|
|
 | Fixture Details | |  | | |
Home | Return to Division Fixtures
| Nom | Home Player | Nom | Away Player | Result | Games |
| 2 | Carlos Marques | 3 | Tom Candy | 3 | 1 | 9/3 5/9 9/1 9/1 | | 3A | John Hogwood | 4 | Chris Shepherd-Barron | 3 | 2 | 1/9 9/5 10/8 2/9 9/5 | | 3 | Terry Higgs | 5 | Mark Fleming | 3 | 1 | 7/9 9/6 9/3 9/3 | | 6 | Alan Marsh | 6 | Chris Morgan | 3 | 0 | 9/2 9/0 9/3 | | 8 | Syd Spittle | 7 | John Creek | 2 | 3 | 0/9 9/6 9/0 3/9 8/9 | | | | | | | | | | | Games: | 14 | 7 | |
|---|
| | | Bonus: | 5 | 0 | |
|---|
| | | Result: | 19 | 7 | |
|---|
| Report: | With Knole's No. 1 Chris (1) and No. 2 Jerry away, faced by a George-less Fitness, the home side looked to just have the edge in this bottom two clash.
First on, Mark was looking to continue his recent tin-reduction programme and good run of form. However, Terry gradually took control after a ding-dong first game.
John, on the other hand, relishing the chance of beating Syd for the first time in over thirty years, was quick off the blocks in his bid to maintain his ladder supremacy (80th position playing 82nd). Realising that the court was colder than veteran Syd would have liked, John rushed him onto court and through the ‘warm-up’, then raced to a 9-0 first game. Syd settled down in his accustomed ‘T’ occupancy position, moving only to call ‘lets’ if any balls dared to pass him by. He squeeked the 2nd and rattled off the 3rd games in quick order. But a pee-break seemed to unsettle him John was able to up the tempo to level at 2-2. A game of errors in the 5th was punctuated only by discussions with various different markers and spectators (especially about the ‘new’ turning rules – Syd unable to take anything seriously which has happened this century). A dodgy call (against the home Captain for once) was followed by a brave and tired call of ‘one’ at 8-8. Syd made the last error, John had the last laugh.
Chris (2) was up against new Fitness boy John Hopgood. Bash-em and dash Chris raced to 9-1, then took his foot off the pedal to lose the 2nd 5-9. An even 3rd should have gone Chris’s way – at game ball, the marker had his mouth open ready to call a stroke if asked; but the inquiry never came. 10-8 to John, leaving Chris to hit back harder in the fourth. Another game which could have gone either way followed; Chris hitting more tins against a relieved and slightly rejuvenated John.
Tom found Carlos in a relatively good mood; it might have had something to do with his form, or the firm hand of the wizened Syd marking, as he brushed Tom aside after the first two games ended level.
Chris (3) was never in the game against spry and sprightly Alan. Quick to anticipate, quick to move to the ball and quick to put it away.
So, 4-1 to Fitness and they leap off the bottom of the table. Knole will hope that they can catch their last two opponents napping before Christmas. Otherwise, no festivities; just weight watching and intense training!
|
|---|
| Author: | JJ |
|---|
| |  |  |  |
|
