A match that affected both the Champions and Runners Up spots so both teams needing as many points as possible.

However, the first thing to say is this match was played in an excellent, friendly, and sporting manner with both these old adversaries giving due respect to the other.

The first set perhaps set the tone with Mike losing the first leg to Ian but then recovering to take the next two easily and sneaking the fourth on deuce, 1-0 Castaways.

Cain come to the table and despite losing a leg on deuce to Johnny never really looked in trouble, 1-1.

Next a slam dunk for Comets over the last few meetings and so it proved again, Laikram beating Neil three straight with Neil only managing 14 points, 1-2.

Johnny then faced ian and despite Ian again taking the first leg Johnny won the next three to make it 2-2.

A pivotal game followed with Mike facing Laikram. Mike has a habit of wearing some opponents down but in this case, he raced into a 2-0 lead. Laikram fought back to make it 2-1 and then Mike seemingly had the fourth in is grasp at 8-4 but Laikram refused to give up and fought back to take the leg 12-10 and all to play for. it was Laikram’s turn to take the lead and went 5-2 up at the change of ends but then it all swung again with Mike not only making up the deficit but taking the lead which he didn’t relinquish to win 11-7 and make it 3-2 to Castaways.

This brough Cain back to the table and with little trouble he dispatched Neil 3-0, 3-3/

Johnny is somewhat of a bogey player for Laikram and so it proved again with Johnny winning three straight, 4-3 to Castaways.

Neil and ian have had some battles over the years and this next game proved no different. Neil raced into a two love lead with little trouble but then his confidence disappeared, perhaps that third leg syndrome raising its head, and Ian took the third. Neil then took a commanding 5-0 lead in the fourth only to see ian come back to 5-5 followed by nip and tuck with Ian taking it to 12 making it 2-2. All to play for in the fifth with the match perhaps hanging on the result. Neil couldn’t get in and ian raced to a 5-1 lead at the turn round and then to 6-1. Wasit all over, somehow it wasn’t with Neil hanging in and at 9-6 down perhaps a deciding point. A dead net off the side of the table looked to have won the point for ian but somehow the old fella got to the ball, lobbed it sideways across the table and what looked an easy shot back over with Neil stranded was put into the net. 9-7. Ian still took the next point to make to 10-7 and surely it was over but no, somehow Neil clawed it back to deuce and then after sharing another two match points each Neil managed to win to 14 ensuring the draw.

The next game was the battle of the two players on two wins but surely Cain would make short work of Mike. No. not quite, although the first leg was won by Cain to 5 Mike almost sneaked the second losing on deuce 14-12. Mike took the initiative from this and won the third to 8 but then Cain managed to hold on to win the fourth to 9, bringing the draw within sight for Comets.

The doubles was a massive decider, not only for the match but for the best doubles pair. Johnny and Neil have played 7 won 7 and the team has not lost a doubles all season. Meanwhile Cain and Laikram have a similar record as a pair not having lost any as a pair either, which pair were to lose their unbeaten record?

The left-hand right-hand combination of Johnny and Neil with Neil continually setting Johnny up and Johnny putting them away plus Neil’s silly loop lobs proved to be too much for Cain and Laikram and they won in four despite a rally from the other pair to take the third.

The four points plus the bonus should see Comets A still win the league with two matches to play even though Comets B have three games to play whilst Castaways nine points may just be enough for runners up but Comets B are only 22 points behind with two matches to play as well.

My guess is it all depends now on who turns out for the respective opposing teams in the remaining matches with Morpeth A being the team that has to play both Comets A and B but then Comets B having the easier other match against the bottom team, Karma A, whilst Comets A have the far more dangerous Nat West!