sunshine 121, Bruse Bar 115
What started as a friendly return to competitive All Fours after a one-month hiatus – not to mention a five-match losing streak – ended in one of the most exciting and dramatic encounters Team Sunshine has played in recent times.
Team Sunshine travelled to Bruse Bar’s home base at the corner of Belle Smythe and Bushe Streets, Curepe, for a 12-table showdown, and from the moment the players arrived, it was clear that this was going to be more than just another card game.
Before a single card was played, the Bruse Bar hosts rolled out some delicious pholourie and saheena, and the players from both sides tucked in with enthusiasm. With appetites satisfied and the pleasantries out of the way, it was time for the real business to begin. And Bruse Bar meant business.
At one stage in the first half, the home team had opened up a 10-game lead over Team Sunshine. Things were looking rather comfortable for Bruse Bar, while Sunshine appeared to have its work cut out. But those who know Team Sunshine know better than to write them off too early.
Instead of panicking, the Sunshine camp went into strategic mode. Judicious substitutions and some carefully calculated changes in pairings began to change the complexion of the contest. Slowly but surely, the deficit was erased and Bruse Bar’s confidence began to evaporate.
By the end of the first half, Team Sunshine had turned things around and was ahead 60–56 in bullseyes and 20–15 in Hang Jacks.
At the half time, both teams took a well-deserved break and enjoyed a hearty meal of white rice, dhal, curried chicken and fresh salad. It was enough to refuel the players before they returned to the tables for what promised to be an equally exciting second half.
After enjoying the meal, the two teams regrouped and discussed strategy. Whatever Team Sunshine discussed clearly had an impact because, once again, the team showed that it was not prepared to surrender an inch.
But Bruse Bar had other ideas.
The second half became a carbon copy of the first, with Bruse Bar once again establishing a sizeable advantage. This time, the home team surged ahead 98–87 in bullseyes, an 11-point lead that appeared to put them firmly in command.
But Team Sunshine had apparently left its best cards for last.
Then came the comeback.
98–94.
105–101.
112–111.
And then, unbelievably, 115–115.
The match was now hanging by a thread.
At 115-all, the atmosphere was something to behold and while Bruse Bar was perhaps wondering what had happened to that comfortable 11-point advantage, Team Sunshine had other plans.
Sunshine dug deep, kept its composure and refused to blink.
And when the dust finally settled, the scoreboard told the story:
Team Sunshine 121.
Bruse Bar 115.
The Hang Jacks told an even more emphatic story, with Team Sunshine winning that battle 48–36.
The expressions on the faces of the Bruse Bar players were priceless. Shock, disbelief and bewilderment appeared to have taken up residence around the tables. Over the hot cups of corn soup that followed, the Bruse Bar players were reportedly left asking themselves the same question:
How did we lose that one?
The answer was Team Sunshine’s combination of strategic substitutions, intelligent pair changes, resilience and discipline.
And the Sunshine players had plenty of reasons to smile.
They walked away with all but two of the prizes at stake, while also taking home the Champion Trophy.
And the Winners Were…
Most Bullseyes
- 1st – 14: Table 3, Team Sunshine — Ronald & Terrence
- 2nd – 14: Table 6, Bruse Bar — Shawn & Devanand
- 3rd – 13: Table 1, Team Sunshine — Jack & Krackator
Most Straight Games
- 1st – 5: Table 1, Team Sunshine — Jack & Krackator
- 2nd – 5: Table 3, Team Sunshine — Ronald & Terrence
- 3rd – 4: Table 8, Team Sunshine — Orson & Krystal
Most Spectacular Game (14/1)
- 1st: Table 2, Team Sunshine — Marcia & Johnson
- 2nd: Table 7, Team Sunshine — Clint & Bob
- 3rd: Table 6, Bruse Bar — Shawn & Devanand
Most Hang Jacks
- 1st – 8: Table 7, Team Sunshine — Clint & Bob
- 2nd – 8: Table 11, Team Sunshine — Eleanor & Sailor Boy
- 3rd – 6: Table 6, Bruse Bar — Shawn & Devanand
Winning Bullseye: Table 11 — Sailor Boy & Shawn
Scorers’ Tokens: Wendy (Team Sunshine) & Richard (Bruse Bar)
Champion Trophy: Team Sunshine
The two teams will meet again on Sunday, October 4, when Bruse Bar travels to The Palace, the home of Team Sunshine.
After what happened in Curepe, Bruse Bar will undoubtedly be looking for revenge.
But before that showdown, Team Sunshine has another engagement on its calendar. The Sunshine boys and girls will travel to Warrenville on Sunday, August 16, for a 12-table encounter against Merrymen, with the action scheduled to begin at 2 p.m.
If the Curepe encounter is anything to go by, Team Sunshine’s opponents had better remember one thing:
Never count Team Sunshine out until the last card is played.
