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Home | Return to Division Fixtures
| Nom | Home Player | Nom | Away Player | Result | Games |
| 1 | J.Robbins | 2 | T.Jeal | 3 | 0 | 10/8, 9/6, 9/3 | | 2 | S.London | 3 | L.Ryall | 3 | 1 | 9/7, 0/9, 9/3, 9/0 | | 3 | S.Culver | 4 | S.Stabler | 3 | 0 | 9/5, 9/6, 9/1 | | 4 | C.London | 5 | J.McMeckan | 3 | 2 | 3/9, 1/9, 9/7, 9/5, 9/4 | | 5A | D.Harris | 10 | I.McMeckan | 1 | 3 | 7/9, 4/9, 9/7, 3/9 | | | | | | | | | | | Games: | 13 | 6 | |
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| | | Bonus: | 5 | 0 | |
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| | | Result: | 18 | 6 | |
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| Report: | PL1 entertained Bromley CC last night in the second of the play-off section matches. It seemed to be a packed house with the usual four teams in action, with us sadly getting the graveyard court by rotation. I have to say, that's about all I saw of the evening. I managed to catch the first game of DH's match and then it was off to the wilds all night, so some of what follows is as reported by my spies.
First up Harris v El Cap.
As mentioned, only saw the first game of this match. Dave still looks to be struggling to find the backhand short game. With Dave having looked to be just about in control, El Cap came strong at the end of the game and exploited Dave's mistakes to take it. I assume the other games followed a similar pattern, and judging from the final scoreline El Cap used his superior fitness to prevail (you won't read that too often Ian!). First blood to BCC.
Out on court 4, London jnr v King Lewy.
This was a real sonic attack of a match. With the PL club still deliberating on the best form of sound deadening to use on the court to get the noise levels down, these two were in no mood to pussy foot around. Balls were drilled around hard and fast for a good 75% of the match. That said, it was all interspersed with a sprinkling of touch shots to make for a pretty entertaining spectacle. Lewy seems to get even faster and spring heeled (or maybe it just feels that way as I slow down!), and Steve produced his usual brand of court coverage.
Lewy took a big lead in the first only to get reeled in. The 2nd saw the big lead completed for a 9-0. Cue a change of approach from Steve. Having started to reach boiling point in the frustration stakes (internally at least), Steve decided to have some fun instead. This saw some major league hacking, several overhead backhand nicks and a few trick shots. Lewy kept his head down and battled away, but as the match wore on, the points were only going one way. Steve finished off with a revenge 9-0 in the 4th to take the match.
(Apparently - I saw about two points of this whilst getting my gear ready to go on), Culver v Stabler was up next.
Having for the first time in anyone's living memory managed to observe a flash of mild irritation from WB at the prospect of (yet again) going on last having been there first (he really doesn't do annoyed), WB was soon into his stride according to my sources. The first two games were keenly contested, but as usual, the low mistake count and superfast retrieving saw WB extend his amazing run of form. By the time the 3rd came, Sam was obviously running out of ideas, and WB powered through for another convincing 3-0.
Back out in the sticks, London snr v (former) Student.
After tweaking a hamstring in about the third point the author started to think he was in for a torrid evening at the hands of ex-Student. Being pushed reluctantly around from side to side and feeling even slower than normal (surely not), it was looking like an early bath for PL's cap. Having got tonked in both of the first two, a few glimmers of hope were visible if the correct game could be played. Some very specific tips and a bit of confidence boosting by the marker (and family coach) seemed to do the trick. The high floaty stuff mixed in with a few drops and whipped drives started to work. All of the next three games were exceedingly hard work though and it was only at the end when the frustration got to James (leading to an uncharacteristic, earsplittingly violent and truly Newberry-esque stream of invective) that James folded. The author accordingly battled through to bag the win 3-2 (and off court at 10.45pm).
Having returned to see what was transpiring in the remaining match (Robbins v Jeal), I was confronted by a Marie Celeste situation with all of the other three courts plus galleries empty. All tucking in in the bar apparently. I was later filled in on what had occurred by my ever reliable sources though. By all accounts, the scene that unfolded for any lucky spectator was a bit like a Hollywood epic from days of yore. Ted's vast retinue of admirers were all in attendance, sycophantically cheering on their man in what had no doubt been billed as a big revenge match after the bashing that occurred last time. Meanwhile Cecil B deMille (or was that Keith Palmer) was committing the whole proceedings to celluloid for posterity. So, stage set for a battle royal. Ted apparently got off to a good start and big lead in the 1st before being pipped at the post. The 2nd looked to be hard fought, but as the match wore on, W.B.Culver in the marking seat was being subjected to more and more of a hard time (well done for issuing an early conduct warning by the way). By the time the 3rd was wrapped up, and the second masterclass of the season administered by JEJ, the assembled throng were left to melt quietly away into the night no doubt pondering what might have been.
The resident stalwart support team of Stan and Pat left that match a little earlier having decided that they'd come down to watch squash rather than hear it and the attendant language. Having wandered back over to court 4, they were somewhat surprised to see the author still plugging away, and unfortunately timed their arrival perfectly to coincide with James's aforementioned tirade. C'est la vie. I'm sure we wouldn't be bothering to play at all if we didn't care if we lost.
A good night overall for PL. Sadly I only arrived in the bar in time for (a) some cold chips, and (b) to settle the tab. |
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| Author: | CL |
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