Earlier in the week a report appeared on Lancashire Live website stating that due to global warming in 30 years Southport would be permanently underwater and the writer's house in Rufford would form an island with 20 other houses.
So it was quite apt that that today the Pirates of currently landlocked Poolstock hoisted the Jolly Roger and sailed into a wet and soggy Rainford to take on the Sandgrounders.
Rumours had been circulating that Lee Smith of LSG fame had been seeking a transfer to Poolstock so that he could become a full Pirate but that turned out to be unfounded as Poolstock turned up with their usual crew of Brian Cantlie , Carl Murphy and Keith Dootson.
The home team made one change from their previous line up against the Pirates , with young Nick Wilson making a very welcome return to the team and partnering his father Ged and captain Nick Foss to repel the raiders from the east.
Uncle Ray is still away in Oz and with the rest of the Sandgrounders squad suffering from scurvy the selection was straightforward.
After Smash's super 20 point win on Monday the team had slipped to 2nd place in the table and needed a good win to take them back to the top of the league.
And so with the sounds of Dr Hook's ( geddit?) “Sexy eyes” disconcertingly drifting in from the bar the match began.
The Sandgrounders made an incredible start winning the first 5 matches to lead 15-1at half-time. Keith took a game off Nick Wilson but that apart it was straight game wins for Captain Nick v Brian and Keith and for Ged against Carl .
The 2nd half was a different story with every match apart from one going to 5 games.
The Wilsons won a tremendous doubles 3-2.
Ged then battled back from 2-0 down to Brian before eventually losing 11-2 in the 5th .
Captain Nick picked up his 3rd singles win beating Carl but not before Carl had taken 2 games.
Ged bucked the trend beating Keith 3-0 before we enjoyed the game of the night between Nick Wilson and Pirates no.1 Brian.
Brian took a 2-1 lead but Nick battled back with some incredible shots and superb rallies were shared between the 2 of them. Nick was impressive hitting on both wings and took the 5thgame 11-8 to seal a sensational 29-12 win for the Sandgrounders and send them 19 points clear at the top of the division.
Afterwards Captain Nick was interviewed by Wigan Ping Pong FM . He was overjoyed with the win saying …..” after this result nobody will have to walk the plank. “
