Match Report
These matches always have a special feel to them due to all of us being teammates when
playing for the Exiles in the Central League and this one was no different.
The match set a weird tone to the evening and match firstly as it was a five legger and
secondly as the leg results seemed to depend on which end you were playing with all five legs
going to the player at the stage end including the final leg with Adam going 5-1 up before
changing to the losing end and maintaining that form. First blood to Nat West.
The next two games were routine wins for Castaways, Johnny beat Gareth three straight and
Mike winning the “battle of the bats” also three straight, 2-1.
Johnny, who is carrying a back injury which is severely impacting on his game, against Adam
and despite managing to take one leg Johnny lost out and Adam got his second win of the
evening. 2-2.
Neil then faced Les and Les was on fire, playing aggressive shots with his deadly long
pimples and not giving Neil a moment to relax. A very deserved three straight win, 2-3.
We then come to the next five legger with Mike having another “battle of the bats” with
Gareth. 0-1,1-1,1-2, 2-2, and finally 3-2. A good win in the end for Mike but a great fight by
Gareth, 3-3.
So, for three out of three five leggers, meaning all six players had one five legger and all
against different members of the opposition, Johnny played Les. Johnny lost the first two legs
and looked to be in trouble, but the fightback started, and Johnny took the next two legs to
make it 2-2. Then despite a valiant effort from Johnny, Les won out, 3-4,
Mike then came back to the table to settle the “who gets a maximum” against Adam and
although Mike managed to take one leg Adam dominated the others and won 3-1 and
guarantee a draw at least, 3-5.
Cometh the hour cometh the Captain! The Captains then faced each other with one trying to
save the draw, the other to take the win. Neil and Gareth are old (both 71) foes who played
each other for many years and Gareth wins the odd one but Neil wins more and so it proved
with Neil winning 3-0, 4-5.
This brought us to the doubles and both teams have good doubles records over the years.
Johnny and Mike faced Adam and Les and the starting combination turned out to be key with
the first and third legs being won easily by Castaways whilst the second was a much tighter
affair with only Castaways only managing to win that one on deuce., 5-5 and Castaways
unbeaten record extended!
Due to the almost complete squad unavailability of Castaways their big next match against
Comets A has had to be postponed so that record will possibly be preserved for a few more
week
- The match set a weird tone to the evening and match firstly as it was a five legger andsecondly as the leg results seemed to depend on which end you were playing with all five legsgoing to the player at the stage end including the final leg with Adam going 5-1 up beforechanging to the losing end and maintaining that form. First blood to Nat West.The next two games were routine wins for Castaways, Johhny beat Gareth three straight andMike winning the “battle of the bats” also three straight, 2-1.Johnny, who is carrying a back injury which is severely impacting on his game, against Adamand despite managing to take one leg Johnny lost out and Adam got his second win of theevening. 2-2.Neil then faced Les and Les was on fire, playing aggressive shots with his deadly longpimples and not giving Neil a moment to relax. A very deserved three straight win, 2-3.We then come to the next five legger with Mike having another “battle of the bats” withGareth. 0-1,1-1,1-2, 2-2, and finally 3-2. A good win in the end for Mike but a great fight byGareth, 3-3.So, for three out of three five leggers, meaning all six players had one five legger and allagainst different members of the opposition, Johnny played Les. Johnny lost the first two legsand looked to be in trouble, but the fightback started, and Johnny took the next two legs tomake it 2-2. Then despite a valiant effort from Johnny, Les won out, 3-4,Mike then came back to the table to settle the “who gets a maximum” against Adam andalthough Mike managed to take one leg Adam dominated the others and won 3-1 andguarantee a draw at least, 3-5.Cometh the hour cometh the Captain! The Captain then faced each other with one trying tosave the draw, the other to take the win. Neil and Gareth are old (both 71) foes who playedeach other for many years and Gareth wins the odd one but Neil wins more and so it provedwith Neil winning 3-0, 4-5.This brought us to the doubles and both teams have good doubles records over the years.Johnny and Mike faced Adam and Les and the starting combination turned out to be key withthe first and third legs being won easily by Castaways whilst the second was a much tighteraffair with only Castaways only managing to win that one on deuce., 5-5 and Castawaysunbeaten record extended!Due to the almost complete squad unavailability of Castaways their big next match againstComets A has had to be postponed so that record will possibly be preserved for a few moreweeks.
Written by: Neil Le Milliere