Taverners enjoy surprise final win against favourites

Olde Taverners, of Pontefract, pulled off one of the shock results of recent years when they defeated pre-final favourites Flanagan’s Army to win the FTQL’s major knockout competition, the Knockout Cup.
Olde Taverners - Knockout Cup Winners 2018-19 - L-R Steve Whitham, Alan Smith, Steve Cooke presenting, Nick Clapham and Michael Steer.Olde Taverners - Knockout Cup Winners 2018-19 - L-R Steve Whitham, Alan Smith, Steve Cooke presenting, Nick Clapham and Michael Steer.
Olde Taverners - Knockout Cup Winners 2018-19 - L-R Steve Whitham, Alan Smith, Steve Cooke presenting, Nick Clapham and Michael Steer.

In one of the closest finals in the quiz league’s history they won 70-68 at the George V WMC, Glasshoughton.

The final started off with both closely matched and slowly with both teams taking their full allotted time to think about their questions. Flanagan’s Army took an early lead, but were pegged back to lead only by one point at half-time.

Vulcan Mosquitoes, Plate final winners.Vulcan Mosquitoes, Plate final winners.
Vulcan Mosquitoes, Plate final winners.
Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Flanagan’s went back ahead only to find themselves all square at 55-55 after round eight. The penultimate round was then drawn 8-8 and the last round, on the subject of pop music, went 7-5 to Olde Taverners to give them the Knockout Cup for the first time in their history – breaking the 14-year dominance by Flanagan’s Army and Wanderers of the competition.

The final was preceded by the Plate final for Knockout round One losers, a derby match between Vulcan Bombers and Vulcan Mosquitoes, which went 71-58 to the Mosquitoes – who will be based next season at the Upton Arms following the closure of the RAFA Vulcan Club. Bombers will be based out of the Carleton Grange Club.

Special guest for the evening was TV star Steve Cooke, of BBC2’s Eggheads, and he presented the trophies at the end of the night as well as delivering a humorous monologue.

A raffle was held, raising £78 for the league, and sales of the secretary’s now traditional satirical finals’ night programme raised another £39.

Vulcan Bombers, Division Two Champions 2018-19.  L-R Tim Thrall, Steve Cooke presenting, Ken Taylor and Roy Wood.Vulcan Bombers, Division Two Champions 2018-19.  L-R Tim Thrall, Steve Cooke presenting, Ken Taylor and Roy Wood.
Vulcan Bombers, Division Two Champions 2018-19. L-R Tim Thrall, Steve Cooke presenting, Ken Taylor and Roy Wood.
Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The Spirit of the Game award, voted for by league members, was won for the third year running by league chair Debby Aspland.

The members’ draw, for which the prize is a free season’s subs for next season, was won by Wanderers.