Match Report
The Dragons were once again back at the Heinz Principality, this time in the league, trying to avenge their Cup Semi-Final defeat a couple of weeks back. It was the same Dragons line-up as Jeremy 'Owdmon' Beagle was, as per the usual Wednesday evening ritual, on dog sitting duties.
The Heinz team had one change from their Semi-Final victory outfit where Sir Allan Removal-man Pickford was packaged back in replacing the rumbled Rumbelow Dave Bennett.
Due to the Dragons Pugwash having to leave early as he needed to be up very early the next morning, about 10:30am, he explained... as he was heading to the horse racing at Ludlow today. This was a belated 50th birthday gift (by about 2 years in my opinion
!!) he went on to say he had originally planned to travel Europe for his 50th, unfortunately, he hadn't explained this to his wife and when she got wind of this promptly put paid to his antics, so Ludlow it is and now it was down to the Railwaymon to be the first game on against Beaver Brookes. With the recent revelations of the Heinz secret Bean pool enhancing their performances of late, it was with trepidation that Railwaymon walked to the table - game on and Railwaymon got stuck in the stalls from the off and the Beaver Brookes gnawed quickly away and whipped the Dragon 3 - 0. Galeforce faced Mossy in the next race to 3 and it was Galeforce who crossed the line first taking it 3-1, before Sir Allan faced top weight Pugwash. It was quite obvious that Pugwash was indeed meaning business to leave early as he ran, jumped and stamped around the table tennis parade, shaking the foundations of the Heinz plant..Galeforce even commented he was as quick as Usain Bolt tonight...I was more inclined to say Usain Jolt!
The Dragon came through this head to head and won at 3-1 yet, it couldn't be ignored the amount of net points that went Sir Allan's way in this and as a true gentleman he apologised with "Sorry" on each occasion.
Mossy lined-up against Railwaymon who stormed way out in front winning the first two, before the Railwaymon hit heavy ground and Mossy took full control taking off the reins and winning the next three games in a five set thriller.
Pugwash was again showing great signs of form, and galloped to another 2- 0 lead for the Dragons, before he too hit heavy ground and succumbed in another 3-2 encounter with the spoils going to top graded Beaver Brookes.
Beaver Brookes and Sir Allan were too good a pairing in the doubles against Pugwash and Galeforce coming through this 3-0.
Sir Allan now faced Galeforce and incredibly another Dragon stormed to a 2-0 lead before he too found the going too tough on the final bend and Sir Allan pulled it back to 2-2 going into the final furlong before Galeforce managed to stick his neck out on the line to win another 3-2er. Plenty more net points for Sir Allan in this and again he was very "sorry."
Pugwash now raring up to go once more against Mossy and this turned out to be another great meeting and another battling 5 setter ensued before Pugwash jumped the last comfortably and took it.
Railwaymon facing Sir Allan in the second to last race and if you study the form that if the Railwaymon
took a 2-0 lead you could wager Sir Allan to claw his way back and this is incredibly what happened again Sir Allan was awash with some fantastic net points once more and I must admit I had never heard Sir Allan speak so much in one evening ,albeit it was only one word at a time, "sorry". As it transpired "sorry" wasn't enough to see him over the line on this occasion and the Railwaymon took this with....you guessed it a damn good net point after a very long rally! Railwaymon raised his hoofs in jubilation!
Odds-on favourite Beaver Brookes lined up against Galeforce in this final pairing of the evening and it was Beaver Brookes who was once again quickly away, this individual was in no mood to be caught, there was little left in the tank for Galeforce and Beaver Brookes took the sprint 3-0 and an overall score of 23 - 19 to the Heinz stables on the night.
Pugwash decided it was too late now to have an early dart and so followed us all to the New Springs for a well deserved cooling down. Beers in and it was discussed what another exciting and enjoyable evening of table tennis it had been between our two clubs as always with plenty of long rallies, end to end attacking and a bucket full of 3-2 results and net points. Sir Allan now sounding a little hoarse was trying to cure his vocal chords by splashing out on a cure of Baileys over ice!!
When we all decided to get up and leave, Pugwash was beginning to look a little lame, so if anyone watches the racing from Ludlow today and see a green sheet surrounding an individual in the Tattersalls arena then you can bet this will be Pugwash!!
