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Home | Return to Division Fixtures
| Nom | Home Player | Nom | Away Player | Result | Games |
| 11 | Darren Beevers | 1 | Chris Sayer | 1 | 3 | 0/9 9/6 5/9 1/9 | | 15 | Trevor Grant | 2 | Jerry Staffurth | 3 | 0 | 10/8 2/0 retired | | 19 | Andrew Bonner | 4 | Chris Shepherd-Barron | 2 | 3 | 4/9 9/5 9/6 1/9 2/9 | | 24 | Nick Wise | 5 | Mark Fleming | 2 | 3 | 4/9 2/9 9/2 9/7 4/9 | | 25 | Kevin Kimber | 6 | Chris Morgan | 3 | 1 | 9/0 9/4 5/9 10/9 | | | | | | | | | | | Games: | 11 | 10 | |
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| | | Bonus: | 0 | 5 | |
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| | | Result: | 11 | 15 | |
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| Report: | Ken Cotton’s youth policy is not working! Taking the only youngster in the side with him, Rob Wood, Ken departed from the Langley maelstrom suddenly this week – leaving novice skipper (the boy formerly known as ‘Wizzer’) in charge against wily veteran and win-hungry Jolly John and his bag of tricksters.
On the other hand, Jolly John’s youth policy is working – in a bold move he fielded four players under 50. And three of them brought home the bacon.
The battle was probably decided early on on the graveyard court (4). Nick, no doubt troubled by the weight of Captaincy, wanted desperately to get off court and back to his team as he allowed Mark to stroll to a 2-0 lead. Mark saw through this feeble attempt to deny him court time and boost his confidence, so reverted to tin-type for the next 2. The spectator could not watch any more and left, leaving the reluctant marker to preside over the painful spectacle – a Fleming win from memory.
Chris (1) Sayer made it 2-0 to Knole. A bouncy ball made the squash less than pretty – and, in spite of an amazingly bad second game from both players which levelled the score, Chris prevailed over a ‘sick’ Darren. Still, their southern African connection made for a courteous encounter, even if it did nothing for the domestic interest.
Back on the graveyard court, Jerry was looking to have a very slight edge over Trevor. But, with both players putting everything in to a few tense rallies at the end of the first game, a retirement was probably the most likely outcome. At 8-8, Trevor went down in a heap diving and sliding for a low one at the front of the court. Yet it was Jerry who pulled up – clutching a muscle that he had found somewhere deep in his side. Four more points went to Trevor before Jerry had to concede defeat.
Big Kev had been drafted in to bring some experience to the young PL team. He was paired against Knole’s 50-something, Chris (3) and it was soon obvious that sprinting around the court was not on the menu. Kev easily took the first two with a deft touch, but there were signs of a Morgan revival towards the end of the second game. A superannuated effort in the third hauled Chris back into the match and by the fourth both players were slugging it out flat-footedly like two ring-worn boxers – each almost begging the other to finish it off. Chris’s prayers were answered finally at 10-9 and nobody appeared more surprised than Kevin at being spared a heart-straining fifth. So, Knole just ahead at 2-2, with the match still alive.
Chris (3) S-B has a habit of being sussed out by opponents after a frantic first game. And it looked like that for a while. His bashing power – even with the occasional (subtle?) touches – took the first as he forced early errors from Andrew. Yet Andrew looked the fitter and more skilful even in losing that game. And it was no surprise that he brought his full court game to bear in the next two. Chris appeared to have no answer. However, finally, the power game and full-on fitness of Chris gained in hours of rushing around in circles was useful. He started to hit more winners; more drops and fewer tins. By the end of the fifth, Andrew was beaten into submission at the back of the court , allowing Chris the luxury of a half-court lob-drop to win. Knole’s first win of the season, albeit a phyrric victory.
Over on courts 1 & 2, some of the graduates of Ken’s youth academy were battling bravely to save the Park Langley 2nd team from sliding further into the Division 1 mire. How the 3rds could have used some help from above. Knole got in some early 2008-9 scouting, ready for their next showdown with Sly Fox’s boys in Division 2 next Winter. It was encouraging to see a rejuvenated Danger Man get his appetite back, overhauling dangerous Duane in 5. And the Dark Horse was on his best behaviour too, especially when challenged by my ‘Fantasy’ man Rob Lewis over one of his brave and correct marking decisions. We look forward to seeing them both next year - inshallah.
Good to see an old face from Division 5 days too. Keith (5 puddings) Fishlock put in an appearance in the grandstand. Famous for his record consumption of Knole’s dessert hospitality. Research today for Premier Foods - the makers of Bird's Custard - shows a 60% fall in pudding consumption in the past 10 years. Now, unsurprisingly, the company is trying to reawaken the nation's love for traditional puds such as jam roly-poly, spotted dick and sticky toffee pudding. [So are Knole Park – ed!]
On the team bus back to Sevenoaks, the Blackberries were buzzing – not to Priory headquarters, but with news of Liverpool’s record 8 Champions League goals. All stock market and relegation worries aside for a brief moment of joy. KC will be livid, no doubt, on his return to the Langley Fields training ground. However, it can only add to the aura of invincibility when he is at the helm.
So, Park Langley III join the lengthening list of relegation contenders, while up at the top ….with Dartford apparently boosted by a new No.1 and BLT surging back to their Lindsay-less best, it looks like ‘Slack’ Badger’s early season decision not to offer his services to the Bexley 2nd team may backfire. An easy win over the Sly Fox at No. 4 in the 1st team will surely make him reconsider his position;-)
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| Author: | JJ |
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