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 | Fixture Details | |  | | |
Home | Return to Division Fixtures
| Nom | Home Player | Nom | Away Player | Result | Games |
| 2 | Simon Joyce | 1 | Chris Sayer | 0 | 3 | 3/9 1/9 1/9 | | 5 | Geoff McMullan | 2 | PJ Rutherford | 0 | 3 | 5/9 3/9 3/9 | | 4 | Pete Ray | 5 | Mark Fleming | 3 | 1 | 9/6 3/9 10/8 9/0 | | 6 | Andy Veljovic | 6 | Chris Morgan | 3 | 0 | 9/3 9/2 9/4 | | 7 | Cathy Ruffle | 7 | John Creek | 3 | 0 | 9/6 9/1 9/3 | | | | | | | | | | | Games: | 9 | 7 | |
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| | | Bonus: | 5 | 0 | |
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| | | Result: | 14 | 7 | |
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| Report: | Down to earth with a bump!
You would have thought that Beckenham (on the way down) would have been easy meat for Knole (on the fast escalator up). But no.
Knole were expecting to field two Beckenham old boys (Mark Fleming and Jerry Staffurth) plus the South African dream team (Chris Sayer and PJ Rutherford). And Beckenham had lost to Waterfront (Knole's victims last season) the week before. The problem, as always, is depth. The Knole keel is full of creaking and rotten old timber. So, when Jerry called in sick on Tuesday afternoon, there was noone to step up at third string.
John Creek, having been partying at lunch time, expecting to stand down, was no match for fit and skilful Cathy Ruffle at 5. He won the first 6 points and little else. Chris Morgan fared no better against Andy Veljovic. Mark Fleming did his best against Pete Ray, but had already accepted that victory over his former clubmate and nemesis was unlikely. He outdid his own expectations, reaching 1-1 and with two game balls at 8-6 in the third to go 2-1 up - but tinned the winning drop. The match was over a few minutes later.
No such trouble at the top. At 2, PJ Rutherford cruised to a 3-0 win over Geoff McMullan. Chris Sayer did the same to Simon Joyce at 1. PJ still finds it hard to accept that he has to play second fiddle to Chris, having enjoyed many years in higher places. The rule has to be though that the Kid (32) has to be a better long-term prospect than the Vet (52). The only consolation for Knole, while trying to keep PJ keen, is that it looks as though Bexley II are not missing him one bit - it's as though the waters have instantly flowed back to fill the void.
Meanwhile, Knole clearly need a spare number three to plug the holes before we sink. If you are one, or know of one, please contact us.
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| Author: | John Creek |
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