Anyway we asked Pugwash did he have any tips and he replied, yes "never eat yellow snow?"
The Heinz team had one change from their Semi-Final victory outfit where Sir Allan Removal-man Pickford was packaged back in replacing the rumbled Rumbelow Dave Bennett.
Due to the Dragons Pugwash having to leave early as he needed to be up very early the next morning, about 10:30am, he explained... as he was heading to the horse racing at Ludlow today. This was a belated 50th birthday gift (by about 2 years in my opinion
!!) he went on to say he had originally planned to travel Europe for his 50th, unfortunately, he hadn't explained this to his wife and when she got wind of this promptly put paid to his antics, so Ludlow it is and now it was down to the Railwaymon to be the first game on against Beaver Brookes. With the recent revelations of the Heinz secret Bean pool enhancing their performances of late, it was with trepidation that Railwaymon walked to the table - game on and Railwaymon got stuck in the stalls from the off and the Beaver Brookes gnawed quickly away and whipped the Dragon 3 - 0. Galeforce faced Mossy in the next race to 3 and it was Galeforce who crossed the line first taking it 3-1, before Sir Allan faced top weight Pugwash. It was quite obvious that Pugwash was indeed meaning business to leave early as he ran, jumped and stamped around the table tennis parade, shaking the foundations of the Heinz plant..Galeforce even commented he was as quick as Usain Bolt tonight...I was more inclined to say Usain Jolt! The Dragon came through this head to head and won at 3-1 yet, it couldn't be ignored the amount of net points that went Sir Allan's way in this and as a true gentleman he apologised with "Sorry" on each occasion.
Mossy lined-up against Railwaymon who stormed way out in front winning the first two, before the Railwaymon hit heavy ground and Mossy took full control taking off the reins and winning the next three games in a five set thriller.
Pugwash was again showing great signs of form, and galloped to another 2- 0 lead for the Dragons, before he too hit heavy ground and succumbed in another 3-2 encounter with the spoils going to top graded Beaver Brookes.
Beaver Brookes and Sir Allan were too good a pairing in the doubles against Pugwash and Galeforce coming through this 3-0.
Sir Allan now faced Galeforce and incredibly another Dragon stormed to a 2-0 lead before he too found the going too tough on the final bend and Sir Allan pulled it back to 2-2 going into the final furlong before Galeforce managed to stick his neck out on the line to win another 3-2er. Plenty more net points for Sir Allan in this and again he was very "sorry."
Pugwash now raring up to go once more against Mossy and this turned out to be another great meeting and another battling 5 setter ensued before Pugwash jumped the last comfortably and took it.
Railwaymon facing Sir Allan in the second to last race and if you study the form that if the Railwaymon
took a 2-0 lead you could wager Sir Allan to claw his way back and this is incredibly what happened again Sir Allan was awash with some fantastic net points once more and I must admit I had never heard Sir Allan speak so much in one evening ,albeit it was only one word at a time, "sorry". As it transpired "sorry" wasn't enough to see him over the line on this occasion and the Railwaymon took this with....you guessed it a damn good net point after a very long rally! Railwaymon raised his hoofs in jubilation!
Odds-on favourite Beaver Brookes lined up against Galeforce in this final pairing of the evening and it was Beaver Brookes who was once again quickly away, this individual was in no mood to be caught, there was little left in the tank for Galeforce and Beaver Brookes took the sprint 3-0 and an overall score of 23 - 19 to the Heinz stables on the night.
Pugwash decided it was too late now to have an early dart and so followed us all to the New Springs for a well deserved cooling down. Beers in and it was discussed what another exciting and enjoyable evening of table tennis it had been between our two clubs as always with plenty of long rallies, end to end attacking and a bucket full of 3-2 results and net points. Sir Allan now sounding a little hoarse was trying to cure his vocal chords by splashing out on a cure of Baileys over ice!!
When we all decided to get up and leave, Pugwash was beginning to look a little lame, so if anyone watches the racing from Ludlow today and see a green sheet surrounding an individual in the Tattersalls arena then you can bet this will be Pugwash!!
Anyway we asked Pugwash did he have any tips and he replied, yes "never eat yellow snow?"
Written by: Gary Chadwick
