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 | Fixture Details | |  | | |
Home | Return to Division Fixtures
| Nom | Home Player | Nom | Away Player | Result | Games |
| 2 | 'PJ' Rutherford | 6 | Scott Sumner | 2 | 3 | 9/3 7/9 10/8 8/10 8/10 | | 4 | Gary Mitchell | 14 | Danny Gray | 0 | 3 | 1/9 7/9 7/9 | | 3 | Jerry Staffurth | 11 | Tony O'Reilly | 1 | 3 | 4/9 5/9 9/3 2/9 | | 6 | Tom Candy | 15 | David Thompson | 0 | 3 | 2/9 3/9 7/9 | | 7 | Chris Morgan | 16a | Ross Williams | 2 | 3 | 7/9 10/9 6/9 10/8 2/9 | | | | | | | | | | | Games: | 5 | 15 | |
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| | | Bonus: | 0 | 5 | |
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| | | Result: | 5 | 20 | |
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| Report: | Bexley and The ‘Sol Campbell’ Affair.
Bexley IIs came to Knole Park to put ‘deserter’ ‘PJ’ Rutherford firmly in his place. And they nearly succeeded. This was Bexley’s first visit since ‘PJ’ left them without a number 1 to ‘spend more time with his family and friends’ in Sevenoaks. The smell of revenge was in the air from the time Scott Sumner arrived at the Knole Captain’s house instead of the squash club.
But Knole had a cunning plan too. To give Bexley so many points that they would be shoe-ins for promotion and boost the captain’s ‘Squash Dosh’ chances at the same time. Knole’s plan worked to perfection and they can now look forward to meeting Div.1 relegation certainties Bexley I next year – Slack Badger and sidekick arch-nemesis Falla should have found a map of Sevenoaks by then.
Knole’s first method of attack was to send no.1 Chris Sayer to New York as soon as he returned from South Africa. Second wave of attack – bring in 50 year old gout sufferer Chris Morgan in place of 53 year old captain John. Chris Morgan did his bit by losing to Ross Williams, although Ross nearly blew it, breaking his racket and fuming about being ‘too relaxed’.
Gary Mitchell, 54 - promoted to 2 after his comprehensive demolition of Poultwood’s Jake Wallis last week - took on grown-up 18 year old Danny Gray. Danny fully justified his promotion from Leon’s babes by failing to fall for Gary’s feigned heart attacks and cries of disbelief as Danny retrieved ball after ball from the centre of the court.
Knole youngster Jerry Staffurth – only 44 – took on Bexley’s pensioner Tony O’Reilly. Jerry had been warned by ‘PJ’ to expect a boast or two. A fatal error as Knole picked up another point before order was restored. Tony may have been unhinged by the twin burdens of playing behind Danny and being captain for the day.
Tom Candy had not been told of the cunning plan, so it was surprising when he lost 0-3 to Dave Thompson. Tom might have taken the third but Dave was having none of it. He probably knew by then that Bexley IIs were doomed to first division pennance – is it too early to engrave the trophy?
‘PJ’ and Scott Sumner provided the only real entertainment of the night. ‘PJ’’s pride versus ‘the lob’. Incredibly, ‘PJ’ seemed to play better and stronger the more times he had to run around in circles and leap to take early balls. Both players have blind spots – ‘PJ’ on the front forehand wall and Scott on the backhand. Luckily for the spectators, or we would still be there now. ‘PJ’ was a model of courtesy, even taking time to coach and encourage young Danny in his marking experience course. Gentle nudges replaced the usual full-on shoulder charges and polite enquiries greeted even the most outrageous of lets. Someone has told Danny that, if uncertain, you should always give a let. He is finding as he grows up that it’s a lot easier to be uncertain – I think.
Scott saved six match balls, and ‘PJ’ lost them. Scott had one, and won it. The plan had worked.
Most of Knole’s feast for forty was left uneaten as the late hour took its toll of two gentlemanly teams. A pity there will not be a return match – Bexley will probably try to bring in the reserves to stave off the inevitable. I hope not, as Knole may still need to lose a few more points by the end of the season.
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| Author: | JC supersub |
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