Written by Dan Fernandez:
V Booker
Despite lurking at the bottom of the table Booker (league champs 2x years ago) can bring in any number of quality players from around the home counties. Unfortunately for them this was not the case with the exception of Tom ‘the power’ Power at no1. All the other matches merged into the weeds as Tom and our Paul engaged in a match royale. The balcony was pretty full due to the extensive pre-publicity (club email out the night before) and a great contest unfolded. Tom, 15years younger started well hitting hard and covering the court at high speed 1-0. Paul took hold of the 2nd slowing the rallies down and controlling the pace with great length and court craft making Tom reach for every shot 1-1. The third continued in the same vein and there appeared only one winner. Tom having previously played most of the ‘old’ Lions always seemed to have loads of time and played a tight game but in the extremes of battle his game was too loose and Paul was comfortable 2-1. In the 4th mistakes crept in, Tom now wounded, hounded his oppo and forced the 5th 2-2. Paul stepped up a gear moving Tom into the corners and playing some fine drops took it 3-2.
I can’t remember much about the other games. I won v Duncan at 5. Nic beat Rob Wallace at 4. CK struggling with his knee surprisingly lost to gorgeous George at 3. Mark won easily against a tubby leftie. Result 4-1 Lions
V Aylesbury
Another team in the lower mid-order we have performed poorly against and with Paul up north for National Masters championships we were weak at 1 but welcomed Adam Pyne debuting at 3. Mark had an enjoyable run against Tom Phipps taking a game and very nearly the 4th against the county no1, 1-3. Nic played Ian McGowan at 2 who has improved in recent months and played well to go close in first two games although each went against and 3rd went away too quickly 0-3. At 3 Adam was likely to have a v.hard match v Sam Hales who looks like he should be playing at no2 going forward. Adam rallied well against a younger oppo who was very quick and made no mistakes. Both playing a similar style hard length game and on a hot court it was nip n tuck but Adam not used to this level of play just missed out in both to go down 0-2. In 3rd Adam was struggling with a pulled knee and had to withdraw mid-way through – welcome to Div1!! At 4 I won against Simon Townsend who has come back from injury 3-0. At 5 Ian ‘pig’ Piggin played Dave Herron and in a pacey loose game with big forehands cracking the ball around the court played well wearing DH down to win 3-2. So a 7-15 defeat but we did have homemade pheasant curry to make up for it!
V CB 1B
Without Paul, having injured his back getting to semi-finals of National O40s (cap suitable doffed in respect), we were up against our banana skin team CB1B. So far v the weakest team we are 0-2 down for the season albeit they have strengthened with Charlie Yerrell now at 2. However, with home advantage the Lions pulled up their socks and pulled off a comfortable 4-1 victory. In CKs last match before his hair transplant (sorry I mean knee op) he played Charlie at 2 and was up against it in an oppo 1/3 of his age and twice his size. Despite a close 3rd he went down 0-3. Mark at 1 played an unfit Phil Taylor fresh from darts training and played an error strewn game but did well to close it out 3-0. Nic played Rob Parry at 3 who I’ve never seen before and seemed a bit lightweight for that level. Despite this Nic did his usual, winning 1st easily, losing a tight 2nd and then it was anyone’s match, however Nic’s new fitness programme kicked in and he was a comfortable 3-1 winner. At 5 the Pig played up again (he has lofty ambitions) and won (again) against a (very) large Tim Paul. Ian was too fast and too fit for his oppo and won well 3-1 (he has a better record for Lions 2-1 than Bulls – work that one out?!?). I then took on Neil Hinds, a gentlemen of the game and still a quality senior player who was hoping for a rise up the county O45 ranking by getting the better of me. Unfortunately for him I was on decent form for once and by keeping the pace up in a close first two games did the damage to his fitness and won 3-1. In honour of CK last match (what will he do with himself for the next 8 wks?) we had a Basmati curry for dinner to cap off a fine 16-6 win.
Next home match 6 March. Last Lions match of the season v Holmer Green. We lie 3rd and HG are 2nd and with points close its likely the winner will get 2nd place in the league.
Come on down to watch the action.
Thanks,
Dan
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