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 | Fixture Details | |  | | |
Home | Return to Division Fixtures
| Nom | Home Player | Nom | Away Player | Result | Games |
| 7 | Dave Port | 1 | Chris Sayer | 1 | 3 | 9/6 1/9 2/9 1/9 | | 10 | Garth Lochner | 3 | Jerry Staffurth | 0 | 3 | 2/9 7/9 0/9 | | 11 | Richard Booth | 6 | Mark Fleming | 2 | 3 | 9/2 7/9 3/9 9/4 8/10 | | 16 | Andrew Raby | 7 | Mike Stuttard | 3 | 2 | 6/9 10/9 4/9 9/4 9/7 | | 19 | Peter Ng | 11 | John Creek | 3 | 2 | 8/9 6/9 9/8 9/1 9/1 | | | | | | | | | | | Games: | 9 | 13 | |
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| | | Bonus: | 0 | 5 | |
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| | | Result: | 9 | 18 | |
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| Report: | Considering its billing as the 5th & 6th place play-off match, this contest was far too dramatic. That might have had something to do with the sauna heaters having no 'off' switch or the fact that both sides were finishing a tough season with nothing to lose.
Dave and Chris were keen to get on early - Liverpool were playing Real Madrid after all. Dave was surprised to find Chris donating the first to him with a succession of limp returns and legless running. In what was his last Winter game for Knole before heading off to sunny South Africa to retire, Chris stepped up a gear in the next three to reassure Dave that he was on the right planet.
The third and fourth string matches were more exciting. Sparks discovered their own 'tin man' in Richard to match Knole's Mark and, although both players showed flashes of good play, in the end it was the errors that decided it.
At fourth string Mike's running appeared to be getting the better of hard-hitter Andrew. Running rings around Andrew, Mike didn't stop long enough to realise there were some strokes on offer. Great sportsmanship, but it was to cost him in the fifth. A change of marker at 7-7 was probably not the best move and Mike got the wrong end of a couple of decisions which might have been avoided if he had taken his chances earlier.
Another Saffa suffering from jet-lag (or was it pudding lag?), Garth never found his pace or touch to match Jerry's much improved form. 3-1 to Knole and only the dead rubber to follow.
JJ is also close to retirement and would have benefited from a senior citizen's best of three match. He raced to a 2-0 8-4 lead against 30-year younger Peter; then missed the sitter of the season at 8-6. With the heating now at Saharan levels, not a drop of water available (very clever SP) and the rafters closing in from above, JJ melted to a pulp and conceded the rest of the match from the comfort of the back of the court.
It only remains to say thanks to Sundridge for the best nosh of the season (even beating last week's Dulwich fare by a nose). A fine gastronomic end to the season and a solid 4th place for Knole. Happy days! |
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| Author: | JJ |
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