After last week's flattering win against Nordwest, it's fair to say that we were a little more than disappointed with this draw against NatWest. If you look at the actual order of play, we led 5-2 with 3 to play.

The opening match of the night saw me pitched against Les. My recent record against Les has been very good, but with Les racing through the first game 11-4, was it to be a reversal of fortune. No was the answer as I won the next 3 games relatively comfortably. My Indian sign over Les remains intact.

Next up George v Gareth.  Both had entered this match without a win between them, so something had to give. Gareth looked odds on leading 2-0, but George battled back to draw level at 2-2. Who would the TT Gods look favourably upon? Gareth, who won the final game 11-7. It didn't help that George had brought the wrong glasses, losing his two other  matches 3-0.

With Ronnie yet to arrive and Chris otherwise engaged in another match in the Central League, Gareth stayed on to play me. His continuous match play obviously showed as he led 6-3 in the opening game. From here on it was all downhill for Gareth, losing 3-0.

The fifth match of the night saw Ronnie open his account against Les. Ronnie started coldly, losing the first 2 games, but getting warmer with every game. Thus proved with an overwhelming final game victory. 
Ronnie stayed on for the sixth match of the night, beating Gareth 3-0.

And so with the score standing at 4-2 in PRO's favour, we enter the seventh match of the night, me v Chris. With both players hesitant to display their attacking abilities (Chris has a shoulder injury) the games were long drawn out affairs with lots of pushing involved. I prevailed in 4, but winning all my games by the slenderest of margins at deuce. Overall, I won only 2 more points than Chris.

5-2 up and matches 8 and 9 were played  on two tables .
With George losing on one table, how was Ronnie to fair against Chris on the other? Chris comfortably raced into a 2-0 lead, but Ronnie rallied to win the next two games by the closest of margins. Was it to be a great comeback. Sadly no, with Chris triumphant in the final game 11-6.

Having blown the final two singles matches, could we secure victory in the doubles to win the match.  Again sadly no, with NatWest coming through in 4 ends.

PS Have copied in Gareth in case he wishes to add to the comments.