Sport is ritualistic. 

Within the framework of a rule based sport , players express themselves in individual , and habitual , ways.

If you're the Australian cricket Captain you may be complicit in concealing a piece of grit sandpaper in your pocket to tamper with the ball (note for non cricket followers , this is against the rules.)

For Andy Rowland , table tennis player , before a match commences , a hand towel must be folded and hung so it is perpendicular to the tables surface , balanced on the tables leg strut. In proximity to the towel , you will find a carefully placed water bottle. For each end , of every match. 

Rowland was the most successful of Henley Bs players with two wins , and was involved in what was definitively the best match of the evening , a five set victory over Dean Hicks. For two combination bat players , both with defensive attributes , this was an entertaining and offensively committed encounter. Falling to a two set deficit , Hicks fought back to level , before just falling short in the fifth end. Yet to achieve full fitness after a series of debilitating injuries its heartening to see Hicks returning to something approaching good form. 

Mike Evetts added value with three wins and Jason Rainey added one , another five setter , against Rob McCluskey, who had a luckless evening.

Dave Milton completed the travelling teams line up and at the age of 72 shows no signs of the advancing years, playing with his customary gusto and flair.