| Report: | Here we go first match of the winter season. Bromley half-way house for returning players and the hot-bed of Junior talent coming through the ranks. First up Jamie making home debut against an older Junior Tom. Close match to start with and some long rallies and close to 4-4, but Tom started to pick up the pace and ran out a winner 9-4. Second and third game followed the same trend. Jamie playing some good shots and making Tom move around the court, but Tom's retrieval, good technique and placement of the ball saw him win 3-0. On goes, Steve returning from a long lay off against Harry, Mister speedy!! Good start from Steve and went 7-5 up, only for Harry to pull it back with some good rallying and winning shots. Second game was already a bridge too far for struggling Steve, gasping for breath and seeing his best shots picked up by Harry. Harry, very talented player - good technique and selction of shot as well as agility round the court - stayed on top and by the end, Steve, with any breadth he did have was used to say good shot!!! over and over, going down 3-0. It was left to Paul Roberts to win the first point of the new campaign. Paul v Fergus wasone of those games - both hitting wonder shots and the tin in almost alternate shots. Fergus won the first 9-7 and Paul the second 10-8, back from from 5-8 down. Fergus kept retrieving well and trying to hit the ball through any wall he was facing, which was too much for Paul who went down 9-6. Would Paul make a come-back? - no, by now Fergus was on a roll and took the 4th comfortably - good effort from Paul!! Nick next, back from 6 months off with an injury. Lost the first9-7, got into his stride and showed his quality winning the second 9-0. However, the injury pain returned and at 4-4,a shout, fell to the floor and that was that. A bad night for Nick - he had difficulties getting there on time, got re-injured and had to pay subs for the privilege although he left without eating and having a drink!!! Finally, Danny against Toby. Danny showed his class in the first game, moving "I like running around" Tom, all round the court and killing any loose balls, 9-1. However, Toby showed determination in losing the first game and this held him in good stead in the 2nd, run all Danny's shots down and hit some great fore-hand winners and back hand drops, while Danny went back to trying to win points too easily. A good talking to Danny and he retuned focussed and took control with patient shots to the back corners, making Toby run and kept off balance and forced into mistakes, 9-2 to Danny. The 4th saw Fergus give it all he had - a hard player to beat, but Danny showed the extra control and patience and won a hard fought match 9-6. Well, there we have it, the returners and new blood, were beaten by a strong and better team. |
|---|
