Match Report
John Crawford Wrote:
Last season's corresponding fixture ended with a 10-0 drubbing by Castaways.
With the exception of Jai in place of George, the line-ups were the same. Were we to expect a similar fate? The answer is a surprising no.
Ronnie doesn't finish work until 6 pm so he'll aways be late for matches.
We are eternally grateful to all the teams that agree to this and will be forever in their debt.
A formal thank you once gain to Castaways. And so to the match (deviations from the natural order of play are shown in brackets).
I opened proceedings with a surprisingly comfortable first game win of 11-4. The second was much more interesting with Johnny racing into a 5-1 lead, I catching him at 6-6, Johnny going ahead at 10-6, I then had a game point at 11-10 and Johhny finally squeezing through 13-11. Averting a potential 2-0 down all was looking good for Johnny who held an early lead in the third game, but in the end it wasn't enough with me winning the next two games and the match.
The second match of the evening saw Jai move ahead of Mike, 2-1. For a brief moment it looked as though PRO would go ahead 2-0 on the night. Sadly, those two games were Jai's only victories on the night, losing later to both Johnny and Neil 3-0.
With Ronnie still to arrive the third match saw me pitted once again against my old (less of that I hear you say) buddy and adversary Neil.
Much like last season, I quickly despatched Neil in the opening game. This may be because this was Neil's first match and my second on the night, so certainly in my favour. But unlike last season where I lost in 4 this time I won in 3, winning both the remaining two games by the closest of margins.
Much like last season, I quickly despatched Neil in the opening game. This may be because this was Neil's first match and my second on the night, so certainly in my favour. But unlike last season where I lost in 4 this time I won in 3, winning both the remaining two games by the closest of margins.
Ronnie finally arrived about 7.30 pm to open his campaign against Johnny, in what was for me the match of the evening.
All looked doomed for Ronnie as he lost the opening 2 games both 11-3. Maybe he was a cold starter, this being his first match of the evening, but he certainly warmed up to draw level at 2-2. All again looked doomed for Ronnie in the final game as at the change-over he found himself down 5-2. All was not doomed as he finally came through 12-10.
Ronnie's second match of the evening was against Mike. A nightmare for both players as it was littered with nets and edges. After two very closely contested games, it all fell away with the remaining three games all won comfortably, thankfully ending in Ronnie's favour.
Last season I lost very easily to Mike 3-0. We were looking at a similar scoreline when Mike won the first game 11-5. What happened next I'm not sure, but Mike certainly seemed to lose concentration and the match because of noises coming from another table.
Both of Ronnie's matches had gone the distance, so no surprises where the third was heading. Another 5 setter, only this time ending in defeat to Neil.
With the final singles match ending at 9.45 pm, there was no time for doubles. Sadly, a repeat of last season.
From the very beginning of the night PRO had led 1-0, 2-1, 3-2, 4-3 and 5-3. We'll never know the outcome of the doubles, so was it a missed opportunity for PRO or a lucky escape for Castaways with their unbeaten record intact.
Last night's result, on Halloween Night, may well come back to haunt them in their quest for the title.
John
PS See also Neil's comments below and add them to the online report.
Neil Le Milliere Wrote :
A cracking match tonight between PRO and Castaways ended in a 5-5 draw when PRO had to concede the doubles.
Excellent maximum from John and two good wins for Ronnie, who was unlucky to lose his other one in five. Jai had a tough night losing all three.
For Castaways, it was a long night, not particularly helped by the disruption to the match by the (agreed) very late arrival of Ronnie after 19:30.
Johnny and Mike only managed one each, and most unusually, Neil did best on the night with two wins.
Written by: Gerry Martin
