|
|
 | Fixture Details | |  | | |
Home | Return to Division Fixtures
| Nom | Home Player | Nom | Away Player | Result | Games |
| 2 | PJ Rutherford | 2 | Chris Davies | 3 | 0 | 9/6 9/2 9/2 | | 5 | Mark Fleming | 3 | Dan O'Brien | 3 | 0 | 9/7 9/2 9/4 | | 4 | Gary Mitchell | 6 | Tom Archer | 2 | 3 | 2/9 9/5 5/9 9/4 3/9 | | 6 | Chris Morgan | 10 | Neil Harris | 3 | 0 | 9/2 9/5 10/8 | | 7 | John Creek | 12 | Dan Slater | 3 | 1 | 7/9 9/6 9/7 9/4 | | | | | | | | | | | Games: | 14 | 4 | |
|---|
| | | Bonus: | 5 | 0 | |
|---|
| | | Result: | 19 | 4 | |
|---|
| Report: | A depleted Knole park came up against an equally depleted Blackheath I. Knole missing 2 of their top three and Blackheath with similar problems.
The good news for Knole is that all of their squad are either (relatively) fit or on the mend.
First on - the 4s - Chris Morgan seemed happy with his 3-0 win over Neil Harris. Your correspondent was busy on the other court, but the scoreline would suggest that the older man was making a comeback in the third or that Chris was relaxing before hanging on to win 9/2 9/5 10/8.
On the other court, John Creek (usually watching from the balcony) had a scrappy game against the giant Dan Slater (usually playing for Blackheath II). Dan turned up in a collar and tie, bashed the ball around for 4 games, and left in the same attire. A man in a hurry, but unusually unsure overhead for such a big man. John did just enough to win in four messy games 7/9 9/6 9/7 9/4. Some rust was removed and he will keep his place in the squad.
Gary Mitchell, promoted to 3 for the night, showed that some of his touch is coming back by hanging in to a match that he could easily have lost 0-3. Tom Archer was half Gary's weight and age, but like many of Gary's opponents allowed himself to be deceived by Gary's deft drops and boasts from the back of the court. Gary covered a lot of ground to come back to 2 all; huffing and puffing and dripping all over the court. A doctor was nearly sent for. They would probably not have helped in the fifth, as Gary went down 2/9 9/5 5/9 9/4 3/9. If it was Strictly Come Dancing, Gary would have got the judge's vote as 'most improved' and the audience's sympathy vote. He will also be back to dance again next week.
Meanwhile at 1, PJ Rutherford was taking his new responsibilities seriously. After his usual cautious start, his speed and array of flicks were too good for a tiring Chris Davies. A 3-0 win gave the tie to Knole PJ gets one more shot at the number one spot next week before his Springbok nemesis returns to reclaim his throne. Poultwood should prove a stiffer test.
In the dead rubber, Mark Fleming faced a retriever in Dan O'Brien. Mark's kills are as good as anyone's, but Dan got most of them back. All Mark needed to do was string together 3 or 4 kills in one rally and he would win. Fortunately for the rest of the teams, waiting for their supper, he did so and produced a very respectable win at the elevated number 2 slot. Only one or two visible fluff-dumps (flumps) this week Mark! Keep it up.
|
|---|
| Author: | John Creek |
|---|
| |  |  |  |
|
