Match Report  (Courtesy of Nick Denney)

   Row   1 - 9   Flamstead 1st

Great to have ROW back in the top flight, this season. I’m sure I speak for others when I say it’s always great to have Bob Cummins' banter of a Monday night.

This was certainly one of those matches where the final score didn’t really reflect the way the actual games went. Marc took the first in four, with Bob really providing him with some tough opposition, with the pimples on his backhand and strong looping on the forehand, and I myself made absolutely sure I gave Mick my full attention (having lost to him the last time Row were in Div 1). Antony then pulled off a great win against the ever steady Paul Jolly.

Mick rarely trouble Marc (who eased to a comfortable win) and then came the game of the night. Antony playing really steadily to go 2-0 up, only for Bob to claw it back to 2-2. The decider was a really cagey affair with both players having points to win the match, but Antony holding his nerve to nick it 14-12. Then came a game that I ALWAYS dread. Having lost 3 straight to Paul Jolly in the past I started off very nervously with Paul racing deservedly into a 6-2 lead in the first leg, but I managed to claw it back and take it 11-9. Second leg was equally close with me nicking it 11-8. The third leg almost provided a turning point. With myself seemingly in control at 9-3 and 10-6, Paul played some very aggressive table tennis to claw it back to 10-9 (albeit with the help from quite a few nets and edges) but I managed to nick it 11-9 with an almighty stroke of luck, as my return from one of Paul’s smashes brushing the extreme corner of the table, for a 3-0 win, but a match that felt anything but!! Mick then overcame Antony, who couldn’t quite get to grips with Mick's pimples. Flamstead then saw out the remaining two rubbers to give them a 9-1 win.

It was very amusing to receive a jovial WhatsApp from Marc, in our team group later on that evening . . . . . "Angela who ???????” :)