Had a dream the night before this match. I was playing table tennis against a chap but all he did was return the ball, he made no attempt to win the point. I was smashing here and smashing there but he retrieved everything. He didn't win a single point, I lost them and so we went on and on and on, hour after hour until at last, after six hours, I gave in. The games yours I said, Match of the Day's on.  I didn't think it had anything to do with the evening's game against Chinley C until I saw Wilf arrive. It was him in the dream! Sure enough, he did exactly like he did in the dream, returned everything, didn't play one attacking shot and I surrendered in three. Brian got us underway against Jack and the young man surprised him with some tricky serves and blistering top spin drives, so much so that he took the first set. Brian knew he had a fight on his hands and set about wearing his opponent down with some accurate chopping until Jack inevitably went for the drive that wasn't on. The pair were involved in some tremendous rallies, one particular one in which they traded big drives, must have gone on for at least ten shots each and brought the house down. Brian in the end had a little too much experience for his young opponent and won in four. The night started badly for Ian as his radar was well off and he went down in four sets against Debbie and after taking the first set as well. I had a cracking game against Jack and if the Gods had been with me I'd've taken a set and possible even the game but a succession of edges and nets went against me, which allied to Jack's portfolio of tricky serves, meant I lost in three very close games. Debbie made Brian work hard for his win, taking him to four sets but in the end his backhand and forehand drives proved decisive.  Once again Ian took a first set but then let the game slip away as he couldn't come to terms with Wilf's dogged defensive style and though he fought back superbly in the fourth set from 2-8 down, he made a couple of unforced errors and lost it 12-14. I lost the first set to Debbie but dug in and gradually got the better of her as I found a couple of serves she didn't like, got a few smashes away and beat her for the first time. Ian had a five setter with Jack and after losing the first two sets came back well to take the next two but even then he was making too many unforced errors and he lost the fifth to nine. Brian made short work of Wilf as even the Chinley player's stout defence was no match for Brian's ferocious drives and he went down in three. Brian and I had to win the doubles for the draw and though we managed it, what a Titanic duel it was against Wilf and Jack. Some great tennis played tonight and in Jack, Chinley have another young player of great promise.

Written by: Lee Brown