Without Knobbly the Puckering Irregulars were like leaves blown on a dark and stormy night. Ballsgate scored seemingly at will, the passes flowing freely with elegant moves that mimicked like the steps of an elaborate dance.  "I thought that until they scored the seventh we were still in with a chance," opined manager Bert Walsham. "But once I realised we needed to score eight to win it seemed the writing was on the wall." This is the best start to the season for the Puckering Irregulars in twenty-three years. -- Lumpy Gaites