Match Report - belated  (courtesy of Martin Johnson)

   Adeyfield B   4 - 6   Adeyfield C

This was always going to be an interesting match, with Adeyfield B going into the match having just taken a slender lead at the top of the table, with Adeyfield C having helped them to that position by having beaten previously top, Crown & Sceptre B.  With 'supersub' John Fox joining unbeaten Bruce Ghaemi and captain, Bob Andrews, they looked very tough opposition for myself (Martin Johnson), Mariusz Puczynski and Trevor McFarlane, and so it proved.

I almost didn't play, after having dashed back from sunny Florida that very morning!  Our 4th player, Martyn Ford, had also turned up, but the toss of a coin determined that he had an early night, whilst I played!  Mariusz despatched Bob in four close games in the first set to put us 1-0 up, then for me it was straight on against Bruce - the first time we had played each other!  Despite the lack of sleep and jetlag (I'm getting my excuses in early!), I managed to provide Bruce with a good fight, and had the audacity to just grab the first leg, only for Bruce to snatch the 2nd at deuce, then ease through the 3rd leg more comfortably.  However, I still had some fight left and returned the favour by evening it up at two legs apiece, and so into the 5th leg (not unusual for me)!!  It was nip and tuck all the way, but Bruce just held on, and when I missed a smash at 10-9, it was all over, and Bruce maintained his 100%, but I was pleased to have given him his closest contest yet in the division.  Trevor found John's steadiness too good in the next, despite some good hits to extend John to four legs, whilst I just did enough to beat Bob over four legs, to even up the contest at 2-2.  The C team took the next two in straight games, however, as John eased past Mariusz and Bruce did likewise against Trevor.  Next up myself against John, and the usual question of whether I could maintain my hitting against John's defence and counter hitting.  Five good games ensued, and despite John going 2-1 up, I held on for a narrow win in the decider.  Trevor once more levelled the match score, beating Bob in four games, whilst Bruce despatched Mariusz in three games to put the C team 5-4 up.  Trevor/I then took on Bob/Bruce in the doubles, and to no great surprise, it went the distance, however, the C team were not to be denied their second consecutive win over the current top of the table, and took the fifth leg 11-7 to complete an excellent 6-4 win, in a fine match.  With C&S B winning elsewhere, it also meant that the lead in the division changed hands, yet again, in what is proving to be an extremely close division!!  Player of the Match : Bruce Ghaemi.