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Home | Return to Division Fixtures
| Nom | Home Player | Nom | Away Player | Result | Games |
| 1 | S.London | 3 | T,.Webb | 3 | 2 | 8-10 2-9 9-3 9-2 9-5 | | 2 | J.Robbins | 4 | M.Aldridge | 3 | 2 | 9-4 8-10 6-9 9-3 9-3 | | 3 | S.Culver | 5 | P.James | 3 | 0 | 9-6 9-1 9-5 | | 4 | S.Pratt | 7 | M.Snow | 3 | 0 | 10-8 9-3 9-4 | | 6 | C.London | 11 | A.Wilde | 3 | 1 | 5-9 9-5 9-5 9-3 | | | | | | | | | | | Games: | 15 | 5 | |
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| | | Bonus: | 5 | 0 | |
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| | | Result: | 20 | 5 | |
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| Report: | A return to warmer climes for the PL1 home fixture against David Lloyd after the big chill of the first half match. The visitors were without the top end of their order, with Jamie Wilde still ill and the "Olby love machine", as dubbed by them, on Valentine's day duties. Despite this, it was the top-end of their order that had the most success ...
First up Pratt v Snow.
Didn't see an awful lot of this one other than peripheral vision whilst marking next door. So much so that when WW came off at the end of the match I thought he'd lost 3-0. Turns out he'd won 3-0. After dropping a big lead in the 1st in familiar fashion, WW scraped the game and according to Steve L marking played some good squash interspersed with a few indifferent patches. Nevertheless, a good win to start proceedings.
Next door Robbins v Aldridge.
This started off looking like a comfortable win for JEJ. He took the 1st at a canter and led 8-4 in the 2nd. From here on in it was anything but a canter. Marc really got it going and was well fired up for a win. The boasts were as unbelievably tight as ever and several flicky cross court drops at the front saw JEJ being sent the wrong way - not a familiar sight. Marc battled through to lead 2-1. JEJ stepped the pace up in the 4th which counteracted what had been his downfall all match. Lots of slow boasts against someone like Marc is a recipe for trouble. The increased pace did the job efficiently and saw out a hard fought last two games to nab the win.
Next up London jnr v Webb.
I saw only the second half of the 5th game in this one. Tony by all accounts was on fire, and after sneaking the 1st took the 2nd fairly comfortably. Steve decided enough was enough at this point though, and despite comfortable looking scorelines this was far from the truth. Both players battled hard with some long gruelling rallies. Tony lived up to the Duracell bunny image once again, keeping on and on running. Steve did enough to take a good win in 5.
Next door London snr v Wilde.
A rare treat here. The author got to play someone older than himself! The millionth encounter between these two (though not for a while) saw the Terminator into his tricky stride quickest. The lobs in particular were pinpoint, and when mixed with low hard kills, the Terminator was in control of the first game and a half. At 3-5 down in the 2nd though, came the turning point of the match. The author was forced to try and flick out another dying lob, and produced a total fluke off the frame. This started off with a downward trajectory, but had so much spin on it that it kicked upwards off the sidewall and up onto the front wall. Andy had naturally assumed a bump ball off the floor and just left it, only to look rather perplexed when it was called good. From this point on the tables were turned. It was never anything but difficult from here on, but the author did enough to take the remaining games for a 3-1 win.
Last on, Culver v James.
WB left the usual absolute ruthlessness at home for this one. 8-2 and 7-1 leads in the 1st and 3rd weren't capitalised on with quite the same relish as normal. Paul played well in both to claw back a good number of points though I don't think anybody seriously doubted the final outcome. The usual efficient 3-0 victory, brought about by relentless hunting of the volley as usual, with seemingly little negative effect caused by Simon's hours stuck in traffic preceding the match. The highlight of the match for me, marking, was the away supporters encouraging cries of fluke as Paul buried a spectaclular rolling nick overhead in the 3rd. Just what you need when your back is against the wall!
So, another good win for PL against a struggling D.Lloyd. If only they could get their full side out on occasion they'd be a force to be reckoned with as evidenced by their results when they have done so on a couple of occasions. As it is they are at the wrong end of the table and PL are vying for top spot. Good banter in the bar and the entertaining spectacle of Tony downing curry shortly after spontaneously starting to sweat profusely again in the bar having showered and got dry. Sadly most of the home contingent had more pressing engagements and El Cap was left to sponsor the tab out of his own pocket (WB excepted). |
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| Author: | CL |
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