Friday, October 05, 2007

A game of Bocci at the local club

















Like all sports, bocci (pentaque) changes immensely from the time when you are a beginner to the time when you achieve a certain level of proficincy.
When you throw your first boule it all seems rather random, and you ask yourself "is this really all? Getting as close to the pig (the small ball) as possible?"

But thats probably what you thought the first time you tried football (kicking the ball into the goal), darts ( hitting the wall), Pool (hitting the holes) Formula One (driving fast) etc.

So when the glorious time comes when you are able to place your boule where you want, and even hit the opponent's boule directly and send it packing, things get a bit different. It's not all about coming as close to the pig as possible, but about counting the number of boules in play, figuring out where you should place your next boule to make it difficult for your opponent and even trying to hit the pig directly to knock it out of play

5 comments:

Bergson said...

french song
When reconsider the beautiful days the places and the courses One sees
under Plus plane trees one group bringing They are keen the merry
boulomanes One plays that in fifteen Faut points to see with which
care One leaves his integrals One launches a goder Which turns in the
air If it is pile: "A you Bébert!" "Go ahead Leon. Send the stopper
well!"

Refrain: A part of game of bowls That given pleasure the ball leaves
and cushy job As at leisure You aim it and you miss it Change your
shooting! A part of game of bowls That given pleasure!

It is necessary to see beautiful the chichois Out of shirt of silk
Flannel trousers the scarf and strawy Rabattu on the eyes Jouer its
material With Titin or Pauleau When for a pretty batch It is caught of
quarrel He says to him, mocker: "If you are victorious Eh Ben! you
will have his c?ur If you are overcome, Ben! ... I t'en do not say
more!"

Refrain: A part of game of bowls That given pleasure the ball leaves
and cushy job As at leisure You aim it and you miss it Change your
shooting! A part of game of bowls That given pleasure!

It is especially with the cottage That we are given some To the sun
Sunday One puts ourselves at four or six For a vermouth-blackcurrant
One makes several Marius handles of them is a little there But his
Rosa wife is mislaid under the Titin branches which follows it
Tendrement says to him: "During this time, my darling, Us, in this
corner, We will mark the points! "

Refrain: A part of game of bowls That given pleasure the ball
leaves and cushy job As at leisure You aim it and you miss it Change
your shooting! A part of game of bowls That given pleasure!

Anonymous said...

I really think your description is more compelling than the photo.

* berzy * said...

Dina
Last time I was there, just about every evening I used to go watching the 'bocci' games under floodlights. Well, there was this local black kitten and every time a player threw or bowled a ball this little devil used to go chasing the ball.

Is this black kitten, now an eight old cat is there ?

I think the 'pig' ball is called "il-lik" in Maltese.

Dina said...

Berzy, i knew this would attract your attention ;) , i must admit that i have no idea what the pig is called in maltese. Glad you enjoyed this post.

marie6 said...

It is called "il-lik" as berzy said. I must admit I always thought it a very boring game but as Abe said your description was really interesting. I should also say that it must be one of the few traditions still going strong on our island.