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 | Fixture Details | |  | | |
Home | Return to Division Fixtures
| Nom | Home Player | Nom | Away Player | Result | Games |
| 2 | Matt Partridge | 1 | Chris Sayer | 0 | 3 | 8/10 4/9 4/9 | | 3 | John Molloy | 2 | PJ Rutherford | 1 | 3 | 6/9 5/9 9/2 3/9 | | 5 | Paul Barnard | 3 | Jerry Staffurth | 2 | 3 | 0/9 9/3 3/9 9/7 6/9 | | 8 | Dave Knight | 5 | Mark Fleming | 1 | 3 | 6/9 9/3 2/9 3/9 | | 9 | Pete Fraser | 6 | Chris Morgan | 0 | 3 | 7/9 3/9 2/9 | | | | | | | | | | | Games: | 4 | 15 | |
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| | | Bonus: | 0 | 5 | |
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| | | Result: | 4 | 20 | |
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| Report: | Once again, a solid performance by Knole brought them maximum points - but at the cost of some goodwill.
With the solid glass back courts, the only thing separating markers from players was a sound-proof barrier. Perhaps just as well, although some markers seemed to spend more time on court than the players as matches became ménàges à trois.
The 1s went on first, with Matt Partridge providing an echo of his away performance, as he cruised to an 8-3 lead in the first - only to see it whittled away as Chris Sayer got into his stride and overhauled Matt to take it 10-8. The other two games went Chris's way and the first half result was repeated.
Chris Morgan also found Pete Fraser more accomodating than he had been at Knole. Chris didn't drop a game - two better than at home - and Pete found himself on the wrong end of every bit of bad luck going. Naturally he took some of his frustration out on the marker and his equipment, even questioning some pick-ups for good measure.
Mark Fleming overturned his first half result against Dave Knight. 3-1 to Fredericks became 3-1 to Knole. Mark forgot to tin half as many shots and even found a few of his favourite nicks at key moments. Dave, too, allowed himself to become over-involved with the finer points of judgement by an intractable marker. The spectators tried to help, but their encouragement was ineffective through the tiny cracks in the glass and the frequently open door.
PJ Rutherford was looking forward to a return against Dave Partridge, which promised further physicality after their close encounter at Knole. It was not to be - as substitute John Molloy stepped in for Dave. PJ was a little too quick and tricky for John. A pity that he spoiled his performance with an Alan Shearer imitation. Having shown us three of his shots in a versatile Cup performance last week, PJ was guilty of showing too much leading elbow and shoulder in the back in his keenness to exercise his right to access to the ball. Let's see your softer side next week, PJ!
A great game between Jerry Staffurth and Paul Barnard at 3 relieved the tension. Jerry was less sharp and steady than of late and Paul was clearly keen to avenge his away loss. A fifth game full of incident and skill, interspersed with some flukes and near misses, brought the crowd to its feet. Jerry held on in the end, but neither player deserved to lose. The Knole coach just held onto his job, with a half-time talk that may have contributed to Jerry's success.
Great sausages afterwards, Fredericks!
WARNING TO ALL CLUBS! One of Knole's hotshots has pointed out that it's Valentine's Day in two weeks. Luckily, a romantic night out for 3 quarters of the Knole Squad is a bus pass ride to the bingo followed by a mug of Horlics. Other younger clubs, however, may want to secure the services of their students and twenty somethings in advance. |
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| Author: | John Creek |
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