Finch gets the bird (From Daily Echo)

Finch gets the bird

6:00am Saturday 26th February 2011

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PARK Gate RBL B have a new toy.

Ian Finch.

The 29-year-old has been installed as the snooker side’s whipping boy.

Team captain Paul Tavender said: “Finchy’s done amazing, actually, considering we abuse him every single week.

“There’s no point abusing Dave (Hobbs) anymore; we’ve got a new toy now.”

Finch is prepared to take the stick - at least while the team are winning.

“It’s usually over my hair or my beard,” he said. “If me taking the abuse helps them get their frustration out and helps them play better and we win, that’s fair enough as far as I’m concerned.”

Finch insists receiving text messages during matches from fiancée Louise helps him relax - a view not shared by his captain.

“We have to confiscate his phone,” said Tavender. “If we do that he plays really, really well.”

Although Hobbs and Tavender have graced the social clubs league for ten years, the other three joined up just three years ago.

And now they are heading for the Super League, something which Paul Lawrence is keen to try “because you don’t improve your standard unless you play the players that are better than you”.

“I just want to be competitive,” he said. “I want to play Super League; I want to play Mickey Finn and the others.”

He added: “It’s a very good team; it’s become a very close group of friends.”

Tavender agreed. “They were just a bunch of people that we knew,” he said. “We aren’t the best team in the world by a long, long way. But we can hold our own.”

And Graham Leech added: “We gelled quite quickly.”

Indeed. Park Gate RBL B will spend two days at this year’s World Championship in Sheffield.

Meanwhile, Hobbs recalled the day a poem threatened to destroy his wedding to Clare. Tavender, of course, was to be best man.

Hobbs said: “A few weeks before my wedding, he said ‘I’ll probably do a poem’.

“The old alarm bells started to ring. ‘Oh what? You’re going to recite poetry for your best man’s speech? I’m a bit concerned about that mate’. He did do the poem; he did a good job.”

Hobbs and Tavender used to enjoy all-night snooker sessions at the now shut Pot Black club near the Civic Centre.

“We used to go up at 11pm and play until 5 or 6am,” said Hobbs. “We used to do that at least four times a week.

“We don’t see as much of each other as I’d like to. Really we only see each other on Monday and Tuesday nights...and Saturday nights. Poor old Clare. It’s tough.”

But Clare said: “I don’t begrudge him doing it. He obviously loves his family but he loves his snooker, he always has.”

Hobbs reckons he plays “rubbish” in league matches but comes alive in the Town Championship. In the last three seasons only Mike Finn (once, in the 2009 semi-finals) and Nick Jennings (twice) have beaten him.

“It’s very strange,” he said. “I’m playing rubbish in the league matches. I think it’s something to do with I have a problem with other people relying on me.

“I don’t seem to be very good at team games whereas when it’s just yourself you’ve got no one to let down other than yourself and I tend to relax more. You can do what you want and you’ve got no one to moan at you.”

Tavender recalled Hobbs’ reaction to this season’s draw.

“He was a little bit more worried when he got Nick away,” he said. “He said ‘it’ll be a bit tough’. But he went up there and gave it a go.

“He loves it; he doesn’t care who he gets. It’s a confidence game, snooker.

“He’s one of the nicest lads you could ever wish to meet. He’s my best mate, isn’t he? We’re both married now and we’ve both got kids. Snooker’s the one outlet that you can go and have a drink.”

But Hobbs has spotted a change in his friend.

“I’ve known him 12 years,” he said. “He’s very laid back. He hates fuss; he hates bother.

“And no matter how bad he played the previous week, or if he loses six weeks on the trot, he always has the confidence, and a little bit of arrogance, to bounce back.

“This is the very first time I’ve seen him doubt himself. It’s very strange to see. He’s a quality player. He’s got the talent; he’s just lacking the belief, which is very un-Paul Tav like. That’s normally what I do.”

Reflecting on the 7-3 home win over Lyndhurst Workmens B, Tavender said: “It was an excellent result. Everyone contributed.”

With a game in hand, Park Gate RBL B are now one point behind Ashlett Club B, the former Beaulieu & East Boldre side which Lee Ashbolt, Tavender’s doubles partner, plays for.

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