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Home | Return to Division Fixtures
| Nom | Home Player | Nom | Away Player | Result | Games |
| 2 | 'PJ' Rutherford | 1 | James Fender | 0 | 3 | 0/9 1/9 6/9 | | 3 | Tom Candy | 2 | Kevin Tullett | 0 | 3 | 5/9 4/9 3/9 | | 4 | Gary Mitchell | 3 | Justin Jardine | 3 | 1 | 9/5 9/5 8/10 9/5 | | 5 | Jerry Staffurth | 5 | Billy McManus | 1 | 3 | 9/4 8/9 2/9 7/9 | | 6 | Chris Shepherd-Barron | 4 | Pascal Dowers | 2 | 3 | 6/9 9/6 9/4 4/9 6/9 | | | | | | | | | | | Games: | 6 | 13 | |
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| | | Bonus: | 0 | 5 | |
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| | | Result: | 6 | 18 | |
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| Report: | With resident top amateur Chris Sayer nursing several injuries, Knole were hoping that James two-handed (sorry, I can’t say ‘fisted’) Fender would be busy practising for his imminent mini world tour. Sadly, being out of tune for two months appears to be no handicap for a rocker and James had eschewed plucking training for the sake of the league leaders’ points haul. He had even brought his captain Justin along this time to ensure that Sparks 1 would gain revenge for the season-opening shocker.
Veteran ‘PJ’ was in search of a gentle knock following his month off recuperating in his homeland of South Africa. He got his wish as he gained one point against James in the first two games – the only highlight being the contrast between his silver wisps of hair and the dark tanned skin peeping out from between them. James briefly allowed him into the third game, pausing at 6-6 only to hurl boasts at the gallery. Luckily, his obscure accent meant that his remarks were indecipherable.
At 4, Jerry started efficiently against a lacklustre Billy. The turning point was over a few close calls in the second. Whereas Jerry looked to play on, Billy wanted the points more and asked for lets at crucial times. Jerry let the second slip 8-9 and therafter Billy looked the stronger. A brief rally in the fourth nearly pulled it back. But Billy closed it out to put Sparks 2-0 up.
Tom gave Kevin a few things to think about – reaching and returning as Kevin hit the ball harder and more frantically. Kevin’s power beat Tom’s reach in the end, though, and he sped off into the night having taken the tie for Sundridge. The boy is going places fast; let’s hope he knows where.
So, two dead rubbers to follow. Chris and Pascal had a ding-dong at 5. Nothing between them all the way, with a couple of deft forehands at the end being enough to edge it for Pascal. Chris runs more than most of the Knole veterans; and once he channels this energy into points he will be a useful addition to the side.
The surprise result of the night went to Gary, who leaped, lunged, lumbered and finagled his way past a seemingly out of sorts Justin. Maybe the fact that his team had pocketed the points or the worries of losing his number 1 to the music world were fuzzying his squash brain. Perhaps he was starting to prepare his acceptance speech for the league trophy presentation (don’t forget to bring the old trophies back, Justin) or deciding whether to venture into the heady heights of Div 1 next year. In any event, Gary had more drive and determination and secured some consolation points for Knole.
Other Div 2 teams need not worry. Having helped his team to a good score, James is taking his tea-cosy hat and rolling off into the west with his band. He should miss most of the rest of the season – provided he can get some new spark plugs. When we left him, he was struggling to start his Post Office van in the empty Knole Park Car Park. World tour on hold f.t.b.?
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| Author: | JJ |
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