From the bottom up - manager by manager part 2

Alex Boswell was another who was quick out of the blocks. 6th in week 3 it was all looking rosy for our veteran N&R FL man. In fact at week 15 he was still very much in the promotion picture but as the winter nights drew in, he lacked that final push and ended up 200 odd points short of the top 12.

A tale of two halves for Kate Chillers Chillman. The Chartis lady was convinced to join her colleagues for a throw of the N&R dice and it did not begin well at all. In the bottom two by week 7, she improved slightly but the pace and ability around her meant she was pushed back towards the bottom of the table. She then spent from Christmas to Valentine's Day in the Penultimate Place and this looked her only way of winning a prize.

But, in the meantime she was moving through the N&R Cup Rounds with ease and after some serious surgery on her team, Chillers found some fantastic form and ended up in a very credible 24th and the winner of the N&R Cup. Kate will be presented with the trophy at the Prize Night and in our minds becomes an early favourite for Div 2 honours next year.

Tony Muzza Murray, our alien in New York finished dead last 12 months ago so a vast improvement from him. There was even a flirtation with promotion but Muzza wa never in any danger of emulating his season horribilis. He also picked up a MoW on his way and hopefully we get another improvement next season from our Big Apple rep.

Andrew Wheelie Wheeler was in his virgin N&R season and flew pretty much under the radar for the whole campaign. Andy spent almost the entire time in the lower half of Div 2, saving his best spell for the last few weeks when by my maths Andy collected a quarter of his points in the final 7 weeks.

Peter Ginger Rabbit Doyle is a previous N&R Champ. If we were in America he would be forever known as Champion Ginger Rabbit, but we're not, so we won't. Doyley did show some Champion form in the first half of the season and with his past experience I had him down for a top 12 finish.

6th as we approached the Christmas period Pete was going well, but like the needles on the Christmas tree, he fell down to earth and slowly slid back down the table although only recently did we write him off for a promotion place. 6 transfers left in his bin tells its own story.

Daniel Duboux the provactively named Bluefin broker was also in his first year. Dan was also an early promotion candidate. 12th at week 15, he dabbled in the transfer market and gambled on Dzeko. But as the pace increased after Easter, Dan struggled to maintain to his charge but hopefully will give it another crack next year.

Stuart Kilpo Kilpatrick. My old mucker Kilpo doesn't know an awful lot about the beautiful game. He is Scottish after all, bless him. But Kilpo was yet another who had a very good first half with a high of 6th in week 12. Stu's trouble was a lack of dealings in the transfer market. None to be exact, this and a love of late nights and whiskey.