With Adeyfield 1st team seemingly running away with the league this season, tonight was going to go a long way to deciding who would finish 2nd. C&S 1st held a 4 point advantage going into tonight so a 7-3 win for Flamstead would have seen them move into 2nd place. Much deliberation went into the player order by us at the start of the match and these tactics worked like a dream with Flamstead claiming all of the first three rubbers. The ever jovial Dave Gomm was first up tonight and I was very focused to give him my full attention having lost to him the last time out a couple of years ago but thankfully I was able to consistently return his fast blocks and take the match. A great match followed between Gary and Angela, with Gary well on top in the first Leg, but Angela slowly got to grips with Gary’s loops and was able to vary the blocks extremely well to take the next three legs. Biao (who had been rather inconsistent this season) played an absolutely great match against John and won very comfortably with some very powerful hitting of balls barely over the height of the net. John simply had no answer. Next up I played Gary (who I had NEVER previously beaten) With memories of the narrow 3-2 defeat earlier in the season, not to mention the 25-23 leg, I was determined to keep it tight and stay in the game. Gary was up in both the first two legs but I managed to keep my return of his serve tight and nick the first two games by the narrowest of margins. The third leg saw Gary well on top and with a 10-4 lead, 2-1 seemed a certainty! Somehow some very consistent play from myself, coupled with Gary attempting some rather ambitious shots to win the leg, saw me take the next 8 points to record the win! AMAZING and I was absolutely over the moon to get a victory against a player of Gary’s calibre. Biao then carried on where he left off against John to beat Dave before Angela beat John 3-1 and the score was 6-0! This certainly wasn’t on the cards! Gary then salvaged the first point of the night for the home team by beating Biao very comfortably. Return of serve was key here with Biao really struggling to read Gary’s serve and Gary ran out a comfortable 3-0 winner. I then had a great game with John McCance. Keen to avenge my narrow 3-2 loss to him in the SHAW league just before Christmas I was very focused and took the first two legs. As always, back came John and won the 3rd very comfortably 11-3 but I was determined not to throw away another 2-0 advantage and managed to see out the 4th leg 11-8. Angela completed a win against Dave before Gary and John (arguably the best doubles pairing in the entire league) were too strong for Angela and myself running out 3-1 winners in 4 very well contested legs. So 8-2 it finished in our favour. Certainly not expected at the start of the evening but very welcome nonetheless. GAME ON FOR THAT RUNNERS UP SPOT!!!

Written by: Nick Denney